Back in January, Nathan's teachers said they noticed a few behaviors that might indicate Autism. I was shocked and to say the least, pretty upset. I figured we would have him tested anyhow, just to rule it out, because I feel deep down that he isn't. His hearing was the reason for his not speaking clearly. He would talk to you, but it would be like he was speaking a foreign language. We got tubes in last april, and got him enrolled in ECSE and his speech has drastically improved. It still isn't 100%, and he still sometimes has trouble communicating verbally, but it is a complete 180 from this time last year.
So then about 2-3 weeks ago, we had him tested. Not privately, but by the school psychologist. She stated that based on the interview with me, the in-room test, and her observances of him in his classroom, he is on 'the spectrum' as they say. She called me last Friday to tell me this so it would apparently not come as a shock at Nathan's conferences this thursday. I asked her to list some of the things he does, and the stuff she told me were things that either myself or my husband did as children.
To me, he functions normally as compared to other kids his age, other than his speech and some communication. I feel that because he had difficulty hearing for a good part of the time he would have developed speech, he is behind kids his age verbally and emotionally, but I see him catching up every day. His speech is much clearer and I can ask him things and he'll respond appropriately most of the time. Actual back & forth conversations are not quite there, but I feel he will get there with time, as he only turns 4 in August.
We also plan on having him tested privately, but I have no idea when that will be since the place that will do it, has a waiting list, and I just left a message to have them call me to get on it.
I guess my question is, am I right to question the diagnosis of Nathan, based on a few tests (that I feel have several flaws) and an interview with me, because the psychologist is employed by the school district? My reasoning is that I don't want to make it seem,like I am getting defensive, but at the same time, I kind of question their motive when I know that for every child that gets labeled a certain special need/disorder, they get more funding. I don't want that to stop me from accepting that Nathan may very well be high-functioning autistic. Either way, he will receive extra assistance and intervention, and I suppose that won't hurt, but I don't feel that he really is Autistic, unless that is just me being in denial. We even have my in-laws coming to the conference on thursday, for several reasons, one of which is my FIL who can provide proof and evidence of my husband's behaviors as a child since he can't remember that far back-and he has this uncanny ability to point out flaws and reasons for things where others wouldn't normally see them. And to also get an understanding so that if they have any questions, they can directly ask the teachers instead of us having to explain it.
I dunno. Am I just in denial, or is my feeling when I see him play and do the things they say he doesn't do correct in that the diagnosis is wrong for my child. I guess I think that just because he exhibits similar behaviors doesn't mean he is. Just because i like many activities that are typical of men, doesn't mean I am a lesbian or bisexual. So why is this any different?
I have been an emotional rollercoaster this weekend because of all this. I do have support from a few people I know who have Autistic children, and people who work with both children and adults (one of which is Tim's aunt) who are Autistic. So it isn't like I have no support system. But I can't seem to grasp whether my feeling is just denial and don't want to accept the truth, or if it really means that I am correct and he is not. Tim doesn't believe it either.