Doctor's appointment nightmare

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A child who has a meltdown is autistic? I wonder how this guy relates to kids who actually are autistic? Disdain and abuse?

NP - well maybe the pediatrician was seeing something the mother can't. Our pediatric visits were horrible - kid was under the examining table to avoid shots. And he turned out to have Aspergers. Our pediatrician never caught it so we got a very late diagnosis. But looking back the signs were all there. I just couldn't see them. I wish our pediatrician had been more attuned to what was going on the ADHD/Aspergers/Autism world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP should get her child evaluated by a developmental pediatrician.

Child has already been evaluated.

Unclear if this is OP responding. When was the evaluation? Was it done by a private developmental pediatrician?

My pediatrician had an amazing bedside manner and repeatedly reassured me that everything with my daughter was fine, thereby delaying her ASD diagnosis by almost 6 months.

If a doctor flags a POTENTIAL problem, why would OP not get it checked out.

[Anonymous]

Oh, OP, your post brought back so many horrible memories, about MYSELF. When I was little (like up until about age 9) I was a terror in the doctor's office, every single damn time. I freaked out and was a little monster. I am now a non-autistic, highly verbal, just slightly anxious adult, with a lovely family, lots of friends, a master's degree, and a successful career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, OP, your post brought back so many horrible memories, about MYSELF. When I was little (like up until about age 9) I was a terror in the doctor's office, every single damn time. I freaked out and was a little monster. I am now a non-autistic, highly verbal, just slightly anxious adult, with a lovely family, lots of friends, a master's degree, and a successful career.

I am actually commenting on my own post--because I want to add that I still think it is good to follow up on the doctor's concerns, even if I don't think the doctor's office hysterics that are described are really that odd, especially compared to me. I am shocked by how often children who have profound delays or who quite clearly have autistic traits start kindergarten without the parents having any idea that there is an issue. The thing I always wonder is, "Why didn't the pediatrician notice anything?" An overly observant and concerned doctor might be a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP should get her child evaluated by a developmental pediatrician.

Child has already been evaluated.

Unclear if this is OP responding. When was the evaluation? Was it done by a private developmental pediatrician?

My pediatrician had an amazing bedside manner and repeatedly reassured me that everything with my daughter was fine, thereby delaying her ASD diagnosis by almost 6 months.

If a doctor flags a POTENTIAL problem, why would OP not get it checked out.

It doesn't matter if the child has already been evaluated. When a child with language delays is only 4, the diagnosis is not set in stone. The symptoms may continue to shift as the child matures. Both the diagnosis of ASD and the diagnosis of MERLD can be wrong at that age. Kids can be moved from one category to the other as more information becomes available. Just because you got one diagnosis doesn't mean that you never revisit the issue of diagnosis again.

This doctor is 100% right to keep the diagnosis issue at the front of her mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP should get her child evaluated by a developmental pediatrician.

Child has already been evaluated.

Unclear if this is OP responding. When was the evaluation? Was it done by a private developmental pediatrician?

My pediatrician had an amazing bedside manner and repeatedly reassured me that everything with my daughter was fine, thereby delaying her ASD diagnosis by almost 6 months.

If a doctor flags a POTENTIAL problem, why would OP not get it checked out.

It doesn't matter if the child has already been evaluated. When a child with language delays is only 4, the diagnosis is not set in stone. The symptoms may continue to shift as the child matures. Both the diagnosis of ASD and the diagnosis of MERLD can be wrong at that age. Kids can be moved from one category to the other as more information becomes available. Just because you got one diagnosis doesn't mean that you never revisit the issue of diagnosis again.

This doctor is 100% right to keep the diagnosis issue at the front of her mind.

Why are you and other so hellbent on making this autism?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A child who has a meltdown is autistic? I wonder how this guy relates to kids who actually are autistic? Disdain and abuse?

NP - well maybe the pediatrician was seeing something the mother can't. Our pediatric visits were horrible - kid was under the examining table to avoid shots. And he turned out to have Aspergers. Our pediatrician never caught it so we got a very late diagnosis. But looking back the signs were all there. I just couldn't see them. I wish our pediatrician had been more attuned to what was going on the ADHD/Aspergers/Autism world.

Just because your child has Aspergers, does not mean this child does. Language delays have similar characteristics but those kids generally outgrow the concerns as the language comes in. Maybe ped. is taking a quick easy way out. You cannot diagnose someone with autism in 6 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, OP, your post brought back so many horrible memories, about MYSELF. When I was little (like up until about age 9) I was a terror in the doctor's office, every single damn time. I freaked out and was a little monster. I am now a non-autistic, highly verbal, just slightly anxious adult, with a lovely family, lots of friends, a master's degree, and a successful career.

I am actually commenting on my own post--because I want to add that I still think it is good to follow up on the doctor's concerns, even if I don't think the doctor's office hysterics that are described are really that odd, especially compared to me. I am shocked by how often children who have profound delays or who quite clearly have autistic traits start kindergarten without the parents having any idea that there is an issue. The thing I always wonder is, "Why didn't the pediatrician notice anything?" An overly observant and concerned doctor might be a good thing.

You would think we were doing nothing for our child as I don't publicly announce it anymore. When I get my kid early from school, I just say we are having a mom afternoon of fun.. Not we are going to therapy. It is none of your business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP should get her child evaluated by a developmental pediatrician.

Child has already been evaluated.

Unclear if this is OP responding. When was the evaluation? Was it done by a private developmental pediatrician?

My pediatrician had an amazing bedside manner and repeatedly reassured me that everything with my daughter was fine, thereby delaying her ASD diagnosis by almost 6 months.

