It's worth getting evaluated as ASD in girls presents differently than boys and is easier missed, especially when there is no cognitive disability.

In Virginia Family Compass does evaluations without a very long waitlist, and in Maryland I'd recommend Dr David Black: https://caatonline.com/founders/dr-david-o-black/

In my kids classroom this year (same age), three out of 8 kids got tics, and half got eval this year and dx with something. I’m not saying it is xyz or do xyz but know kids are showing a lot of impacts from this situation on top of what is already going on

Except for the tics, sounds a bit like my daughter who was diagnosed with ADD, anxiety, and ASD. My daughter also had some bathroom accidents past the age other kids were having them, and the hugging thing could be a sensory thing connected with ASD (similar to not wanting tags in your shirts or pants like my kid). I would get a neuropsych because it's better to know.

From what you describe, it sounds more like anxiety and/or a tic disorder than autism.

See a psychiatrist who will make recommendations on FDA approved and regulated medications, not a pediatrician who gives you supplements that may or may not be what they say they are.

Anonymous wrote:OP, talk therapy usually doesn't work well as an intervention for PANDAs/OCD if that's what's going on. You need evidence-based exposure and response therapy (ERP) from a skilled therapist. Medication in combination with ERP also helps. Dr. Kessler at Behavior Therapy Center was wonderful for my DC with OCD.

http://www.behaviortherapycenter.com/

Also good info here:
https://kids.iocdf.org/

Good luck!

They also treat general anxiety and tic disorders, so an excellent place for a therapy/assessment.

OP, talk therapy usually doesn't work well as an intervention for PANDAs/OCD if that's what's going on. You need evidence-based exposure and response therapy (ERP) from a skilled therapist. Medication in combination with ERP also helps. Dr. Kessler at Behavior Therapy Center was wonderful for my DC with OCD.

http://www.behaviortherapycenter.com/

Also good info here:
https://kids.iocdf.org/

Good luck!

OP you should be able to get recs for a psychiatrist and evaluation from her pediatrician.

This actually sounds like the way my kid's OCD presented. The rigidity looks very much like ASD. The arm wave may be a compulsion. But tics are also very common with OCD.

My 8 year has growing anxiety, including not sleeping alone, or using the school bathroom (she has the occasional accident), social anxiety. She also has developed several tics such as a specific arm wave over her head for the last few months. Her ped has been trying to treat all of this holisitcally, as if its inflammation, gut health issues (thinks PANDAs). She is very smart. She was diagnosed with ADD a year ago, we have not medicated yet because its such a odd school year but I thinking thats coming next year.
However, I am more concerned about the anxiety, tics etc. She also doesnt like to be hugged too tight or kissed. I am worried this is actually ASD which really scares me.
I don't think any of the supplments the ped has her on make a difference. She is already in talk therapy. I am wondering if just starting her on anxiety meds would solve a lot of these issues.
I also don't even know where to start to find a good child psychiatrist or who to see for an assemment of ASD.