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Who to go to for an evaluation?


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My 8yo ds goes to a co-op one day a week. It's more of a hands on montesorri approach he started a month ago. The two women who teach it are former teachers and one of them used to work with kids with learning disorders. When I went to pick him up the main teacher asked me if he had ever been to an occupational or speech therapist? A light went on with me because I have suspected he's got some kind of sensory issues along with some Aspergers traits (though not fully). Anyway they had a list of things they had noticed about him:

 

  • processing problems-auditory?
  • trouble with sequencing verbally
  • expressive language problem?
  • Poor muscle tone (slumping while sitting and the way he walks) he runs leaning forward. (something he's always done)
  • Noticed when he starts running it's normal but as he picks up speed he draws his arms in towards his chest.

I did a search on the internet and I saw Non-verbal learning disorder and it fits him to a tee. It makes more sense to me than Aspergers. We had him tested at 6 for ADD/ADHD because the issues he was having and all they told us is no he dosen't have that and he's bright (129 I.Q.).

 

It was suggested to me that I take him for an evaluation with an occupational therapist. I'm unsure if that's where we need to go, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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I guess I need to contact my insurance first and see if I can just go directly to an occupational therapist or go to my ped. and get a referral. A developmental ped sounds like a great idea but after doing a google the only one that came up is part of the ped. group I go to and she is not a great doctor. I'm worried about taking him to the ped. with me to discuss these things because I think he'll get freaked out about it. Hmm... Thanks Christina.

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If your insurance requires a referral for OT and speech pathologist, it's important that the referral be coded correctly. It's a good idea to first find an OT and SP clinic you like, then call and describe your child. Ask if an evaluation is a good idea. If it is, ask if medical insurance will cover the evaluation. Clinics work with insurance companies every day and can usually tell you *exactly* how a referral needs to be worded or coded. Take that information to your GP or ped so they write up the referral in a way that your insurance will accept.

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Be aware that OT's diagnose a limited number of things: the muscle tone, sensory issues, etc. are things will diagnose and TREAT. If you suspect nonverbal learning disability, that has to be diagnosed by another profession such as neuropsychologst, psychologist, or developmental pediatrician.

 

You didn't mention issues with social skills. Does he have difficulty with social skills? That's a big part of a nonverbal learning disability diagnosis.

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Be aware that OT's diagnose a limited number of things: the muscle tone, sensory issues, etc. are things will diagnose and TREAT. If you suspect nonverbal learning disability, that has to be diagnosed by another profession such as neuropsychologst, psychologist, or developmental pediatrician.

 

You didn't mention issues with social skills. Does he have difficulty with social skills? That's a big part of a nonverbal learning disability diagnosis.

 

He has friends and loves to play with other kids but he has the issue of not being able to read facial cues and tones of voice. Another problem he has is recognizing people he has known. This wouldn't be someone he see everday now but we'll run into friends from Kindergarten or 1st grade and he has no idea who they are. I can understand not remembering the name but he dosen't remember them at all.

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