Could I be looking for something that is not there?

[bgg1293]

#1: Please tell me if I could be way off base. I appreciate honesty and things "layed on the line"
#2: I've had a feeling from the 1st dx,,that there was more to this.
My daughter has APD,Express+Recept Lang Dis., Strabismus, and Bellyaches when it comes to stressful situations.
I took a test on Childbrain.com for PDD. Is this a "reliable" source.  Both my 3yro and 9yro came up with Mild PDD.  
I've always felt that all these problems my 9yro has are all symptoms of something greater.  Is this possible?
I just have that "uneasy" feeling.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Lori Nagle

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

PDD is a broad term and represents quite a range of conditions, and within each condition there are varying degrees of severity. The description you offered in your earlier posting don't compel me to think in terms of PDD, at least not in a serious range of severity. What is more striking is the array of learning diability problems. The web site you noted is certainly reliable from a scientific standpoint - the descriptions of the conditions and the criteria are accurate. However, one of the chief factors to consider in a PDD diagnosis is the character of the child's relational abilities, and it's not clear from your description of your daughter that her relational capacities are compromised to the extent that would be typical of a child with a condition along the PDD spectrum. If you want to investigate further, I'd suggest scheduling an evaluation with a child psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, even though pediatric neurologists also treat children with PDD and even though it is certainly one of the biologically-based childhood conditions.

[bgg1293]

Hello, thanks for the response.  Due to the lack of room I didn't elaberate.

*********9Yro: Social behavior,,,At school she has NO close friends. At Recess, I was told, she wonders around the playground and will not join any other children in games.  She is also very quiet and withdrawn in Reg. Ed.  In SPED, she is more active when it comes to answering questions and being active with the class. (small group of 6) She just doesn't socialize and make friends as well as other kids.(That is if she does at all)She is EXTREMELY gullible,,she says things that are not appropriate and believes things a child of 9yrs usually  knows are not true. (IE: when she was 5yro.  Her brother told her bird **** was candy and she believed it and ate it)

Obsessive Behaviors:  She is sooooo picky about her room. I can not clean her room do to the fact she is aware if ANYTHING is not the way she left it.  She saves: stones,shiney things, and fuzzy things. She only uses specific pillow cases because they are fuzzy and will protest if any other type of pillow case is on her pillows.  She is also extremely "Pickey about the type of clothing she will wear.(Never Jeans..they are not soft..)She can not go to the bathroom without stripping all her clothing from the waist down,which is better then it was. Just, in general, odd things that other parents find "funny" or "odd".

Temperment:  At school,,quiet and withdrawn.  At home, EXPLOSIVE!!!  This has improved over the yrs..but we still have at least one episode a week, that she looses all control.  Over little things..such as..I didn't cut the sandwich the way she thinks I should of cut it, Or after calling her name 3 0r 4 times..I get "WHAT!!!!!!!!!"  She will "zone out" to a Tv shows and seem to block everything else out.

I explain her behaviors at home to the school and they can not believe what they hear.  She did episode at her outside therapy and the OT therapist was shocked and had me see a Phycologist..(which I definitely need a second opinion where that is concerned. Basically I got that It is Our fault our daughter acts in such a mannner....)What people don't understand is,,unless she is comfortable with you,,she hides her anger and frustrations and then takes them out on me or her brother and sister.( Occasionally with her father also,,but not to the extremes her siblings and I see and experience)

********3yro:  Has major difficulty sleeping...she has a motor in her butt and she doesn't sleep like "normal" people do.  She is extremely Explosive and hits me, the dog, cat, and siblings on a daily basis.  I know longer take this child out in public. I've had to leave the grocery store, with a cart full things, numerous times. She becomes so "Out of control" that she just looses it.  The gets hysterical,,hitting me and throwing things.  She has gone after the dog with a pencil trying to stab the dog.  Hence, anything sharp is kept well out of reach.  Until October of 2002, she had a fetish with breaking glass. Therefore,,we having nothing glass in reach...Oh and playing in her poop. This has ceased. Thank God!!!  But now it is Paper,tissue and anything she can tear.
Once a week we go to a group for toddlers and mothers.  Of course, like her sister, she doesn't act out there.  But she is withdrawn and just stares at other kids and/or plays by herself.
She speaks very well.  But has difficulty finding words she wants to use,,therefore substitutes words that has nothing to do with what she wants.  We get her what she says..and then the tantrums begin,,until we guess,or she figures out..what she really wants.

Sorry this is so long.
Lori Nagle

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

With the additional detail, it is certainly understandable that a PDD-spectrum condition might be considered, along with Mood Disorder and neurointegrative conditions. One implication is that pharmacological treatment will be critical as one component of an intervention plan.