Expert: James Michael Roan - 2/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: What is the best method to diagnosis a child under 5 with Aspergers?  I heard that its rarely dx under age 6.  5 yo son who we've had concerns about since around 2yrs of age.  We saw a Developmental MD and gave a list of my concerns and oddities my son displays.  He dx. w/AS after just a brief meeting.  Although I had thought this as well I would like him to have a "formal" assessment.(We have a family history of schizophrenia)  Is your experience these assessments are typically done by a child psychologist or a Behavioral/Developmental Pediatrician?  My son is to start kindergarten and I'm not sure where to start.  I was told re: school testing it is really not done until the child is at least 6 yo.  Thanks for your time.

ANSWER: Hi Nicole;

It's best to find a psychologist extremely knowledgeable about AS with experience with younger children. My experience is that the medical professionals as a whole are just not current with the changing face of autism spectrum disorders. Personally, the youngest child I assessed for AS was 2 years and 10 months, which I now consider a few months too young. By 3 years 5 months, a psychologist can do a pretty decent job. Most universities have an autism/AS team or unit and will do the assessment.

Let my know if I can give you a little more help.

Kind regards,
James



Disclaimer:

While James Michael Roan has attempted to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, the information is provided in good faith without any express or implied warranty. The purpose of this web site is to provide information to families with children, teens, and adults with an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delay. James Michael Roan Consulting does not prefer any one organization to another, and it is not responsible for the information listed on an organization's web site, or any disseminated information either verbal or written. Please be advised we are not giving medical advice and that circumstances can dictate different treatments. If these issues affect you or your loved ones you should seek professional advice. This site is operated for informational purposes only. At no time will James Michael Roan attempt to diagnose or dismiss a potential diagnosis over the Internet. We hope that you find my resources useful.



Bio

James Roan is a certified school psychologist who has been consulting in the areas of autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and learning difficulties in the United States and in Ireland for over ten years (http://www.jamesroan.com). James earned his M.Ed. in School Psychology and M. Ed. in Adult Education and receives ongoing post graduate training in autism at the University of Washington’s Autism Center. James Roan has traveled to Galway, Limerick, Mayo, Clare, Dublin, Cork, Waterford, and other cities and counties across Ireland assessing children and adults, and consulting with solicitors (lawyers) in defense of children with disabilities. James Roan was the consulting psychologist responsible for many of the autism and AD/HD screening tools and other content for Access Special Needs.Com. James Roan consulted with the graduate department of the Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford Ireland in the development of their graduate program for the certification of private autism tutors. James has conducted formal assessments of students in the Autism Unit in the Claddagh National School in County Galway Ireland.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: followup questions:  1)do those tests usu. include visual observations for a dx to be made? 2) Besides word of mouth or their own advertising what is the best way to find out if a Psychologist is specialized in AS?  3)Do school systems usu. take the results from these assesments done outside the school so that an IEP can be started?  Thanks for the quick response and your time!

Answer
Hi Nicole;

Yes, for AS you MUST observe a child alongside same aged-peers in structured and unstructured settings. I really don't know the best way to find an appropriate psych! Yes, if you refer your child for a special education evaluation, the evaluation team must consider the results of other assessments. That being said, they do NOT have to follow those outside recommendations when it comes to therapy and services. If you had a diagnosis of AS they would have to make your child eligible for services under the category of autism and would then decide the appropriate placement and services via the IEP. The assessment results/data drive the IEP development, so you want more than just a diagnosis, you want an assessment of all areas typically impacted by autism. You want to assess: IQ (generally not impacted); executive functioning; attention; social/emotional; social responsiveness and social competence; developmental profile; sensory processing, concrete versus abstract thinking; a few Asperger's specific assessments like the Gilliam Asperger Disorder Scale (GADS), and an observation in structured and unstructured settings.

Kind regards,
James





Disclaimer:

While James Michael Roan has attempted to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, the information is provided in good faith without any express or implied warranty. The purpose of this web site is to provide information to families with children, teens, and adults with an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delay. James Michael Roan Consulting does not prefer any one organization to another, and it is not responsible for the information listed on an organization's web site, or any disseminated information either verbal or written. Please be advised we are not giving medical advice and that circumstances can dictate different treatments. If these issues affect you or your loved ones you should seek professional advice. This site is operated for informational purposes only. At no time will James Michael Roan attempt to diagnose or dismiss a potential diagnosis over the Internet. We hope that you find my resources useful.



Bio

James Roan is a certified school psychologist who has been consulting in the areas of autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and learning difficulties in the United States and in Ireland for over ten years (http://www.jamesroan.com). James earned his M.Ed. in School Psychology and M. Ed. in Adult Education and receives ongoing post graduate training in autism at the University of Washington’s Autism Center. James Roan has traveled to Galway, Limerick, Mayo, Clare, Dublin, Cork, Waterford, and other cities and counties across Ireland assessing children and adults, and consulting with solicitors (lawyers) in defense of children with disabilities. James Roan was the consulting psychologist responsible for many of the autism and AD/HD screening tools and other content for Access Special Needs.Com. James Roan consulted with the graduate department of the Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford Ireland in the development of their graduate program for the certification of private autism tutors. James has conducted formal assessments of students in the Autism Unit in the Claddagh National School in County Galway Ireland.