Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

When would a child be diagnosed with Asperger's and by whom??

My child was given a PDD-NOS diagnosis at 22 months (he was pretty much without speech at the time). When we had him re-evaluated at 3 for the transition to CPSE, the psychologist told me off the record that he would not have received that diagnosis if this was their first meeting and he may not have even qualified for services at all.

Now, I am all for the services my child gets and am fully aware and acknowledge that he has some sensory issues and needs help with his pragmatic language.

No one has ever mentioned Asperger's to us.

He is 4 and is currently reading with comprehension.

I think because of his advanced skills academically, people are making assumptions.

His school just hired a new social worker assigned to DS class. She's been there about 2 weeks. I spoke with her once this week. I was frustrated with his teachers lack of response regarding strategies for potty training and the teacher's response was to have the SW call me Multiple times during the conversation, she would give me examples of other children with issues that had NOTHING to do with my child or HIS issues and I had to bring her back to the point. Like I feel like she was minimizing my concerns because "it could be so much worse". I found it really inappropriate. Regardless, I didn't make a big deal since it was our first interaction. This was Tuesday.

Today, DS comes home from school and in his communication notebook is paperwork on joining a local organization for parents of children with Aspergers. What???

Now listen, if my kid has Asperger's, I'll deal with it and accept it and love him just the same. But really? You're a social worker who's worked with my kid for TWO weeks and you're diagnosing him with something that no one else has seen nor mentioned to me....ever? And this is how you tell me that you think he fits the profile? Passively through a note home? Not a personal phone call? Not a meeting? I am so upset.

So now I start to second guess my instincts as well. I mean I have thought about it since he's so academically high functioning but then I think about the social piece. He's the kid that's hugging and high-fiving everyone in the room. I do think he's delayed socially, but not to the point where he's completely inappropriate, kwim? During organized activities, he's great. But during open play, he's more of a parallel player but still interested in the others too. Do you think I'm over-reacting or in denial?

ets: please don't quote

Message edited 3/3/2011 3:29:33 PM.

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

A social worker CANNOT diagnose anything!!!!

I would contact her and talk to her about it. Try to be calm as much as you probably want to rip her head off

ETA: I just want to add that its awesome that your son is 4 and reading

Message edited 3/3/2011 3:41:25 PM.

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

Thank you for responding I totally want to rip her head off. It's just totally baffling to me how she can pass such a HUGE judgment after 2 weeks and has the stones to do it through some random note

And we can't even believe the reading skills. It's totally nuts. The SLP is totally blown away by him....says his goal this year is to identify the noun in the sentence I really am very proud of him

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

Sorry this is so upsetting. I think many clinicians interchange diagnoses - Aspergers is typically referred to as "Aspergers/High Functioning Autism" and PDD is also typically referred to as "high functioning autism"
This is a major reason that they are lobbying to change the DSM codes - this whole "spectrum" thing is not working.

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

I agree Lea. Thanks for the

I just feel like it's so irresponsible for a professional to throw around diagnoses like that. IDK, maybe I would've responded differently if she'd been working with my child all year and she called me with a major concern saying maybe you should get an outside eval kwim. I just think she's trying to appear like the "hero" at her new job and show everyone how helpful she can be without thinking about the repercussions of making implications she's not qualified to make. The more I think about it, the more upset I get.

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

She CANNOT diagnose him. This is COMPLETELY out of her scope of practice.

The classification is difficult to understand. Asperger is usually a "higher" functioning individual with no speech or very little speech issue. They have autistic tendencies but really lack in the social aspect vs other issues.

PPD-NOS: I feel it's a catch all to say, we don't really know if your kid is autistic. He/She shows signs but it's not fully the whole deal. A lot of those children are un-diagnosed after a few years in EI/CPSE which IMO falsify true data results on autism and success stories.

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

I just was so taken aback by the fact that no one at the school had ever said anything to me about Asperger's and then she sends this home. I'm just wondering where she got it from?? Are they all standing around thinking this about him but no one is saying it? Or did she just make her own assumption?? I'm totally calling her tomorrow to ask her just that!!!

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

Is it possible she just intended to pass along information regarding a support group?

Autism, Aspergers and PDD NOS are all spectrum disorders, maybe she thought you would meet people or gain information about other families with children on the spectrum. It doesnt sound to me like she was making a diagnosis.

I dont mean to defend her, but is it possible she meant to provide you with support you might be interested in (however misguided). Regardless of her intent, her methods are horrible!!!

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

It could be possible, but her paperwork included info to become a member of ahaNY.org. They are an Asperger's Assn. that you need to pay to join. It does say it includes other high-functioning children on the spectrum so maybe I jumped the gun a bit. But I do agree....her methods are not effective. I feel like this should've been shared with me at least over the phone with a "hey, I'm sending you this info". I was just really caught off guard.

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

thank you all

We're all so lucky to have this board and each other. You made me feel validated and calmed me down.

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

Does your child go to a school for special needs? From time to time, schools will send home pamphlets, flyers, etc for information for special needs students. The AHA is an organization that provides resources, support and information for families, individuals and professionals affected by Asperger Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders and related conditions. I work with a student who is very active in this organization and the student is lower functioning and diagnosed with Austism.

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

Unless the note went home to all parents in the school/class, I find it completely inappropriate.

I find it interesting that you were expressing to your ds's teacher your concerns about his potty training progress and she sort of passed you off to the SW ? Then the SW was trying to encourage you to join a support group ? It seems to me there is a lack of accountability on the teachers part and now the SW. Why can't people just deal with the matter at hand instead of trying to divert it to all these other things. Did she ever come up with a plan to help improve the potty training ?

I would be really upset as well. IMO, there is too much focus on labeling these kids rather than just coming up with effective ways of helping them.

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

Message edited 3/4/2011 7:09:51 AM.

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**

Sounds inappropriate and as the PP have said a school social worker cannot diagnose anything!

If it makes you feel any better, many doctors and clinicians believe that children/people with Asperger's do not present a language delay at an early age.

Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's **I'm so upset**