Reply to 18 y.o. DD's mysterious brain ailment, advice please

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think OP's child is experiencing autoimmune encephalitis.  Unfortunately, I'm way too familiar with this, as DS has had it.  We had close to a dozen different diagnoses (and were told he was just suffering anxiety, tics, etc.) before getting to the bottom of it (Dr. Latimer was a HUGE lifesaver initially and now he sees a doctor in a different state).  A mother knows when something is off with her child.  OP- Don't give up on this until you find out what's happening.  [/quote]

I, too, thought of this. A close friend's child had this as a teen. However, she was much more physically ill and hospitalized, but I think it can be much milder. The personality, executive functioning and other changes sound very similar.

I definitely think she should go on to college in the fall if she wants to, especially if her grades are Bs. [/quote]

OP. I looked through the symptoms, and they are pretty severe. DD has a knee that gets sore every once in a while (she says it burns), but otherwise has no physical symptoms, no depression or anxiety (checked thoroughly by a psychologist), no sleep problems. She says it [b]takes her a lot longer to do schoolwork[/b], she [b]can't remember as much information as she used to be able to remember[/b], and she's [b]forgetful[/b], [b]loses track of things[/b]. She was never like this before. She [b]works very hard, but only gets Bs[/b], even [b]with help from me[/b], [b]constant reminders[/b], and she's [b]on a reduced schedule. [/b]

PP, do you know of anyone diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis who had almost no physical symptoms, just cognitive ones? [/quote]

IMO, OP, you have two tracks you should be pursuing: 1) diagnosis and treatment for underlying cause of brain function deterioration and 2) identification of current cognitive strengths/weaknesses and creating supports so DD can be as successful as possible.  IMO, you need to pursue both tracks simultaneously.

You have gotten a lot of advice on track 1.

But, on Track 2, all of the bold screams for a neuropsych exam.  IMO, you cannot ask your DD to put her life on hold while she/you pursues diagnosis and treatment, imagining some time when she will be all better.  She may have gotten Bs with help from you, and that may not be what you think she's capable of.  You may think she could have gotten into a better college.  But, she is where she is now.  A neuropsych will identify and describe cognitive weaknesses and strengths and describe accommodations.  With a neuropsych exam and doctor-recommended accommodations, your child can go to the college disability/learning center and get access to 1) written class notes 2) extra time 3) preferential seating 4) tutoring support and 5) waiver of course load or time to completion requirements (similar to being on a reduced schedule).  All of these typically help a child with the deficits you describe.

Many, many kids who are B students, even with support from parents, go on to do well at college.  They spend less time in class, so they have more time to study.  They typically can sign up for classes in their area of strengths, which helps them a lot.  Your child can do some college classes and still pursue diagnosis ad treatment, and then if she gets better, transfer if she wants.

Colleges have no obligation to pay for a neuropsych.  High schools do.  Ask for it now before your child graduates. If declined because she is graduating, argue that the school failed its child find obligation when it failed to do a proper assessment before offering the full range of possible accommodations when she first fell ill and went on the reduced schedule.  [/quote]

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