Learned something new yesterday

[razorbackmama]

Ya know how there has been such an increase in different diagnoses (autism, ADHD, etc.)? I have had my theories as to why that is, but I came across one I had not considered till now.

 

My ds was diagnosed with PDD-NOS...not because he actually meets the criteria but because they feel he could benefit from some services and with the diagnosis he can access those services.:001_huh: So in other words, we have lots of kids out there who are being diagnosed with stuff that they don't necessarily HAVE but that need just a little bit of support/help and who can't get that support/help without a diagnosis.

 

I have to admit, that kind of floored me....:001_huh:

[Dobela]

Crazy, isn't it. It happened to us as well. Earlier this year my dd3 was exhibiting motor delays and doing some unusual compensations due to low muscle tone. After writing the referrals for PT and OT, her pediatrician actually sent us to a specialist to rule out Cerebral Palsy for the same reason - with a certain specific diagnosis she can receive more therapies than she can with a broad 'developmentally delayed' diagnosis. All I could think was, "just help the ones needing help. the need help with or without a diagnosis." When I did question this practice I was told it goes back to the insuranc company asking for proof tht the child will benefit from the therapy and proof is given by making a diagnosis.

[Ottakee]

YEP. The diagnosis drives the therapy.

 

When my kids were in private therapy I had to remind them to bill it under CP, or seizures but NOT fetal alcohol, etc. All were valid, medical diagosis but the insurance would pay if it was billed one way but not another.

 

Another thing to remember is that diagnosis is easier to get now and it might be on the increase but if you remember back years ago, kids with various special needs weren't in the regular classroom, many were even in institutions or didn't go to school at all--or quit after 5th or 8th grade.

[razorbackmama]

Another thing to remember is that diagnosis is easier to get now and it might be on the increase but if you remember back years ago, kids with various special needs weren't in the regular classroom, many were even in institutions or didn't go to school at all--or quit after 5th or 8th grade.

Yes, that's what I told my dh recently. He was wondering why there are SO MANY kids with diagnoses now. I said well for one, the behaviors are broader. A kid in our class growing up might have been "a little weird," but now he'd be labeled an Aspie or something. Or like you said, they dropped out or ended up in jail or SOMETHING.:001_huh: