PDD AND ADHD HELP

[bonkerzaboutxmas]

Been back to CAMHS and have formal diagnosis of ADHD and informal diagnosis of PDD and been referred on to get assessment for ASD. Only found out about informal diagnosis of PDD because i asked to see a copy of file and in it dr has clearly stated DS has PDD but wont formally diagnose PDD till assessment for ASD is done incase he is wrong.

So now i have all these questions about PDD that need answering becasue i always assumed PDD was autism.

I do not know enough, but had the feeling PDD was when there are some similar traits to autism but your DC does not have all the features of the three areas of impairment necessary for an ASD diagnosis (social delay, language delay/disorder and lack of imaginative play/repetitive movements). The NAS website has a more accurate desription though. What a worrying time for you, I know how you must feel. Big hugs!

the only part of the autistic triad my son doesnt meet is the language disorder and delay although he does have well below average audible memory and short term memory. He fits perfectly into the other 2 triads. He did have delayed language at age 2 and saw a SALT for nearly 2 years!!!

I just read up on NAS and apparently people often use PDD quite randomly over here as shorthand for PDD-NOS or not otherwise specified, whereas in the US they use it as an embrace-all phrase for autism. Suspect your paed is using the former, as he is hinting at non-classic autism but is not sure yet. Aspergers definition is autistic traits but no language delay. I think my son has ASD and verbal dyspraxia, ie he cannot form words very clearly and forgets them easily or uses the wrong word. Does he use gestures like pointing?

I understand PDD, (and I may be wrong) to be basically another term for ASD. I think its more commonly used in the US.

You can have PDDNOS (pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified), which is also known as atypical autism.

As someone has already said its where you don't meet all of the features in the triad of impairments (and therefore can't be classified as classic, HF, AS etc) but still have strong autistic traits. #

This site is really good at explaining it.

Hi Bonkers,

Tony Attwood has writen alot about PDD in his book, i would look it up for you but my mums got my copy at the moment. But from what i can remember PDD is basically when they meet alot of the criteria but dont quite tick enough boxes IYKWIM.

Did CAMHS say how long you would have to wait for the ASD assessment.

thansk for the replies. Been googling myself and seems DS does fit into PDD. 'atypical' has been used to describe DS already too so we are in the right area. Until last week i thought DS had language problem as he uses different words for items BUT Ed psych did assessment of this and reported back DS is within average guidelines. Not sure how long it will take for assessment for ASD though. We are being referred on so will have to join list again and could take months. Part of me wants to tell CAHMS to formally diagnose PDD as from what i can gather its the same treatment/strategies for PDD and Autism. Would this be wrong of me? Would this be doing an injustice to DS if i dont go ahead with asd assessment? Am in a situation where we want to get DS into a unit for autistic children because he is failing in mainstream but cannot get in unit without formal diagnosis and really dont think time is on our side. DS is off to PRU next week till FEB and then we have to work with mainstream to see if they can have him back. WOuld be easier if we could just get him in unit now.

I don't suppose you or DP have BUPA do you? You can get a private diagnosis covered (but no further treatment) - that's what we did to hurry the process along. Or will they not accept a PDD diagnosis in the unit?? Will it be more likely that he gets a statement if he has an ASD diagnosis or is PDD just as "good"? That's the only benefit I can really see to having a formal ASD diagnosis, oh and of course DLA and carer's allowance, but then maybe PDD will do for those as well?

Bonkers - Im quite sure that PDD is an ASD and so is ADHD isnt it , would the ASD unit not take this into consideration.

Is there any where you can call to find out how long your wait is likely to be?

Also whats PRU? sorry if this sounds ignorant, im still very new the SN world .

Pupil Referral Unit as DS is at risk of permanent exclusion!
Have just been told statement panel wont hear DS assessment till after christmas which is just too late!! Im at a point where i just want to scream STOP THE WORLD AND LET ME GET OFF. Ive had enough TBH and cannot do this anymore.

Bonkerz - at this point, I would stand outside and have a fag but if you don't smoke would chocolate help. Or a drink? Or have you ever considered home education and ABA (which is what I have in my mind if they exclude my DS from the only halfway decent school they have offered him).

dont smoke, drink becoming too much of a crutch so need to avoid, not a big fan of chocolate although may indulge later!
home ed not really an option because of DSs lack of social skills i think it would do more harm than good. Whats ABA??????

It stands for Applied Behavioural Analysis and it is a way of educating autistic kids by breaking everything down into tiny steps, and giving loads of praise and fun for good behaviour and either ignoring or punishing (not hitting, but some kind of thing like naughty step) bad behaviour. I am 100% convinced that without it my DS would have no words at all and would be much much worse in terms of behaviour. You pay therapists to work in your home, and there is a site called the VB community where some people advertise as tutors. It is £10 an hour, but it is worth every penny and we basically remortgaged our house to do it. I am sorry as I can go on a bit about it, but another mum practically forced me into doing it when I was sceptical, and ever since I've been trying to make sure other mums know about it.Where are you based? Even if you can't afford, you can use the techniques yourself and there are loads of websites. My DS is currently doing most of the time at home with ABA tutors, and 2 sessions a week at ms school with an ABA tutor as shadow. We won part-funding from the LEA, after a year and a half paying ourselves

what you are describing sounds like what the ed psych has recommended be used for DS in his recommendations for statement.
Will have a look about on net about it. Am based in Leicester.