Reply to Loaded question: MERLD and autism

Forum Index » Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities

Reply to "Loaded question: MERLD and autism "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][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.

[/quote]

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.

[/quote]

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. [b] The only genetic link they've found to autism is older fathers[/b].  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]

Not so. There are many genes with identified links to autism. Many of them are linked to MERLD. My son's 1 deletion related to autism is also related to language disorders like MERLD. In fact, of the children with autism who had it every single one had multiple deletions unlike my child. Many experts have told us MERLD and a few have said autism. I don't care. Autism has gotten us great services and it is well known kids with autism have receptive and expressive delays often. It is also supposed to be standard protocol (as per Wright's law) to make sure kids with HFA get speech and language services. As long as your child gets the speech and language services and other needed interventions I would not get hung up on HFA vs. MERLD since both involve the same delays.

I am not expecting an onslaught of angry MERLD parents. This is my 2 cents and many will probably disagree.[/quote]

Your posts have nothing to do with the OP questions and comments.  You keep derailing them to push your neuropsych and Autism agenda.  Ok, we get it that you struggle with your kid having Autism and its more comfortable for you for all kids with SN to have it.  For as much as you'd like the support, how about giving it.

You do realize some of us have had genetic testing and autism screens on our kids and nothing was found.  This, again has nothing to do with MERLD.  Its a good idea to get genetic testing of all the tests done if there is a concern but on the flip side, if something is found that is not curable, then is it such a good idea to do testing as it may prevent your child from getting health insurance in the future?

You are hung up on Autism vs. MERLD.  OP is asking specifically about MERLD and saying her kid was ruled out for Autism.  You keep insisting it could be a form of autism and to get a neuropsych. Even if those of us who haven't done them, did them with your provider, if it is not the same result as your child, you'd insist we get a second opinion to get the right diagnosis.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics