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Hi all, I am hoping some of you with more knowledge in this field can help me out.
We are signed up to adopt from foster care and our worker just let us know about a potential match. She only has preliminary info, hasn't rec'd his whole profile but has spoken with his worker.
This little guy is 4, and she says that he has been assessed as PDD but that his delays are emotional and his "learning is on target". He also has some anxiety issues.
I know some families with kids who are diagnosed PDD and I thought it was kind of a label they used when it looks like a child will be diagnosed autistic at a later age but it's too soon to call it that? Does it ever mean anything else?
Reportedly, his worker feels like his delays and anxiety are the result of being passed around his bfamily for his first 3 years and with a stable home, he will be "fine".
My best friend's son has Asperger's, and she and her dh are able to dedicate their energy and resources entirely toward him as a single child--and his challenges have entirely taken over their lives--the child we adopt will be
child # 4 for us and we will not be able to structure things entirely to benefit him, and our resources are spread thinner, too.
I guess what I would like to know is whether PDD is ever anything other than autism, and if so, if anyone who has btdt wants to weigh in on whether emotional delays brought on by shifting caretakers could lead to the PDD diagnosis, and whether a knowledgable, stable, family environment, but one which also has to flex for the needs and activities of 3 other kids would be at all suitable.
I know this isn't much info to go on, but I am trying to figure out what to look for when his profile does arrive, and whether to ask our worker to pursue the match.
Thanks for the time!
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Mallory,
An idea might be to contact a pediatric outpatient clinic and talk with a developmental specialist, a speech pathologist, or an occupational therapist who can help you understand this diagnosis. The severity range for PDD can vary widely with autism being on the more severe end of the spectrum. I work with PDD children and I love my job. I am also adopting a child and know that this diagnosis would not be my choice for me or our family. But God has a sovereign plan, and I know that His plan is so much better than mine! Many of the special needs kids I work with are such a blessing to their families. He cares so much for these children, and I believe He has a special place for each of them. Mallory, I pray that you know God and that can you hear His voice.
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Sorry, PDD is a "form" of autism in that it falls within the "spectrum" of autism.
[URL=http://maapservices.org/MAAP_Sub_Find_It_-_Publications_Luke_Tsai_MD_Article.htm]"...five disorders are identified under the category of Pervasive Developmental Disorders: (1) Autistic Disorder, (2) Rett's Disorder, (3) Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, (4) Asperger's Disorder, and (5) Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, or PDDNOS."[/URL]
Check these links/sites [url]http://www.autism-pdd.net/autism-spectrum-disorders.html[/url]
[url]http://maapservices.org/MAAP_Sub_Find_It_-_About_Autism_Aspergers.htm[/url] for some details and definitions to get you started.
[url]http://maapservices.org/MAAP_Sub_Find_It_-_About_Autism_Aspergers.htm[/url] has much more detail.
Our foster to adopt dd has was diagnosed a few months ago with AS and let us just say it keeps our lives interesting like going to dinner tonight and having the vitamins and their benefits in cheese recited to us. More than you ever want to know...Definitely do your research and get a good look at the diagnosis and testing preceding them. Our dd 3 past foster homes simply described our daughter as bright, but strange and she is, but WE know there is a reason and with structure and patience things are going very well.
Let us know how it goes...not an easy decision, but at least if you go in with your eyes wide open and some research behind you it should give you a better idea.
Hi Lisa,
Your daughter sounds precious!
I read your reply and wanted to respond. The first link you provided "...five disorders are identified" is consistent with PDD as the umbrella term , covering and naming the whole spectrum as "PDD Spectrum". Autism (as we use it at our hospital/clinic) or "Autistic Disorder" is actually considered on the severe end of this PDD spectrum as it is defined here. This is actually the correct medical terminology since defined by the APA in the DSM IV in 1994. The other two links you included are not consistent with the current definition. Some doctors still don't understand or use the correct terminology for these diagnoses. What makes it more confusing is when you finally learn, it changes!
