It sounds like what you've got now is some type of therapist, under the supervision of some type of doctor (PhD or MD). That does not sound like a good fit based on your other post. A counselor or therapist might be a part of the treatment plan, but doesn't seem to fit the role she is currently trying to play.
Your other posts says:
His psychiatrist and psychologist do not know where to direct me to have him tested to see if he is autistic. The school says that after they test for a learning disability if they feel he needs more testing they will call someone in for more testing including for autism.
So I am assuming that the goal is to have him evaluated for learning disabilities and autism. How did you get to this counselor? I know you said this counselor was your last resort. How so?
The school psychologist tests for learning disabilities to see if he qualifies under the LD category for special education. The school psyche is trained to do this. As far as the autism goes, you would need to obtain a private evaluation. A private neuro-psyche could do this, and also evaluate for LD in greater depth. Therapists and counselors don't evaluate children for autism, whether they are under the supervision of a "doctor" or not.
NoTellin39101.4288078704Well I had my first DR appt yesterday with Ethan's new DR, well actually I didn't really even speak with the Dr. I spoke with a counselor who told me what will happen is she would talk to me and get my oppinion on things and what I want to happen and then she would right her oppinion about things and then the DR would read all of it and make her opinion about things, and I have another appt with them today.
Anyway the counselor tried to tell me that a lot of the things my son was doing was developmental. That these are things that all kids do at his age.
Please if anyone has read my post about my son "In Desperate Need Of Help" Please tell me if you think those things that he does obsesively are normal things that children do. Because I don't know anyother kids who do any of the things that he does. And I don't think it's developmental. I think something is wrong.
Please someone give me advise. This DR was my last resort and if she tries to tell me all these things are normal. I won't know where else to turn.
You already have several things diagnosed right? What is this doctor appointment for, again?
I went back to your post and reread it and several of these things are not "developmentally appropriate" for a normal child of 7 at all..
chewing on things all the time..developmentally appropriate for a toddler maybe, not at 7 laughing when someone is hurt...though a 7 year old may think the accident that the other person had was humorous, they most likely would have empathy for someone if they realized that person was truly hurt. always hiding from you...I can see him doing it from time to time for fun, but always...not appropriate I cannot believe that a medical professional would say that smelling ppl's breath and pits is normal for any age....and usually by 7 ,most children have enough tact to not make disparaging comments to ppl....a 3 or 4 year old will blurt it right out, but I have been around hundreds of 3-4 year olds as a preschool teacher for 7 years, and never had one smell me... keeping everything he has ever touched is definitely not normal that is OCD same with the refusal to eat food that someone else has touched, and the different flatware for each food, and the multiple daily baths...OCD the flapping of the hands is not developmentally appropriate, in fact when my 13 year old was 5 months old, he did that in excitement and a doctor told me it was a sign of neurological problems....thankfully in my son's case that doctor was wrong, but it kind of tells you that it must usually mean that...The things you mention in your previous post that I would say may be developmentally approrpiate are
the stuttering...this could just be a speech issue. My 10 year old stuttered when he was having his speech problems at age 3 and I am sure that you know of adults who have never overcome stuttering the happiness to see you....that one was a toughie. Of course he would be happy to see you, but the overwhelming joy sounds more like a toddler when they see their parent, not a 7 year old....I am not a professional, I just have a background in preschool teaching and I am currently in college for early childhood education,and have had many classes in child development besides my 7 years in a preschool classroom. The only time that I saw the hand flapping and the inordinate joy upon seeing a parent was in an autistic child....the resistance to change was apparent in him as well, if his mom was 1 minute late to pick him up from daycare, he was beside himself with grief, and could not be consoled until she got there.
Good luck with the doctor, argue the developmental appropriateness with him if need be. You are this child's mother and mothers usually know lots more than doctors like to credit them with!
I misread some of your post- I thought the new Dr was telling you things were normal but it was actually the counselor before seeing the Dr. I am glad they are going to be doing more testing.
we will be home all evening, and tomorrow is fine too.
Well at least it sounds like the doctor is taking things seriously what with all of the appointments that are scheduled in quick succession.
Good luck and keep us posted on what happens!
I'd listen to what the dr presents, but if you don't agree with it, go with your gut. There are a lot of things going on here. Don't let the dr brush you off and tell you it's all stuff he'll grow out of. Keep on pushing until someone listens.Please don't listen to this particular dr! You know him the best! My son was brushed aside for a long time when I knew something was wrong! Many of these thing you mentioned are not typical. I strongly urge you take him to an Occupational Therapist.
My son was first (mis)diagnosed as ADHD, now he falls into the high functioning autistic spectrum and he has SPD. He has many of the behaviors you described with your son.
What dr's or type of dr's have you been to so far?
(call me if you get a chance)
There are not a lot of resources here where I live and his ins is all free but I am limited on where I can go with it and who will except it.
She is the only one around here that can test him for autism and spd. She's not a counselor or a therapist. The lady I talked to first was a counselor all she does is puts her opinion in on the situation first off. I will never see or talk to her again past that day.
The Dr actually started some autism testing yesterday. And we have another appt with her monday.
So far I have had an appt thursday, friday, and another monday.
-kemi- I will call you today. When would be a good time for you.