What to Expect at You Child's Evaluation - Also a Great Resource for Determining IF Your Child has Autism

Thank you for this. Tomorrow I'm going to start hitting all the links you provided. I appreciate your help!!!
Susan

Reiley's personal page

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/reileylake

The pediatrician seemed concerned with Anthony's speech delay at his 2 year appointment (Jan 2007).  I just thought he was a boy.  After a few months, he seemed to get worse, people kept asking me about him and he definately seemed different than the other children his age.  We went back to the doctor (we are there all the time anyway for other things) and asked for a referral to a speech therapist.  He hooked me up with a wonderful woman who did his evaluation (and his now his speech therapist) and she right away told me to call Valley Mountain Regional Center and ask to have him evaluated for autism.  I didn't take it too hard cause I already knew what the diagnosis would be.  I read Autism for Dummies and googled alot.  Also found cafemom.com!  Within a few weeks, a coordinator came to visit us at the house to see Anthony and see if our suspisions were true.  When Jeff came in, Anthony folded himself up between my seat bottom and the cross bars of the chair and he is a really big kid.  He couldn't get him to do anything, no eye contact, the worst possible reaction except he wasn't freaking, he fell into himself.  Jeff said right away that he has autism but, we had to get it officially from a PhD but, since it was so obvious, they started services  (OT and speech) right away.  The rest of the meeting with Jeff consisted of questions and answers from me about his behaviors, development, history.  You will be asked mostly the same questions over and over (spinning, hand flapping, line things up, lose of words and food, normal pregnancy, etc).  You should be able to find some samples of questionaires on line (I believe I googled and found some).  At the end of the meeting, Anthony had come out from under the chair and had gone in the other room.  Jeff went in and tried again, even banging something loudly behind Anthony and Anthony acted like Jeff didn't exist at all.  When we finaly saw the PhD she confirmed he had autism, same questions but, more in depth.  They will also try to get the child to do things like request something or follow directions, answer to their name, etc.  This eval is a little long, 2 hours at least and that is hard.  I know Anthony times out after about an hour so it was hard the last hour but, they gave us breaks and let him go up and down the stairs (stimming).  Anthony loves his speech therapist.  She comes to the house 2x per week for 45 min each time.  Most the time he doesn't want her to leave.  He also sees an OT 1x per week.  He has warmed up to her and likes her alot now too...she brings the fun stuff.  My daughter attends the Montessori school and they let us come in and socialize Anthony and show him how to play w/toys properly.  He speaks less words now than ever before but, he communicates much better.  He will bring me things or bring me to things now.  We are also working with recognizing pictures and requesting with picture cards.  It is going good.  In January his home therapy ends and he will be going to the local elementary school's early start class.  I am also giving up trying to find therapy close and am going to drive an hour each way with him to get an extra hour of therapy per week and in January they are having a special speech therapy group class 2x per week.  We do alot of OT at home cause he is a total sensory seeker.  We use exercise balls, mini tramp, swing (for swinging and spinning), throwing on the bed, play with clay or nubby balls and he has a sensory pressure vest to help him focus.  We also do alot of deep pressure with all the wrestling we do.  Feel free to read my Journals, especially the one titled Denial.  I didn't have a very long period of denial but, I did and it wasted months as far as I'm concerned.  Do it ASAP and good luck!

Wow these sites are very helpful. Thank you. I just did a questionnaire on PDD and it said Moderate PDD.