Diagnosis X

DJ was 9 year old when we finally received an high functioning autism diagnosis. It wasn't that he was "typical" before the age of 9, but no one was willing to diagnose him with it before than.

At 2, we knew he wasn't developing language and social skills like other children, but our pediatrician did not think there was anything wrong. He thought he would grow out of it. So instead, I thought, maybe it's me, if there is nothing wrong with my son, than I must be doing a poor job as a mother. So I went to work and placed him in a daycare/nursery school for 1/2 day, hoping to help him develop his social skills and communication by being around his peers, and a pre-school teacher.

After 6 months, the the nursery school contacted me. They told me DJ was not progressing, he cried a lot, didn't have an interest in the potty, and I needed to keep him home until he was ready for school. Still, no one diagnosed him, and no one thought to let me know that perhaps an early intervention program would be advisable.

At almost 4, he wasn't potty trained not did he have an interest, but still, no diagnose. He had limited language, and cried or screamed most of the time. Still no diagnosis.

By the age of 6, he was withdrawn and still struggling, so we demanded from our pediatrician that we see a specialist. He sent us to a psychiatrist, and it was then DJ received his first diagnosis of Social Anxiety and OCD. We began Paxil at this point, but there wasn't much change. We kept him on it for a year. Well, I thought the doctors must know better than me about this stuff. His Fear Factor which was already low, fell below zero, when while at the beach, in a very frightening moment he ran into the ocean. The waves were 10 ft. tall!

At this point we removed his medication and DJ received a third diagnosis of ADD without hyperactivity, and he was prescribed the good ol' Ritalin. The Ritalin helped him relax in class, not at home. It sure made it easier for his teacher, I am sure. But his language didn't improve, and his classwork didn't improve. However, we did have a zombie for a son, and that was not the outcome we were looking for.

So in second grade we began our IEP process with his school, and DJ received his first classification (OHI - other health impaired). At our first meeting, Paul and I expressed our concern, that DJ's behaviors were very much like Autism, but he had not yet received a diagnosis. Our pediatrician did not feel the need for a Neurological Evaluation unless the school was recommending it. Regardless of our concerns, it would take yet another year before the school would have DJ evaluated by a neurologist. In his first evaluation, the neurologist did not diagnose him with Autism, but expressed concerns with a possible Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

Anyhow, the school would still keep his OHI classification for one more year, until the 5th grade. When a second re-evaluation determined that DJ did indeed have High Functioning Autism, which was later changed by our current private neurologist to Asperger Syndrome. ASPERGER SYNDROME??? I had never heard of it before. I didn't know if I should cry or if I should laugh or smile on that day. It all made sense to us now, at last there was an explanation, for the madness in our lives.

Well today, I still have mixed feelings about the whole thing. I wonder if we had gotten help earlier on, would DJ be better off today? Would ABA, and bio-medical, and Early Intervention have helped?

Well, we will never know for sure, but today he is well on his way, to someday becoming independent. What did it take? Lots of patience and nurturing, and encouragement. Treating him "normal" as he truly is. Accepting him for who he is. Embracing his strengths and his special interests. But none of this would have been possible, were it not for his strength and perseverance. I am so proud of the young men he has become. And I am thankful for the lessons I have learned along the way.