Back With a New Diagnosis

I’m sorry I’ve been away for so long. I’m thankful to Stef for not booting me from this blog though. I think I’m going to need it now more than ever.

The last several months I have spent fighting for my son. The school had pretty much just labeled him as a “problem child” until I walked into our last meeting in December with documents from his medical file stating he was diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder. They changed their tune instantly.

At that time, we also already had an appointment to go back to Drexel University and have Zach re-evaluated. We had been there two years ago because I felt that on paper, he fit the diagnosis of Asperger’s. At that time, the doctors there disagreed. They didn’t feel they had enough evidence to change his diagnosis. Since then, therapy has continued to not work with Zach. We kept being told to try the same techniques, and none of them work long term. We’d see results for a week or two, and that was all.

The re-evaluation appointment was because the doctors at Drexel were the only ones who have ever considered Zach had anything other than ODD. Even if he wasn’t autistic, I knew they’d at least tell me if the ODD diagnosis still fit or not. I strongly felt and fell it doesn’t. Well, after 7 VERY long years of me saying that there was just “something” off about my child, it was confirmed. Zach has now been put on the autism spectrum.

So, as I await the final report from the doctors, I’m preparing paperwork. Being a military family, there is a lot to do with our health care now. It looks like I need to enroll him in a couple of extra programs, and figure out what our cost share payments will be for his treatments. For school, I will be requesting an IEP. That in itself got its own binder. I’m the queen of binders now.

I have pamphlets and books to read, and a referral to get so we can get him a new therapist – one who specializes in kids on the autism spectrum.

So, for all those other parents out there, don’t give up. Not matter what diagnosis you’re looking for, trust your gut. I’m glad I did, and I’ll be posting more about our journey as we move forward. It’s going to be a learning experience for all of us.

But finally, I have peace of mind to know that I was right all those years ago when Zach was a toddler and I first suggested he may be on the autism spectrum.