If a doctor flags a POTENTIAL problem, why would OP not get it checked out.

It doesn't matter if the child has already been evaluated. When a child with language delays is only 4, the diagnosis is not set in stone. The symptoms may continue to shift as the child matures. Both the diagnosis of ASD and the diagnosis of MERLD can be wrong at that age. Kids can be moved from one category to the other as more information becomes available. Just because you got one diagnosis doesn't mean that you never revisit the issue of diagnosis again.

This doctor is 100% right to keep the diagnosis issue at the front of her mind.

Why are you and other so hellbent on making this autism?

To justify failing to get her child the diagnosis and help her child needed. Her ped. is not amazing if she or he missed the warning signs and if she had any concerns she should have got a second opinion and the treatment her child needed. We knew something was wrong and were getting a run around. We didn't wait and private paid for therapy. Simple.

And, yes, the diagnosis for some of us is set in stone, even if it is wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, OP, your post brought back so many horrible memories, about MYSELF. When I was little (like up until about age 9) I was a terror in the doctor's office, every single damn time. I freaked out and was a little monster. I am now a non-autistic, highly verbal, just slightly anxious adult, with a lovely family, lots of friends, a master's degree, and a successful career.

I am actually commenting on my own post--because I want to add that I still think it is good to follow up on the doctor's concerns, even if I don't think the doctor's office hysterics that are described are really that odd, especially compared to me. I am shocked by how often children who have profound delays or who quite clearly have autistic traits start kindergarten without the parents having any idea that there is an issue. The thing I always wonder is, "Why didn't the pediatrician notice anything?" An overly observant and concerned doctor might be a good thing.

You would think we were doing nothing for our child as I don't publicly announce it anymore. When I get my kid early from school, I just say we are having a mom afternoon of fun.. Not we are going to therapy. It is none of your business.

I'm the school's speech therapist -- it is my business when 5 year olds come to school unable to communicate. Calm down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, OP, your post brought back so many horrible memories, about MYSELF. When I was little (like up until about age 9) I was a terror in the doctor's office, every single damn time. I freaked out and was a little monster. I am now a non-autistic, highly verbal, just slightly anxious adult, with a lovely family, lots of friends, a master's degree, and a successful career.

I am actually commenting on my own post--because I want to add that I still think it is good to follow up on the doctor's concerns, even if I don't think the doctor's office hysterics that are described are really that odd, especially compared to me. I am shocked by how often children who have profound delays or who quite clearly have autistic traits start kindergarten without the parents having any idea that there is an issue. The thing I always wonder is, "Why didn't the pediatrician notice anything?" An overly observant and concerned doctor might be a good thing.

You would think we were doing nothing for our child as I don't publicly announce it anymore. When I get my kid early from school, I just say we are having a mom afternoon of fun.. Not we are going to therapy. It is none of your business.

I'm the school's speech therapist -- it is my business when 5 year olds come to school unable to communicate. Calm down.

Oh please, very few are actually good. When a five year old is unable to communicate the school blows off the IEP for months so kid doesn't get services till the end of the year and they are generally thrown in with a group of unrelated needs or 15 minute of 1-1. You really think that helps? It is none of your business and I can not be bothered with poor services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP should get her child evaluated by a developmental pediatrician.

Child has already been evaluated.

Unclear if this is OP responding. When was the evaluation? Was it done by a private developmental pediatrician?

My pediatrician had an amazing bedside manner and repeatedly reassured me that everything with my daughter was fine, thereby delaying her ASD diagnosis by almost 6 months.

If a doctor flags a POTENTIAL problem, why would OP not get it checked out.

It doesn't matter if the child has already been evaluated. When a child with language delays is only 4, the diagnosis is not set in stone. The symptoms may continue to shift as the child matures. Both the diagnosis of ASD and the diagnosis of MERLD can be wrong at that age. Kids can be moved from one category to the other as more information becomes available. Just because you got one diagnosis doesn't mean that you never revisit the issue of diagnosis again.

This doctor is 100% right to keep the diagnosis issue at the front of her mind.

Why are you and other so hellbent on making this autism?

I am not. I pointed out that labels change the other way too. I am defending that doctor though. Just because a doctor had a point that you don't like, doesn't make it okay to abuse them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP should get her child evaluated by a developmental pediatrician.

Child has already been evaluated.

Unclear if this is OP responding. When was the evaluation? Was it done by a private developmental pediatrician?

My pediatrician had an amazing bedside manner and repeatedly reassured me that everything with my daughter was fine, thereby delaying her ASD diagnosis by almost 6 months.

If a doctor flags a POTENTIAL problem, why would OP not get it checked out.

It doesn't matter if the child has already been evaluated. When a child with language delays is only 4, the diagnosis is not set in stone. The symptoms may continue to shift as the child matures. Both the diagnosis of ASD and the diagnosis of MERLD can be wrong at that age. Kids can be moved from one category to the other as more information becomes available. Just because you got one diagnosis doesn't mean that you never revisit the issue of diagnosis again.

This doctor is 100% right to keep the diagnosis issue at the front of her mind.

Why are you and other so hellbent on making this autism?

I am not. I pointed out that labels change the other way too. I am defending that doctor though. Just because a doctor had a point that you don't like, doesn't make it okay to abuse them.

New poster. I think people are reacting to the way the doctor simply tossed off an autism label with a casual comment during a child's bad appointment. Not the fact that a medical professional would bring up an unpopular diagnosis. This doesn't seem like a doctor "keeping a diagnosis at the front of her mind." Rather, it seems more like a not-nice remark from a frustrated doctor who couldn't deal with this child.