PDD is autism in one form or another, but please keep in mind that there are different levels of autism in all catergories of autism. Autism can be detected by age three. The more people understand about autism, the easier it is to deal with. These children live in a whole different world than what most people understand. The more you know about the world these people live in, they easier it will be to deal with them. I've heard of autistic children being able to hear water while it's still in the pipes, before it reaches the faucet, they can be bothered by a smell things that most people don't smell, some even see changes in the light while in flourencent lighting, and more. For three years, I have been told that our son isn't autistic. That he's too social. Yet the signs of autism were and are there. Over and/or under reacting to pain, not like change, intense interest in certain things, sensitivity to certain clothes, loss of speech during toddler years, lack of age appropriate social skills, and more. When I finally got the school to test him, our son tested as being autistic. I have been finding that the older he is and the more I know about what we're dealing with the easier it is to deal with. Our son has taught me a lot, and is such a joy to be around.
cdumpprope
PDD is autism in one form or another, but please keep in mind that there are different levels of autism in all catergories of autism. Autism can be detected by age three. The more people understand about autism, the easier it is to deal with. These children live in a whole different world than what most people understand. The more you know about the world these people live in, they easier it will be to deal with them. I've heard of autistic children being able to hear water while it's still in the pipes, before it reaches the faucet, they can be bothered by a smell things that most people don't smell, some even see changes in the light while in flourencent lighting, and more.
For three years, I have been told that our son isn't autistic. That he's too social. Yet the signs of autism were and are there. Over and/or under reacting to pain, not like change, intense interest in certain things, sensitivity to certain clothes, loss of speech during toddler years, lack of age appropriate social skills, and more. When I finally got the school to test him, our son tested as being autistic. I have been finding that the older he is and the more I know about what we're dealing with the easier it is to deal with. Our son has taught me a lot, and is such a joy to be around.
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I realize this thread is a bit old...but it caught my attention.
My son is almost 3. He exhibits most of what all of you have described in your children. The neurologist (at the beginning of the appt) said--maybe PDD, then by then end of the appt. Not PDD. :confused: Is it because of his young age? Should I find a second opinion? Do I hang in there and wait for the blood work results? (he's being tested for many many things) I am often at my wits end too! The repetitions...the comments from others--"what's wrong? he seems normal to me." ...feeling like the inconsistencies are driving me mad! He has been diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (or Sensory Intergration Dysfunction depending on who you talk to) Many of these behaviors are seemingly related to that! He qualified for special education preschool for the summer and the fall...He has private OT 2ce a week....I just don't know what to do with him sometimes. So many people think it's the "terrible twos" --or that it's adoption related and will "pass" or "he will grow out of it". I'm so frustrated. :mad:
I would also be interrested in the original poster...did you accept the challenge?!
I'm the original poster, and as it turned out, we never even got an interview on this little guy, so we didn't have to decide whether or not to accept the challenge.
Now, we are expecting a placement of a toddler we just met at our first visit, who has some issues we don't know much about. He hits himself on the head repeatedly when he is scared, tired, or frustrated. If anyone has experience dealing with this, please let me know!
I hope the toddler is at least 3 years younger then your youngest, five years would be better......Are you going to get an adoption sub. with your placement....the medicaid actually ends up being soooo important and any children in foster care really does qualify, even if your worker is telling you no.... Attachment parenting, attachment parents is at least a BIG part of the answer with any foster/adopted kid..... I have 3 adopted children and the last one really has turned our lives upside down and then some...be we still hang in there.... Something really simple that has worked wonders with many of my foster kids is when they come and they have a behavior like that, stop him each time you catch him doing it and say we don't do that in this house, you don't have to do that here, you are safe....and hold and rock him as much as possible Good Luck, these kids need good homes!!!!
