Reply to Loaded question: MERLD and autism

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Reply to "Loaded question: MERLD and autism "

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
MERLD can be an early catch-all when the symptoms don't quite add up to an autism or ADHD diagnosis. What people need to understand is that you don't observe young children and older children with the same battery of tests, and that therefore MERLD diagnoses are more frequent in younger children, and ASD/ADHD/etc diagnoses are more frequent in older children. MERLD is a symptomatic observation. It does NOT mean a 100% risk of Autism diagnosis down the road, but it certainly increases the likehood.

My son was diagnosed with MERLD as a preschooler, then was given a full neuropsych in late elementary and diagnosed with severe ADHD, inattentive type. We refused the additional tests for Asperger's, but we know he has always had Aspie tendencies, and that Aspie tendencies run in my husband's family.

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if you refused diagnostic tests how can you speak definitively about it?[/quote]

You really want to know?
1. Because I'm a research scientist who has read quite a bit of primary research literature on the subject, as well as observed my husband, and his family, closely.
3. Because we talked to several psychiatrists, psychologists and developmental pediatricians over the years, and they all said that yes, DS had tendencies, but even if more tests were done, they still might not lead to a definitive diagnosis. He's on the cusp, and it could go both ways, and it doesn't really matter anyway since we know he has tendencies, know how to manage them, and it's the ADHD which is really burdensome right now.

He has accommodations at school as well as medication for the ADHD, and that is what matters.

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Is this the OP?  I don't think you necessarily need a definitive diagnosis at the moment.  If he has accommodations at school, are they working?  And despite what PP mentioned, you can certainly do ABA or behavioral therapy with a  child diagnosed with MERLD.  I'm also really surprised that you're medicating so early.  I would exhaust behavioral options first.  If you are medicating, it may be trial and error.

P.S.  I find it hilarious that you've been "observing" your husband and his family closely.  The only genetic link they've found to autism is older fathers.  Plus, as a research scientist, you're probably just as socially awkward as he and his kin are, you just don't realize it.

Bottom line, expressive and receptive delays can cause problems for a kid whether or not they're on the spectrum.  Keep treating the symptoms.  If you want a more definitive diagnosis wait until your kid is at least age 6 and then get an educational evaluation.[/quote]

No, I am not the OP, and no, I am not scared of an autism diagnosis. My 11 year old son has severe ADHD, which given his family and birth history is not surprising, and he *may* additionally be barely on the cusp of Asperger's. I pursued the ADHD label in order to get school services and medication for him. A formal label for Asperger's will not get him the services he needs, so having spent 3.2K on a full neuropsych already, plus daily meds (2K annually), I don't think I need to spend one more cent on an evaluation for Asperger's right now. The psychologist told me the test might come back inconclusive, since he wasn't a clear-cut case.

And, PP, you're quite rude and ignorant.

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