Finally seen someone - not asd

[DrWhoTenant]

Finally seen a paediatrician about ds 7, gave her my list of concerns, chatted for 20 mins and she spoke to ds for 10 (well asked him to write his name, draw a picture and read a few lines of a book), then concluded that from what i told her it sounded like asd but shes sure its actually ADHD as he has social skills (talks to everyone, wants friends etc) she thinks there are alot on sensory issues though and he is being referred to CAHMS and will see OT again, im glad we are getting somewhere but i just dont think adhd ticks all over ds' boxes ifykwim not sure how i feel right now just needed to get that out....

A real diagnosis can't be made on the basis of a half hour appointment.

Hopefully CAMHS will investigate properly.

It could be both, of course

What was the paeds specialism?

Do they have the ability to dx?

And yes - DS1 has both (ASD and ADHD). And never mind drawing, he was trying to write when he was tiny. Ability to draw isn't part of the diagnostic criteria and apparent social skills aren't always appropriate social skills. DS1 was very friendly with adults when he was little - particularly if they had bags or drawers to rifle through!

All i know is she is a community paed who works with the CAHMS team so i may well comtinue to see her during assessment, and the OT specialises in asd but she really does think its ADHD as he so social. She did agree there was a host of sensory issues there personally i think its not adhd at all and that it appears to be because he is very sensory seeking, to me it doesnt explain the narrow interests, his controlling nature, why hes very very social but rubbish at it, why he tiptoe walks (she says its because he's so hyped up), why he flaps his hands or the wide stares, she thinks he's not cuddly because he just wants to get on the move again i disagree i think he either over responds to touch and takes it as green light to climb over someone or recoils from light touch angrily
i suppose though im not the proffesional so will needs to see what happens next

She didnt even see him the full 30 mins, only for 10 in the room and while she was walking him to the room, he was out of the room while she spoke to me. Anything that i said about why i had concerns about asd eg his inability to maintain friendships depite trying to have them, his literal thinking, his innapropriate behaviour with others etc she said were actually typical of ADHD? i suspect i might have a long road ahead yet i just dont see how she can think it sounds like asd while speaking to me then rule it out in 10 mins despite me basing my answers on him over 24/7 for 7 years

I didn't know having ASD means you can't read or draw . Write to her and ask her to explain this in regards to the diagnostic criteria.

Same with talking and wanting friends.

"[she] asked him to write his name, draw a picture and read a few lines of a book, then concluded that from what i told her it sounded like asd but shes sure its actually ADHD as he has social skills (talks to everyone, wants friends etc)"

Massive eyebrow raise from over here

Sorry but this is not enough to rule out ASD. IMO you are right, this 'assessment' means pretty much bollox all, particularly in comparison to your own assessment lasting 24/7 for 7 years. My own dd2 is 8yo and my Community Paed was the one to suggest ASD to me. She too can read, write (she wrote her name spontaneously at the age of 3.5 without ever writing a single letter first) make decent eye contact, smile, has friends (on a superficial basis) and respond to questions, although not necessarily appropriately. It's not the willingness to socialise, it's more the quality of the interaction.

Don't know where you go from here, sorry.

I agree with those saying she did not have enough information to say either way.

When ds got his dx it was after they had gathered the views of school and other involved in therapy etc. Plus a 90 minute interview/questionnaire with dh and me. And ds had a 90 minute session with a specialist SALT.

Can you ask the local parent partnership what the process is for diagnosing ASD in your local authority?

DS has Aspergers, adhd, spd, spld, tourettes, communication disorder.

In a nutshell he has ASD with associated co morbids

I will be honest with you and at first although I was told he was "complex" I was gobsmacked at him having adhd as I put all his sensory issues to his sensory disorder. The two are very similar indeed and it is quite a thin line between them.

There are different types of adhd too which I was unaware of (gutted actually because it was the one thing I never read into before I got to the profs!)

DS hates noise, but makes it. feel of clothes, visual auditory issues etc but definitely sensory seeking but this is yo yo ish as quite often he prefers to run off and hide and regulate by chilling out under a blanket.

on the other hand he makes loads of noise, jumps all over the place and short concentration span unless its of interest to him.

Social skills are lacking, Not in the sense he doesnt want to be sociable but in understanding the body language of others, jokes, emotional levels etc.

Kisses are out and the occasional hug is allowed heavy bear hug only light touch is a no no.

He has friends, talks to everyone he meets regardless of who as long as he knows who he is meeting. Very sociable on his terms.

I think she got the social bit wrong.

Like everyone says she cannot judge on a few minutes assessment. Its got to be more thorough than that.

Stick to your instincts x