To Test or Not to Test.... That Is My Question.

You need to have him tested. The sooner he is diagnosed the sooner you will learn how to deal with his problems. I am speaking from experiece.

I also homeschool my children. I would definitely seek help if I was you. There are so many interventions for autistic children now. From what I have read many autistic children are able to maintain normal lives if early intervention is sought. It is a good thing that you homeschool, because you can work with him one on one.

You could have him tested, you don't have to have a 'label' change how you treat him at all, and being home schooled, you don't have to share that diagnosis with anyone you don't want to. Even if he doesn't have autism or something else in that category, a psychologist may be able to give you some tips to help him adapt to change, be comfortable in social situations, etc.
You could set up an appt with a psychologist, and just say you want help with the behavior issues and let them decide if they want to screen for autism, that way you won't feel like you're already lumping your child into that category. I don't think you'd be limiting him, I think the opposite, you can give him skills to cope in those situations rather than have a melt down or run and hide

what would you get out of having him labelled - would you want him drugged?

dont forget a label will last a lifetime, and some children play up to them.

my advice, read lots of books, and learn to deal with it your own family way, everyone is different, you son will find his niche.

edit to my answer - i didnt mean drugged lol, i meant medicated - do you want the eventual outcome to be your son on medication.

Three things popped into my mind in reading your post:
1. Autism-but not severe, I worked with severely autistic teenagers for a summer.
2. Asperger's Syndrome-mild form of autism
3. Sensory integration (a meeting with an pediatric OT might give you some solace.)
My son has severe ADHD and does not do well with change either. You must let him know what is going on or else he gets anxious. It's gotten way better now that he's older.

I respectfully disagree with Melissa. I think you should have him tested. If the "label" is a concern, you can work privately with the appropriate people and don't use insurance (insurance reports in to a central place, where anyone can get there hands on it), no one ever has to know the diagnosis. But, as I found out, once you get a diagnosis you become an advocate for your child and other children like them so that they can get the help that they need; sometimes it's medication, but most of the time it's techniques to deal with the behavior and sometimes it's to get the support of other parents/families that are dealing with the same thing.

If you decide to get him tested, and it were my son, I would lay it out very specifically what is going to happen, but he doesn't have a choice. Make sure the people that are evaluating know his issues with change, touch and new environments. Have them tell you everything they are planning on doing. Decide if any of it might cause too much anxiety for your son. Tell your son what is going to happen and for how long. Don't dump it on him at the last second. Prepare him for a week or several days at a minimum. Reassure him that it will be okay. Remind him of other new things that turned out to be okay/great. I also found that counting down or clock watching helped my son with his anxiety. When he didn't know how to tell time, he was always afraid it was going to happen right now.

T., whatever you decide to do, just know that you know your situation and child better than anyone else. Do what you need to do without listening to judgments and criticisms of others, because no matter what you decide, someone will tell you it's wrong.
Take care,
S.

T., I think you should have your son tested for autism. I am a paraprofessional in a public school system and the symptoms you explained sound a lot like a form of autism. I've been working for the school system for about 15 years and I started out working with an autistic student. I've also attended several workshops about this disorder. I'm no expert in this subject, but it would not hurt to have him tested. I hope everything works out okay and good luck.

Hi I work with autistic children and yes that is what I thought when reading your post, Autism Spectrum disorder, that being said there is so much help out there. Mys son also has ADHD and if it would help him to get labeled I would have him labeled. In the public schools they will only step in if he is 2 years behind. I am not going to let him get 2 years behind. The child I work with now is 5 and he is as smart as a whip but needs to take things at his own pace or he will get very upset. Congratulations for home schooling I wish I had the knowledge to do that I think it is great when a parent can home school. Because you pay your home taxes there are services: O/T and P/T and speech services that you can have for your child just check with your school district.