hi i wish they would stop useing pdd it seem to confused people it austim they should just stick to low f mordate or hfa .some w/autism may also be mr and that make them more severe .i was mordeate as a child i am hf now i also have learing disibilyts and mild hearing imparemt ,i now speak to parents pros and teacher to help them understand what it like:)
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I have adopted my grandson and recently noticed some behaviors that concerned me and notified my local early childhood agency. Autism runs in my family and I hope that maybe I'm just being paranoid. Jonathan is almost 3 years old. His speech appears to me much slower than others his own age. I know I shouldn't compair him to others, but it's difficult not to. He has extreme issues with ANYTHING changing in his life. When we moved him from his crib to a toddler bed it took us several weeks to get him to sleep in the bed. He would come to his door and cry himself sleep on the floor. If you try to change where he even sits at daycare for his breakfast he becomes extremely upset. He either doesn't seem to notice pain or cries at every little bump. Joathan is very content playing by himself rather than playing with others. I have seen him sit and rock a few times although not very often. I pray every night that this is not autism as I saw what other family members have gone through with this issue, but if our worst fears are confirmed we will do whatever we need to. We live in NC. Thank for giving some place to vent my fears.
Hi. Kim, has anyone evaluated him for sensory integration issues? Sometimes kids with integration issues are very upset by changes in the environment and schedule.
And about him playing alone--the fact that he happily plays alone is probably not as significant as looking at how he interacts with others when he does play with them. Does he ever approach other kids to play, can he understand what they are playing, does he enjoy it, etc.
Hopefully, whoever does the evaluations in your area will be able to tell you more after seeing him. If he is facing any challenges, the fact that he is getting help at an early age could be a huge difference. Best wishes!
The update on our situation is that the toddler we were visiting was placed with us (he is nearly 5 years younger than our youngest, way too tiny to do anyone significant harm--other than driving them crazy with whining!)
It took about two months for the scary behaviors we originally saw with him to go away (he hit himself nonstop on the head and in the eye, clawed and bit whoever was holding him when strangers approached too close, did not talk).
Now he is receiving OT and speech each week and learning to talk. He walks around like Helen Keller, pointing to things to ask their name and trying to repeat what we say. He never hits himself, rarely hits anyone else, and is a real joy.
Even though we had been told by the pros that being moved from one home to another several times could bring out issues in kids that will go away once the environment is consistent, we never would have thought that he would have changed in all the ways he has in just 5 months. We were terrified when we brought him home, and now we are so glad we did:D
No Jonathan doesn't like to play with other kids or seem to understand what they are doing. In fact when other kids come up to him to engage him in playing with them he again becomes very upset and tries to hide from them. He has been scheduled for an assessment for October 3rd. I'll keep you informed. and thank you very much for taking the time to respond.
Kim
My 12 year old son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS when he was almost 5 - quite late for an autism diagnosis. From my research, discussion with teachers and doctors, etc...PDD is diagnosed when not all "keys" for autism are present, but the child is only "lacking" one or two. Kind of "autism lite". Since my son is so mild, he has some very non-austisic mannerisms. He is extremely echolalic and fixates on things, but one of the best things is that he loves cuddles. My theory is that it gives him just enough deep-pressure that make so many autisics calmer. Although he needs special attention, he doesn't significantly upset the balance of the attention his older brother and sister need. We've been able to balance pretty well. He out grew tantrums much earlier than many autistics, and his were never very bad. He just started middle school this year and is in general ed classes almost all day, with resources available only if he needs them. Every autism diagnosis is so different, it's hard to compare any of them, but if you going to get one, it could be wors than PDD. There isn't any reason for us to think that my son won't be able to live on his own as an adult and have a more or less normal life. I hate to second guess your case worker, but unless she's had much experience with autistics, I wouldn't base the diagnosis on being environmental. The absolute sincerity in my son's eyes and hugs and everything he does, makes everything else worthwhile
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Wow. I am on these boards because I am an adoptee.......then today I found this.....My daughter who is 8 was recently diagnosed with suspected Aspergers along with sensory issues, anxiety & OCD. Everyday is a constant struggle with clothes, hair, etc. I have contacted the school but being she is above average in her studies, they just won't help. They actually look at me like I am nuts at times. I am grateful I found this board on this site. I will have plenty of questions...........