Re: ?What is the diagnosis?

July 25, 2001

Hi,

I would ask if you have seen a developmental pediatrician? If you have not,

I would suggest that is the next stop. Where do you live?

The description you have given of the word loss at 18 months and some of

the other features of your child would indicate that perhaps they should

look at a diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder, (PDD) not

otherwise specified (PDD/NOS) as I see a lot of my own children's early

development that compares with your 3 year old.

Does your child have joint attention? In other words, if there is a plane

in the sky or a dog nearby, will she point at this to bring it to your

attention, even though she doesn't use words? How does she get her needs

met? Will she bring you by the hand to get her something she wants from the

fridge?

It is great that you have been able to stay home with your child, but it is

very unlikely that any traumatic event would have caused her development to

be like this, even if you had not stayed home. This is nothing you did or

did not do for her, that has caused this,believe me!

My name is Judy and I am the mother of Brendon, age 15, who has autism, he

wasn't diagnosed until 4.5, many doctors and specialists would not or could

not say what was wrong. I am also the mother of Caroline age 9, who has

PDD/NOS with the main symptom being apraxia, she cannot easily form words

(esp. consanant-vowel-consonant combinations) and uses a combination of

signing, writing and some speech approximations to get her messages across.

Caroline was disgnosed at 2.5, but of course, I had the experience with the

first child to push me along.

Again, tell me more specifically about waht the specialist you have seen

have reported, and which specialists those are.

Judy

Does my child have Dyspraxia? She is 3yrs old and she can do anything

when

she wants to. She is very bright,but she just doesnt talk. She started

saying words around 1 yr old, a 10 word vocabulary. She woould say the

word

1 or 2 times and would not say it no more. It was like I know how to say

it I dont need to say it again. She just stopped trying to talk around 18

months old. She picked up screaming instead. For EX: we would stop at a

stoplight and she would start screaming it was like she didnt have any

patience. Autism is ruled out and nothing has happened to her

traumatically. I am a stay at home mom so i would know if anything had happened.

We have been through all test, speech and group therapy and even preschool. Out

of 10 different people from Geneisist-Speech Therapist. None has been able to

tell me anything. When she gets upset I may hear one word out of her and it

would be momma and thats very seldom. Please help? This is driving the family

just crazy not knowing why or what is causing her not to talk. We just finally

told ourselves she just is so stubborn and she will talk when she is ready. Can

that be it?

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July 25, 2001

I read your post with interest. Has Aspberger's syndrome been ruled out for

your child? You say that autism has been. Aspberger's syndrome is on the

autism spectrum of disorders but has different behavioral manifestations.

One of the most common is sensory problems, like becoming upset that the

light has not changed to green and screaming. Aspberger syndrome children

are typically very visual and love things like the computer. They can also

be compulsive and ritualistic about things like schedules. The best person

to diagnose this is a pediatric neurologist. One of the trademark

characteristics of Asperger's is that the child has fairly typical language

development until 18 months old then suddenly regresses. Hope this helps

you.

July 26, 2001

As you all know, I concur with here, think that Asperger's is a

possibility. Not sure that a pediatric neuroligist is the best, depends on

which pediatric neurologist you get....developmental pediatrician here in

Boston with a specialty in asperger's...if you need a referral in your

area, I will put you in touch with this doctor's office, perhaps they know

someone near you.

, the language loss at 18 months has also been a hallmark in the

diagnosis of other autism spectrum disorders,, my son had this happen as

well. But if I look at viseo of his 1st bithday party, I can see signs

that I wasn't noticing at the time, hand-flapping, perseveration, etc.

Judy

>I read your post with interest. Has Aspberger's syndrome been ruled out

>for your child? You say that autism has been. Aspberger's syndrome is on the

>autism spectrum of disorders but has different behavioral manifestations.

>One of the most common is sensory problems, like becoming upset that the

>light has not changed to green and screaming. Aspberger syndrome children

>re typically very visual and love things like the computer. They can also

>a be compulsive and ritualistic about things like schedules. The best person

>to diagnose this is a pediatric neurologist. One of the trademark

>characteristics of Asperger's is that the child has fairly typical language

>development until 18 months old then suddenly regresses. Hope this helps

>you.