Hi. Thanks for reply. His therapist has diagnosed him with Asperger's & has ORDERED a full psychological eval which will reveal more.
I got Dx'd by a psychologist "provisionally" after several lengthy evaluation sessions and was then referred to a neuropsychiatrist for final confirmation (to rule out other potential alternative diagnoses), which only recently happened last week. The entire process took well over a month. It goes slower for some than others. I was not a "borderline" case, and my diagnosis was relatively straightforward. However, I would recommend you go ahead and seek an appointment with a psychiatrist for after the evaluation process will be complete (it takes time to get an appointment with a good one).
To give you an idea as to why the process is so involved (I don't know if it should be, only why it is), I was evaluated by a psychologists who administered numerous tests not only for autism but for other potential alternative conditions. When the psychologist concluded I was "provisionally" autistic, he referred me to a neuropsychiatrist for confirmation and to rule out other non-psychological conditions (e.g., brain damage/injury) that could masquerade as autism.
The psychiatrist confirmed the diagnosts of AS/ASD (depends on the DSM used). He also noted that I was extremely "high functioning." He has concluded that my high functioning ability is a result of a compulsive self-imposed treatment that he claims closely resembles ABA (others on here may recall that when I started posting, I had no idea what ABA was). Those who don't self-treat are often referred to a specialized therapist for ABA, as I understand it.
Translated, not being able to socialize "properly" with neuro-typical children caused me extreme anxiety, which in turn caused me to closely and compulsively observe neuro-typical behavior in an attempt to reproduce others' success (and eventually my own success) in social settings. If you read posts I have written here, especially those on dating, you will get a mere glimpse of the effort and experimentation it took for me to be able to succeed socially. If your son has autism and isn't learning how to integrate on his own, then you may be offered ABA. This is fairly controversial, as some here believe ABA to be "brainwashing" the child to act "normal."
In my mind the right treatment/therapy is the one that gives your son the option to blend in when he wants without persuading him that anything is "wrong" with him. Now that perspective is presuming he has some sort of autism spectrum disorder and does not have something different. Also, this does not refer to co-morbid conditions like depression. It is not "ok" for him to live in constant depression or to have suicidal ideations. However, there is nothing wrong with being autistic (thinking differently). In may career, being autistic has proven extremely helpful in some ways and extremely hindering in others. I work on the hindrances as compulsively as I can because I want to control my life (which may be delusional). Of course, I did not realize or understand all of this at 9 years old, and it took years for me to be where I am now, which is still not 100% where I wish to be. But, I am now able to set my own goals and pursue them aware of my own strengths and weaknesses - I think that is a good place for anyone on the spectrum to be.
In order to do what I do, I make hundreds if not thousands of mental rules for almost EVERYTHING I do outside my own home, and I am constantly updating them so I can integrate when I want to and be myself whenever I want to. My doctor actually has been concerned that medicating my co-morbid anxiety will inhibit my motivation for doing this, which he fears could be counter-productive. Conversely, the effort I put forward to be able to "blend in" is exhausting. I'm a fan of any psychiatrist whose first move is not the prescription pad, yet there is a time and place where it can be of benefit. It will take professionals with integrity and a specialized knowledge of autism to provide your son with the right options.
I will have to get Tony Atwood's book. It keeps popping up.
Everyone has to start somewhere. This book starts with an explanation of various roads to the diagnosis, and you knowing these roads might help you to know what would be useful to tell your son's diagnosticians.
I'm not sure I have any specific questions at this point, it just feels good to know that there is support "out there" and that things will get better because we (as parents) don't have to continue to carry this alone...
Glad to be of help where and when I can. I am sure others feel the same.
