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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here.  Completely overwhelmed with the diagnoses listed here. I also am not avoiding help in fear that my kid has autism???  She also hasn’t years of anxiety either.

I think I will just talk to my ped about someone for her to talk to about the separation anxiety. Thanks. [/quote]

Op, no one is implying [b]you[/b] were avoiding an autism diagnosis.  There are posters on this board that don't get these evaluations because [b]they[/b] are trying to avoid a certain diagnosis.

Typical kids don't see OTs.  Your post is peppered with examples of sensory, regulation, and anxiety related symptoms.  Your home efforts have hade her anxiety worse.  Neuropsychological evaluations can be covered in part or whole by insurance.  Begging to stay at home isn't typical for 9 year olds.  [/quote]

What exactly do you think is helping here? OP is looking for help for her kid's symptoms which right now are anxiety. She knows she needs help. [/quote]

She can start with getting an actual diagnosis.  SPD has never been a diagnosis.  Sensory issues are generally symptomatic of something else:
https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/AAP-Recommends-Careful-Approach-to-Using-Sensory-Based-Therapies.aspx

http://dbpeds.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/neonatology/documents/Sensory%20Processing%20Disorder_110513.pdf

It might "just" anxiety or not.  Look at the whole picture before going down a rabbit hole of treatment that is expensive and misses the mark.
[/quote]

I couldn't disagree more. OP should not sink $4000 into a "neuropsych" exam out of the gate. She should go to a child psychologist with experience treating anxiety. Maybe ask for a school evaluation to the extent it interferes with school. [/quote]

This isn't "out of the gate."  This kid is 9 and begging not to go to school.  She bothered to get a SPD diagnosis when the kid was 4 even though it's never been a diagnosis.  It's just common sense to get a big picture now and probably would have helped a couple of years ago.

We had a private evaluation that insurance paid half the cost.  It will likely be covered in whole or part because they would be assessing for anxiety.  She can also go to children's or KKI--again likely to be covered.

Therapy without a diagnosis will likely not be covered.  Therapists are happy to take your money though.[/quote]

OP here. My child is not begging to not go to school. Where did I type that?  I said she used to beg to stay home alone - like once she turned 8 wanted to be independent and be in the house herself, asking when she could like her older sister. Not during school  but after like wanting me to go on an errand and she stayed home. I said that to show that this new anxiety is the opposite of her typical behavior. Besides the one episode about 18 months ago with the crappy teacher, she is usually fearless, independent, light hearted, etc...  This new anxiety is atypical of her normal self.  She loves school this year, but she has just within the last 2 weeks is nervous about me and where I am while at school. She is asking me to pick her up at school at dismissal instead of taking bus home. When getting out of the car at morning drop circle (I drive her to school because older DD goes to private and I have to drive) she is now asking 3-4 times on the way there, where I will be. At bus stop, at home, up at school? etc...  Some days asking me to pick her up. Other days asking for me to be at bus stop. But she has to know now and needs reassurance before going to school. That is new. In the beginning of the year up until winter break, she begged to walk home from bus stop with just friends - no mom wanted. A few times I went to bus stop in car if it rained and she took the umbrella and still walked home with friends. Fiercely independent. So that is why this new anxiety is such a contrast.

Also, I never cared that she had mild SPD and considered it a diagnosis. I don’t write it on her health forms or expect anything with it.  OT came to her preschool monthly for multiple kids. But she was fine once we were aware of things to help her with. What type of stimuli she craved and ones she wanted to avoid. There was nothing else to evaluate her for.

I talked to my ped and I now have an appointment with a therapist who works with elementary school kids about anxiety. I was told that while most kids on the spectrum have sensory issues, most kids with sensory issues are not on the spectrum.  But most kids with sensory issues can have sensory anxiety. So hopefully we can see where this goes.

I also had a meeting with her teacher who hasn’t seen her do the writing in the air tic and said she has noticed an increased anxiety in class the two weeks but maybe only 10% of the day and before that none. She said her work is still great, she participates in class, and having fun with friends. She mainly just asks about me now. She thinks it is separation anxiety which some older elementary school, kids do get.

Anyway, I wanted to clarify as I think you truly misunderstood my first post.  This past few weeks is completely new and I do want to help her. I am not ignoring years of anxiety or relying on a “diagnosis” of SPD. [/quote]

Op, sorry I misquoted you,

"She used to BEG to stay home alone, has always been my independent fearless child. Bikes off with neighborhood kids, etc.. Besides the one month last year, this is such a sharp contrast. Now she calls to get picked up from play dates earl. Asks if I can pick her up from school."

I still think with al the references to sensory issues and anxiety that you should get a neuropsych eval for ADHD.  The teacher isn't qualified to diagnose anything and ADHD looks different in girls.  This probably isn't a phase.[/quote]

Why would you think ADHD? OP describes anxiety (which can also present with being oversensitive/sensory avoidant -- that's how I am as an adult). OP describes zero symptoms related to focus.

Think horses, not zebras. Therapy with a therapist specialized in anxiety and OCD is a good first step. [/quote]

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