Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 6/7/2007

Question
Hi Catherine,
My daughter has just been diagnosed with pdd-nos by her school psychologist.  I have no idea what to do, or where to even start looking for help.  She is seeing a private speech pathologist and the school has been wonderful in getting her assessed, but I'm not sure where she belongs this next school year.  She qualifies for a special ed language class, based on the speech pathologist's report,  which the school has been trying to arrange for her.  Do you think this is the best place for her?  Her autistic behaviours are quite mild and don't seem to greatly affect her ability to function in a class setting.  Her language is very delayed, which is what prompted all the assessments.  I don't know who to talk to. Please help!  We live in Ottawa, Ontario

Answer
Hi Chloe,

I understand your confusion and distress.

In my opinion, a child who is learning in a regular classroom should stay there. I emphasize LEARNING, not just surviving. If she is getting along but not gaining knowledge, she may be better off the special classroom.

Speech delay makes it very difficult to assess how much information is getting in because you can't get it back out in a form that is easy to measure.

Try to get an opportunity to visit the classroom where she would be placed. Watch the interaction between the teachers and students. If there is focused therapy going on that addresses the students' individual needs, it may be a very good place for her. If, on the other hand, behavior control is taking most of the teachers' time, it may not be a good placement.

What does the private speech pathologist recommend? These people can offer a less biased opinion.

You did not mention how old your daughter is but I'm guessing around first grade/ 6 years old? What you see now, in terms of her function in a regular classroom being adequate, will not be the same as she gets older. Her delays will cause her to fall further behind the other children socially. This social skills gap can lead to teasing or being left out be the other children.

Her interventions should include occupational therapy geared toward teaching her social skills. Most children on the autistic spectrum have deficits in social function.

I am including a list of Internet links where you can seek more information:

http://www.neurodiversity.com/main.html (many links to books, articles and resources)

http://www.patientcenters.com/autism/news/resources.html (books and resources)

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/asperger.htm (the definitions and
government links)

http://www.autism.org/ (many links to information)

http://www.angelfire.com/pa5/as/asteachersites.html (teaching resources)

Another good place for you to get support is on a discussion board. <http://www.rettdevil.com> offers a free, members only discussion board where you can post questions and get responses from other parents and people who are adults with spectrum disorders.

Best wishes,
Catherine