Thank you for your help!!
[QUOTE=psm0904]So many kids here sound like they have high functioning autism that I didn't want to bring it up again...lol. I do think any kid dxd. with ADHD who has severe sensory issues should be tested by a NeuroPsych for high functioning autism. [/QUOTE]
I know you don't want to hear this
, but as you know, my son was ruled out twice...once by a developmental team from Boston's Children's Hospital and once by my neuropsych that specializes in ASD.
As I've quoted before, from one of the leading experts in SPD, it is not uncommon for ADHDers to have SPD.
With that said, I do think you are right on the money with this one though....the severe SPD, severe language delays, extremely quiet, etc.
And you know that I fully agree that every kid should be fully evaluated by a good neuropsych....just in case. It is common for kids to be mis-dx'd...I've been that route too many times myself.
I think GAD is another disorder that is in no way dx'd enough.
I also believe that many kids are probably suffering from medical conditions that aren't being dx'd and treated.
So many kids here sound like they have high functioning autism that I didn't want to bring it up again...lol. I do think any kid dxd. with ADHD who has severe sensory issues should be tested by a NeuroPsych for high functioning autism. THrow in speech delays, and I'd almost bet on it. When my son was very young, we were also told it was SID, ADHD, ODD. It was a load of grrrrrrrr. He had high functioning autism, but he had to wait until 11 to get the right diagnosis (as it became more obvious) and he has done so well since we understand him now. No more meds either. Although I kept asking about it, I kept getting told, "No, he can't have autism because he talks, he's too friendly, blah, blah, blah." It just turns out that psychiatrists, therapists, and even those who help with OT and PT and SID don't understand how to diagnose for autism. Or they may suspect it, but don't like to say it. In my son's case, he got the interventions anyways because of the SID part of his problems and he got speech because of his speech delays, but it wasn't until about fifth grade that it became apparent that he was very different from other kids his age, and that the labels he had were not hitting the nail on the head or getting him the right school interventions. It was a long, rocky road for us. I think its a good idea for anyone with a kid who is hyper with sensory issues that are quite bad to check it out with a good NeuroPsych. Better to be safe than sorry, imo. There is nothing to lose by an evalution. You may have to revisit one when the child gets older because you have a better shot at a correct dx. once the child can give really good feedback. I'm not a fan of doctors or therapists who see a kid for one or two sessions, run no tests, and say "Ah, this is it!" Even worse, I hate the ones who pull out the prescription pad after listening to a parent talk about a hyper kid, without even looking more deeply into it. Oh, the wrong meds my kids was taking makes me so angry. Anyways, that's my input.
Why does your son need speech services?
He has had speech issues all his life. No babbling, hadn't said a word by age 18months. They tested his hearing and it was totally fine(with his sensory issues it is REALLY sensative) and so they started him in speech therapy. At the time he was found to have a profound delay and his speech level was that of a 10 month old. He has been in speech therapy now for a year and a half(he is 3 now) and his speech has progressed to a mild delay now. His articulation though is at the first percentile though so we are having to do a lot of work on that now. He gets speech through the school district and also a private therapist.
I'm going out on a limb here, but severe speech delays and severe sensory issues are major charateristics of autism disorders.
ASD is not my bag, but I'm sure PMS will help you out.
Here's a link until she gets back to you........
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/autism.cfm
One issue at a time!
Now I just gotta go back to worrying about my ADHD/ODD son!
I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who opened my eyes to sensory integration disorder! I gave my son's school a copy of Tater's checklist and they totally are with me on getting services for him. The speech path said that she thinks he has "severe sensory issues" and has set up a meeting with me and the OT and her(the ST) for tuesday. We will throw out his old IEP and completely create a new one. She(and I) feels that the current class he is in is NOT working for him. He shuts down and doesn't participate. She also said that after watching him today that he is also having issues with fine motor skills and obvious issues with social skills. She wants to put him in a different class or combination of classes and have him working with the OT on a regular basis. I am so happy because I have felt that this speech class wasn't the best from day one. I really feel like we hit the nail on the head with the sensory stuff. They loaned me the book the out of sync child and I will be reading up. Thanks again guys! 
What a relief for you to get some answers and start things rolling! Tater's got so much info to share here. Cool mom! Glad that list she gave you helped. :o)Excellent .. what a relief for you. I can hear (read) the hope on your post. Congrats!Congrats on the help you are receiving from the school!!!!!!!!!
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