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[quote=Anonymous]OP here.  I'm sorry - I can see that my language was insensitive but with a 3.5 year old boy, a part of me can't help but feel that various people - daycare providers, teachers, etc - are just overreacting and sending us on a never-ending "scavenger hunt" as one PP put it - one that is massively time-consuming and expensive.  THAT is exactly what I fear.  A hunt that leads to nothing but leaves my very young son A) fearful of doctors and B) with the feeling that there is something terribly wrong with him.  And yes, I do have a strong suspicion of all of these "specialists" and the frequency with which certain disorders are diagnosed and yes, medicated.

That said, here are some specifics.  DS is by all accounts perfectly normal - normal height/weight, hitting nearly of his developmental milestones for motor skills, cognitive, language, etc.  For the past 6-9 months we've had some behavioral challenges and minor sensory issues that have emerged, along with a near reversal in sleep habits, from a perfect sleeper to an anxious kid who can't get himself to sleep and can't stay asleep without mom or dad right there.  On the behavior side, he has issues with self-regulation and aggressiveness, especially when angry but also when he is simply overexcited/overstimulated.  He hits, bites (occasionally), and will generally engage in annoying habits like poking at people, licking them, etc.  When he is very upset he will even hit, bite or pinch himself.  He is also expressing sensitivities to sound and generally hates pants with buttons/zippers and the like complaining they are too tight.

RE: sleep we have noticed some incidents that seem like sleep-walking, restlessness, etc.  He also has allegies and snores, so sleep apnea or the like could be a culprit.  He recently moved to a DC PCS PS3 class and his teacher mentioned some episodes of "zoning out" as she put it.

So all of this sent us to our ped, who referred us to Children's for an EEG and neuro consult (to rule out absence seizures), a sleep specialist, and an OT specializing in SPD.  The EEG was inconclusive so they are now recommending an overnight EEG and a consult with a developmental ped.

So basically, I've gone from having what I felt was a normal kid to what the docs are now making me feel is a freaking crisis situation by referring me to every specialist under the sun.  My son is bright and social, and aside from a few challenges is a normal, developing kid.  The shit spiral I feel is my own as all of this is making me doubt myself and wonder where exactly I went wrong here.  I am, as I said, HIGHLY suspicious of all of this, right or wrong.  And I appreciate what all of you are saying about labels, but I don't buy it.  Society DOES label kids, and it affects them.  I have nieces and nephews in these situations and I have seen it affect their self esteem - and be used as a crutch - "I have ADD, so I can't XYZ."  I've watched their parents do it, too - "Well, Susie does have ADD, so XYZ is really hard for her."  I fear that all of this limits kids and is potentially damaging - especially with syndromes that are so nebulous.  As the neuro MD said today, "All of this could also mean he's just being his normal 3.5 year old self."  WTF?  So why am I here then, exactly?

There.  That's my whole life story.  Sorry if I offended anyone.  My question about what to expect at an initial consult still stands so I can prepare my kid for what to expect.  Thanks.[/quote]

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