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Question
My son was first diagnosed with adhd combined type last year he was 7 yrs old.They added in there other diagnosis to check for asperger's and bipolar the next year when he was old enough to do alot of the testing .
Forward to 2008 he just completed educational and phys testing that the school paid for there results were they needed to rule out bipolar but he didnt have asperger's at all. His special ed teacher who's son had asperger's and has taught with these children with it for fourteen years says that what she thinks he has. In there results they mention that he is very high in reading recall but low in actual writing (pencil to paper) He doesnt show any signs of bipolar that i can see....could they be missing something?
also the person that tested him wasnt licensed in the field yet she was earning her hours before her qualification.
Suzanne ( va.)
Hi there, Suzanne!
Please forgive the time it took to answer this question, but dental problems have had me unable to sit up at the computer much. This is the first time in a while I've been able to put type to page!
The issue with my answering this question straight up is that, as I have said before and will say again, I am not a doctor. My answer is no more qualified than that of the woman who hasn't been licensed. My best suggestion is for you to, instead of asking *me* if they missed anything, ask the person who actually tested your son. Bring up your concerns with them and find out the reasoning behind things. And if you are uncomfortable with their answers, then feel free to ask for a licensed person to do a second opinion on your son.
I will say one thing: ADHD and Asperger's often present very similarly. Thus, the diagnosis of ADHD could, indeed, be the appropriate one. However, 'could' and 'are' are miles apart, unfortunately. It'll be hard to tell without extensive testing from someone who is skilled in the diagnosis of both/either of them.
Hopefully my answer to this question helped at least a little bit! Feedback, questions, comments, follow-ups, and whatever can be directed back at will.
Trey
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Answers by Expert:
Trey McGowan
Expertise
My primary expertise is in the area of the social, psychological, and mental development of Aspergers Syndrome and other high-functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorders. I am also very knowledgeable in the communication disorders and common co-existing issues. I'm well-read on most of these as well as having experienced it myself. Other aspects of autism, I can do fairly well at as well, from the oversensitivity to the recognition of it. Warning: I am *not* a medical professional, and while I can research answers through books and online, I can not give direct medical expertise.
Experience
I am 19 years diagnosed Asperger's Autistic, and have been reading up and studying it, as well as taking 'first hand accounts' for most of those 14 years. In addition, I have had three children, adopted elsewhere, all of whom are varying degrees of autistic from mid to high functioning. My mother has done some research on the subject as well, and passed some of it on to me.
Education/Credentials
I have completed grade school and most of high school, and achieved a GED. I've also received home schooling.
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