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)
Expert: Michelle Fattig Date: 2/1/2008 Subject: ADHD or maybe autism
Question I have a soon to be 9 year old grandson. He was a preemie weighing 1lb 11oz at birth. He attended a special school for 2 years and then public school when he started kindergarten. 2 1/2 years ago was diagnosed with adhd and put on low dose of meds. They really did not help alot compared to the side effects. We do not believe he is adhd, but may have a form of autism. How do we find a specialist to evaluate and help him?
Answer You can request a free comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation through your school system. Many professionals, medical, psychological, and educational, are unfamiliar with higher functioning autism; therefore, researching and arming yourself with information will be your best resource. In our country, we are far behind the times in regard to autism as a spectrum, and many still consider autism to be "Kanner's Syndrome," the lowest functioning and most disabled. Many higher functioning autistic people are misdiagnosed as ADD/ADHD, Bipolar, anxiety disorder, OCD, depression, Tourette's or other executive function disorders, which can be "comorbid" disorders. Premature birth can cause a host of learning and developmental delays or disorders. Gaining a comprehensive evaluation including a school psychologist, occupational therapist, and speech pathologist through the local school district, can provide you with the "test" information needed to proceed effectively. I hope this is helpful, please let me know if I can provide any more information. Good luck in finding help and support.
