Does anyone get defensive when it is suggested SOME kids with language disorders MAY have ADHD too?

[Anonymous]

Just wondering. This is a spin off from another thread, but I didn't have room to put s/o in the title. I am always surprised about how upset people get when ASD comes up. I have met quite a few parents of kids with language disorders who freely admit they and/or their doctor suspect ADHD as well and time will tell, whereas I have also met parents of kids with language disorders who go out of their way to say "my child does not have autism" when the subject hasn't even come up. Sometimes it's people I have literally just met. I never asked if your child had autism. I didn't even ask if your child has a language disorder. It's none of my business. Yes of course there are kids who have language disorders who don't have autism, but why on earth are you going out of your way to say "my child doesn't have autism."

[Anonymous]

It seems to me that you are not asking people if they get defensive, you are telling them that they do, and telling them it's wrong.

I don't have a dog in this fight. But in a world where so many people are paranoid about autism, and there are so many posts where new moms are wondering about every little behavior and possibly attributing it to autism, I don't wonder that people are defensive about it. And really, why would you, OP?

[Anonymous]

I don't think people see ADHD in the same way which is interesting because a decade ago people were talking about overdx of ADHD. I think one thing that makes ASD such a trigger is the social issues, though kids with ADHD can have social issues too. Even though many kids with ASD are getting the right help and can and do form friendships we all want our kids to be connected. I think also people just assume ASD has a poorer prognosis even though just like anything there is such a spectrum and kids with help are moving along the spectrum.

To 13:07: I think the paranoia about delays in general comes from the fact so much research supports brain plasticity theory and the earlier kids receive intervention the better. A lot of parents regret that they didn't push harder for a dx (of any kind) and services and wonder "what if" with regard to really early intervention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think people see ADHD in the same way which is interesting because a decade ago people were talking about overdx of ADHD. I think one thing that makes ASD such a trigger is the social issues, though kids with ADHD can have social issues too. Even though many kids with ASD are getting the right help and can and do form friendships we all want our kids to be connected. I think also people just assume ASD has a poorer prognosis even though just like anything there is such a spectrum and kids with help are moving along the spectrum.

To 13:07: I think the paranoia about delays in general comes from the fact so much research supports brain plasticity theory and the earlier kids receive intervention the better. A lot of parents regret that they didn't push harder for a dx (of any kind) and services and wonder "what if" with regard to really early intervention.

Well said. I agree completely.

[Anonymous]

Interesting questions - we did all the early interventions starting at 18 months and were told DS might have ADHD, definitely did not have autism, and yes, now we have discovered the ADHD. It is the final piece in the puzzle and we don't worry about autism issues. If DS hadn't done all the early interventions and we came into all of this now at 7 years old, I think there would be more questions re: possible autism because nothing had been teased out, investigated, and understood. And I might very well get defensive if autism were brought up, especially if I felt guilty I never looked into it earlier.

[Anonymous]

Kids with language disorders, e.g., receptive and/or expressive delays are more at risk for ADHD, however it doesn't automatically mean they have ADHD. They are also more at risk for learning disabilities, e.g., dyslexia. I'm not sure what there is to get defensive about. Parents usually learn these things if they get a comprehensive evaluation. However, OP, I don't think YOU should be suggesting these things to parents. Then yes, I could see where they would be defensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids with language disorders, e.g., receptive and/or expressive delays are more at risk for ADHD, however it doesn't automatically mean they have ADHD. They are also more at risk for learning disabilities, e.g., dyslexia. I'm not sure what there is to get defensive about. Parents usually learn these things if they get a comprehensive evaluation. However, OP, I don't think YOU should be suggesting these things to parents. Then yes, I could see where they would be defensive.

This thread is a spin off from the MERLD/ASD thread where a lot of people got defensive. Nobody said anybody's kid had ASD, but the implication that some kids with the mERLD presentation may have ASD set off a firestorm that likely would not have occured if you inserted ADHD for ASD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids with language disorders, e.g., receptive and/or expressive delays are more at risk for ADHD, however it doesn't automatically mean they have ADHD. They are also more at risk for learning disabilities, e.g., dyslexia. I'm not sure what there is to get defensive about. Parents usually learn these things if they get a comprehensive evaluation. However, OP, I don't think YOU should be suggesting these things to parents. Then yes, I could see where they would be defensive.

This thread is a spin off from the MERLD/ASD thread where a lot of people got defensive. Nobody said anybody's kid had ASD, but the implication that some kids with the mERLD presentation may have ASD set off a firestorm that likely would not have occured if you inserted ADHD for ASD.