If you want to have you son tested then do it. Him being homeschooled has not caused the problem, if he is in public school then he will have even more problems! Just have him tested and then see what is said, I would not put him on meds. everthing does not need meds. to fix! I pray that God helps him and your family. B.

I also work with kids who have many diagnoses such as autism. It does sound to me like your son may fall on the autism spectrum (asperger's possibly too). I really don't see how it could hurt to test. Nobody else has to know if you don't tell them. Once you know for sure, you will know if he qualifies for any services, such as therapies. Even if you home-school he may still qualify for free therapy through the school district. There are also lots of things you can do differently at home. I have known a few parents to change from home schooling to public schooling to help with socialization, but that is completely your decision. One other reason to test is to plan for the future. It's hard to think about, but depending on how your child functions, you may want to start thinking now about what will happen once both parents are gone. Many children with autism (if that's even what he has)go to college, get married, etc., but some won't and they may need extra help once on their own. Just some thoughts. Good luck with your decision.

I cannot see any downside to having your son evaluated. Do not ignore your instinct on this. If he is found to have Sensory Processing Issues or issues on the Autism Spectrum, you will be able to get him resources and therapies to help him thrive beyond his current capabilities. If nothing is found, you can put it out of your mind once and for all.

At his current age, there is no reason you necessarily have to tell him (and make a big deal about) whatever the "label" may be. That's completely up to you. If he needs some help in certain areas, let him know that the therapy will help him in those areas. You don't have to necessarily tell him he has SPD or is on the spectrum.

Hi T.,

My suggestion is to have him tested. Of course there is a stigmatism attached to being "labeled" autistic but he won't get the help he needs, nor the services available now when he is young and when he is an adult. My 16 year old son is austistic, but on the lower range of scale, his IQ is only 69.

Here is a site of famous people listed who were autistic or thought to be. You'll be amazed at who is on the list. http://autism.lovetoknow.com/Famous_Autistic_People

Here are links to sites that also might be helpful to you. http://www.tulsasunshinecenter.com/?gclid=CNvD1avlqJ8CFRs...
or http://www.okparentnetwork.org/autismok.html or http://www.autism-society.org/site/Search?query=supreme

We didn't find out until our son was 11 that he is Autistic. He had been diagnosed as ADHD, than Bi-polar was added, then Oppositional Defiance Disorder and finally Autism. He has received the most helpful services after having the correct diagnosis.

Good luck on your journey. Here are a couple tips to aid you on this trip. Keep a three ring binder on your child. Include copies of doctor's reports, medications, grades, health records, birth certificates, immunization records, etc. in it. I use a binder with an open clear page on the front where I have placed a picture of my son. I take this binder (well, it's turned into 6 binders by now) with me to all doctor appointments, therapy appointments and school appointments. It surprises me everytime I have a record at my finger tips that the professionals don't have. The picture is a visual reminder that we are dealing with a real, live child not another statistic. I place the most current binder face up on the table in front of me and everytime I've seen the look on their faces change from this mother doesn't know what she is talking about to this mother is informed and ready for business.

Another tip is to join a support group. We start attending a group for Mom's and Pop's of childrend with disabilities of all sorts on the 28th at the Hardesty Library. We are relatively new to Broken Arrow but attended monthly meetings while we lived in Denver. They are extremely helpful in so many ways. There were classes taught on how to communicate with your child and know that they are "getting it"; how to deal with school officials, doctors, and therapists; plus be able to talk with parents who are in the same or similar situation as you are and you don't feel quite so alone. I'm assuming you are in the Tulsa metro area...here's a number to call to find out what services are available to you and your child. TARC, Sherilyn Walton, ###-###-#### X201.

Autism is now a prevalant issue in the USA...1 in 110 births (I think it's been adjusted this year to 1 in 80) result in some form of autism, it's more common in boys than girls, cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention, there is current legislation being introduced (or has been introduced) that would require health care insurance to cover more of the costs pertaining to mental health issues including Autism. Contact your state and federal representatives and senators to find out more about this legislation and how you can be an advocate (if your son is diagnosed as Autistic).

