AboutMichelle Fattig Expertise I can answer questions about educational testing, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADD/ADHD, Special Education, IEP, Learning Disabilities, Sensory Processing, Parent Advocacy, Response to Intervention, living and parenting with disabilities, parent rights in special education, school psychology, and more. I cannot provide a medical diagnosis.
Experience I am a school psychologist, medical technologist, author of the Annie Books series: Experience Aspeger's Syndrome and Attention Deficits Through the Eyes of a Child, RTI facilitator, ILCD facilitator, parent advocate, presenter, and researcher. My children and I have Asperger's, ADD/ADHD, and learning disabilities.
Organizations National Association of School Pyschologists, American Medical Technologists, Learning Disabilities Association of Nebraska
Education/Credentials Ed.S. in School Psychology, doctoral studies in SPED Law, SPED Systems Enhancement Leadership, and doctoral candidate Education Leadership. MT(AMT) and MLT(ASCP)
Question Hello,
My question maybe somewhat lengthy so apologize in advance. Let me preface this quetion in hopes of finding direction to questions that are very frightening to ask. I am a mother of five and am deeeply concerned and frustrated about my son who is 8 and currently in the 3rd grade. I am his stepmom and technically became his mommy when he turned 2. When I was introduced to him his speech was limited to a couple of words and was still crawling but learning how to walk. His speech and mobility progressed but I began to notice consistent flapping of the arms and he easily became frustrated with the simplest chores. As he aged, I began to notice his behavior and maturity level, as did it not seem to coinside with others his age. I chalked all this up to a late developer. I also began to notice the constant rubbing of the fingers. What bothered me the most was his constant absense when spoken to. My husband and I thought he may have had a hearing impairment because when his sibling or myself tried to communicate we would sometimes find ourselves yelling at him because there was no response at times. His kindergaden teacher noticed this as well and we were referred to the state audiologist. They said he had some water in the ears and from there we were sent to an ear doctor where they gave him some rhinocort and antibiotics and said that should make him all better. I don't think so! He is easily excitable at times and his actions reflect those of a five or six year old. His flapping has decreased but his eyes still look empty sometimes when you are speaking to him. Now we are experincing issues at school and his standarized test scores. HIs reading comprehension is basically at failing but math is way up there. He recieves tutoring from his teacher twice a week for reading comprehension but this does not seem to helping. He can not comprehend what he is reading. His writing looks like chicken scratch and we give him constant pep talks on his positive demeanor and how he needs to try real hard in school but it is to the point that I beleive there is something more to him than lazziness,apathy or what ever society calls it. He is a bright happy boy and I believe if we had a better starting point of what might be his challenge maybe his frustrations could be addressed better. I am the only one who seems to see the autistic signs, I had a friend who was a nanny for an autistic child and akward as it may seem , I see certain characteristics in my son that I saw in that litle girl. I know you can't diagnos but maybe you can tell me what you think and where to start as far as an evalution and who to get it from? Our health insurance isn't the world's graetest, so would his school offer any venues? I appreciate your time and efforts in trying to make it a clearer world for us who walk in fog.
Thank you,
Denise
Ft. Worth Texas
Answer It sounds like you have some very valid concerns. You can request a comprehensive evaluation through the school, and you should request that a school psychologist, occupational therapist, and speech pathologist be involved. The evaluation should include a sensory profile and specific meaure of not only language, but the social/pragmatic use of language. Some websites to help you include: http://www.comeunity.com/disability/sensory_integration/index.html
http://www.anniebooks.com http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/aswhatisit.html
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20011101/tips/7.html