Stupid argument. Here and there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids with language disorders, e.g., receptive and/or expressive delays are more at risk for ADHD, however it doesn't automatically mean they have ADHD. They are also more at risk for learning disabilities, e.g., dyslexia. I'm not sure what there is to get defensive about. Parents usually learn these things if they get a comprehensive evaluation. However, OP, I don't think YOU should be suggesting these things to parents. Then yes, I could see where they would be defensive.

This thread is a spin off from the MERLD/ASD thread where a lot of people got defensive. Nobody said anybody's kid had ASD, but the implication that some kids with the mERLD presentation may have ASD set off a firestorm that likely would not have occured if you inserted ADHD for ASD.

Not true. Reread that thread. There are definitely people out there that think MERLD is an "autism light" or "soft landing" for autism Dx.

Frankly, people don't view ASD and ADHD equally. If you did a survey of which Dx they'd rather be dealing with, ASD or ADHD, which do you think a parent would choose? (Besides neither one, of course.)

[Anonymous]

Posting again to say I agree with the above poster that people view ASD and ADHD differently, even though there can be kids with ADHD who are much more impaired academically and even socially (due to impuslivity) than kids with ASD. I said something similar at 13:36.

[Anonymous]

19:49 posting again..

I forgot to add my child was diagnosed with MERLD before ASD so to 19:03, that is where some us land first. Some of us land there, land at ASD, are told it's not ASD and that it's not even MERLD anymore and then another professional says something different. That said, I get your point about people questioning if MERLD is just easier to swallow and whether parents shop around for it.

I think the conclusion of the other thread was there are some kids with JUST MERLD and while the DSM says MERLD rules out ASD, there are plenty of kids on the spectrum with expressive and receptivse issues even if we are not allowed to call it MERLD by DSM standards.

[Anonymous]

I have two kids, one with MERLD and the other has apraxia. I do tell people my child has apraxia because there is an obvious problem (very difficult to understand) and people seem to worry or something. We would not get defensive if other people thought my kids had other issues (ASD or ADHD). I don't care what people think.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to add. I don't think a diagnosed disorder is a pejorative. It is what it is. Life goes on and we deal with what's going on as best we can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering. This is a spin off from another thread, but I didn't have room to put s/o in the title. I am always surprised about how upset people get when ASD comes up. I have met quite a few parents of kids with language disorders who freely admit they and/or their doctor suspect ADHD as well and time will tell, whereas I have also met parents of kids with language disorders who go out of their way to say "my child does not have autism" when the subject hasn't even come up. Sometimes it's people I have literally just met. I never asked if your child had autism. I didn't even ask if your child has a language disorder. It's none of my business. Yes of course there are kids who have language disorders who don't have autism, but why on earth are you going out of your way to say "my child doesn't have autism."

Yes. The first speech-language pathologist we saw flatly told us that our son has ADHD in addition to MERLD and that he needed meds for treatment to be effective. She also said that she didn't want to do therapy with him unless he was medicated We talked to our psychologist and our pediatrician who said they didn't agree. We said "Thanks very much" and found another SLP. After asking around we found that the first SLP said that every kid has ADHD and recommends medication. She is a quack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering. This is a spin off from another thread, but I didn't have room to put s/o in the title. I am always surprised about how upset people get when ASD comes up. I have met quite a few parents of kids with language disorders who freely admit they and/or their doctor suspect ADHD as well and time will tell, whereas I have also met parents of kids with language disorders who go out of their way to say "my child does not have autism" when the subject hasn't even come up. Sometimes it's people I have literally just met. I never asked if your child had autism. I didn't even ask if your child has a language disorder. It's none of my business. Yes of course there are kids who have language disorders who don't have autism, but why on earth are you going out of your way to say "my child doesn't have autism."

Yes. The first speech-language pathologist we saw flatly told us that our son has ADHD in addition to MERLD and that he needed meds for treatment to be effective. She also said that she didn't want to do therapy with him unless he was medicated We talked to our psychologist and our pediatrician who said they didn't agree. We said "Thanks very much" and found another SLP. After asking around we found that the first SLP said that every kid has ADHD and recommends medication. She is a quack.

Oh wow that's awful!!!! Did she work for a practice? If so, did you let them know. I wanted to puke when out 1st ST thru EI shared the "good news" with me that one of her other clients finally got on meds. We may well go that route one day, but I couldn't believe how flippant she was.