Auditory Processing disorder or Autism. Help!

[Halt]

Recently returned from overseas. My now 10 year old son had a provisional diagnosis of Auditory Processing Disorder. Unable to complete assessment as came back to the UK. Now in the UK and all the same assessments completed. Have been asked to accept a high functioning autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis. Has anyone else got a child with APD. Totally confused now.
Don't want to accept the diagnosis here if it means they will not send him to have APD ruled out. I believe Great Ormond Street is the only place that will do the assessment in the south East of England. I know the diagnosis will allow me to access more help for him but i wouldn't give someone a diagnosis of cancer if i wasn't completely sure they had it. (I'm a cancer nurse specialist, BTW) Any help or info would be great.

[CMMom]

Hi, and 'welcome', I'm a newbie too

My son was initially seen for a speech and language disorder, but the minute he was seen by the paed we were told it was autism and have never doubted it. Anyway, I don't know if this helps or is anything you don't already know, but this is my understanding: Auditory Processing Disorder it, as you probably know, a receptive language disorder. Sometimes language disorders can mimic autism, the child might not give eye contact due to poor self esteem and hoping to avoid social situations, because they make him uncomfortable. Obviously can affect speech, socialisation and make the child isolated etc.
The one thing it can't be responsible for is the repetative thoughts/behaviours associated with the autistic triad, this is often expressed through flapping, spinning, jumping, rocking, squeaking (I know, right lol) etc, but can equally be repetative thoughts which aren't physically visable to others...

In your case I would ask for the differential dx to be more closely considered, but bear in mind that if the person offering the ASD dx is a specialist, they may be seeing things that even you as his parent, can't. Ask for more details about why they have chosen that dx, and don't be afraid to question why they don't think its APD. But equally bear in mind that Semantic/Pragmatic Language Disorder is often part and parcel to the autism diagnosis, too.

Sorry for writing a book, I hope I haven't just said everything you already knew, good luck with the dx process, its a journey!

[Guest]

Thanks for that CMMom. I don't feel he has repetative actions, He does flap his arms in a windscreening wiper action but says he is pretending to be a lorry although he does do this at inappropriate times and seems to use it as a form of comfort or distraction. Recently this has reduced as i have suggested to him to do other things when he is feeling stressed. He does show a fair amount of the traits for Pathological Distraction as well but not all. Paed consultant we are seing is general and not an expert. He admits to not knowing much about Auditory Processing Disorder but felt that accepting an ASD diagnosis would get us some help. Think he doesn't know what to do with us. He came to the diagnosis after a computer based questionaire i did with him. My son fitted the criteria by 1 point. But only filled 2 of the triad.

[CMMom]

Hmmm can you ask for a referral to a community paediatrician? If he only meets two of the criteria, wouldn't that be Aspergers or A-Typical autism?

He may be right about getting more help and support with a dx of ASD, especially since few people in the UK know what APD is. There is even a strategic action plan for ASD in Wales so its becoming more and more well-known all the time!

[Deborah Rourke]

(05-10-2010 11:39 AM)Halt Wrote:  Recently returned from overseas. My now 10 year old son had a provisional diagnosis of Auditory Processing Disorder. Unable to complete assessment as came back to the UK. Now in the UK and all the same assessments completed. Have been asked to accept a high functioning autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis. Has anyone else got a child with APD. Totally confused now.
Don't want to accept the diagnosis here if it means they will not send him to have APD ruled out. I believe Great Ormond Street is the only place that will do the assessment in the south East of England. I know the diagnosis will allow me to access more help for him but i wouldn't give someone a diagnosis of cancer if i wasn't completely sure they had it. (I'm a cancer nurse specialist, BTW) Any help or info would be great.

Hi, I have just had my son (7years old) assessed through Meath School assessment panel in Ottershaw Surrey. He has had a terrible time being excluded from three different schools. Not a clear case autism as he displays two out of the three traits for autism, he is closer to PDD NOS, displays aggression and behaviour outbursts combined with low self esteem, also has speech and language disorder, sensory issues, fight or flight being his way. Although Meath School cannot accept him into their school due to his behaviour, the report is certainly worth having - five specialists tested him for two days to get a clear picture of my his needs. WHERE, I wonder are the schools to accommodate these children who fall into this grey area? Autistic schools too autistic specific and many do not deal with aggessive children, Behaviour schools cannot deal with the autism, speech and language schools cannot deal with behaviour or autism. All the best... Deborah

[CMMom]

Deborah, there are millions of gray areas in specialist schools, and there are not enough of them anyway. The waiting list for a mid-functioning ASD specialist school in my area is 2 + years!

My son has moderate autism as well as epilepsy, he is starting in a specialist school on the 8th of June... but only for a three month assessment period, as they are terrified of him having seizures (and he has 3-5 a day).

Autism has SO many comorbid conditions that there will never be a school that can cope fully with all children on the spectrum. Some kids have HFA, cerebral palsey, learning disability, ADHD and language disorders... how do you choose a provision for them? It would likely have to be at a school which took their physical needs into account firstly, if they were wheelchair bound...

It really is a nightmare!

[Romersa's Protege]

I'm Autistic and have APD as part of it. CMMom, nobody is wheelchair bound even if they _are_ wheelchair users. I mean, where are the chains preventing those people from leaving their mobility enablers?

[cyberpedz]

I like your positive view romersa

[Romersa's Protege]

Thank you cyberpedz, but I must admit to nicking that point of view from wheelchair users themselves because I agree with them and am not ashamed to advocate for them where they cannot advocate for themselves.