If you do receive a positive diagnosis of Autism please realize that you will become more of an advocate for your son and his rights. Keep informed, be prepared to write letters or make phone calls. You sons well being now and when he is an adult is at stake here...do your prepatory work now and he'll have advantages both now and later in life.

Because we started early in our son's life, age 5, and have kept accurate, detailed records, our son is now qualified for services, including SSI, housing, medical and education benefits for life.

Take the step now and have him tested...you'll have one of two outcomes...he's a normal child with some inhabitions or he has autism (all the symtpoms you listed point towards that). It's better to start now with the help he needs than put it off until later or do nothing at all. Wouldn't you want your son diagnosed and treated for any other illness, let's say diabeties?

Good luck and blessings,

W. Q.

I would probably mention to your child's pediatrian about your concerns. I know a lot of parents who worry so much about "labeling" their children. I teach first grade at a school whose special ed. dept. focuses on children who are on the autism spectrum. That does not mean that all that are serviced are autistic. Many exhibit characteristics of autism without being autistic. The autism spectrum is pretty wide, from severe to extremely mild. Children with Asperger's Syndrome fall into this spectrum. I am a regular classroom teacher who also has inclusion students. Currently I have an autistic child and a child who probably has Asperger's (we are working to have him tested). He functions fine and is probably gifted. He sounds a lot like your son. In class, he easily gets stuck on a task and can't progress to the next without some prompting. I have a teacher's assistant who spends lots of time during a lesson helping him progress through tasks. Next year he will not have this unless he is identified. By having a label, he will have many more opportunities to have his needs met.
I know that your situation is different because you homeschool. But, I hope this helps.

Prayers for you and your family, my son is autistic and I know how you feel. We had hoped he was only on the spectrum, but the psychologist said full autism. He is a wonderful little boy who has very few violent outbursts, he mostly is either upset, hyper-focused and self-stimulating, or--80+ percent of the time--very happy and loving. I got him diagnosed right after his 4th bday because you need all the therapy you can get as early as you can. The reason you go ahead and "label" him is because he has a disability(if ASD) that will affect him for a long time and you are entitled to assistance to help him achieve the highest quality of life possible. This was already touched upon by other posters, I just want to emphasize it to you. It is a serious responsibility you have to advocate for your child in the modern world. If he has autism-you may never be able to just let him figure ANYTHING out for himself, I pray you will let others help you and not let that bother you.
C.

He sounds a lot like my friend's son, who is both autistic and gifted. Have him tested for both.

If you are having concerns, definitely discuss them with your primary health care provider. There are many types of autism and if treated early, your boy will benefit more. The testing is not difficult. We did it. Your child will go over two days for about an hour each day (they break it up so it is easier). They do puzzles, mazes, other things, but the tester is also looking at how they respond to different stimuli. One good book is A Mind at a Time. We also do homeschooling and herbal remedies. But sometimes some professional help is needed!

My recommendation would be not to test to focus on looking for a definite label, but to seek professional assistance todiscover strategies to help your son/family cope and expand his behaviors. I have an 18 year old son with autism.Having a definite labels isn't important as understanding what your child's unique needs are and learning how to help him cope and grow.

You might want to google "Asperger's Syndrome", which is related to high-functioning autism. Also, it sounds like your child likely has some sensory integration issues. Google "Sensory Processing Disorder" and you can find checklists and more info.

Professionals can greatly help in gaining the understanding you need to help your child. My son has seen a psychologist for many years that has been extremely helpful in figuring out my son's behaviors and how to assist him in coping and expanding his behaviors.

Also, to address his sensory integration issue when he was young, we utilized an occupational therapist that helped use to understand and treat those differences, too.

If after doing some reading, it seems like your son might have some senopry issues, you might want to start off in finding a good occupational therapist that is experienced in sensory processing disorder.

Hope this helps...