How was your son/daughter diagnosed?

Heidi - posted on 09/24/2010

When my son was two in daycare he would run away during field trips, he was not allowed to go anymore unless i went with him...but of course he was in daycare because i was working at the time...then during his first year in head start he was the "trouble child", always hitting the other kids and running in class and fell twice and it his head on a table, he went to the er twice in two months to get stitches or glued back together, byt the second half of his first year in head start he was transferred to the special ed head start and the social worker was constantly asking when i was going to get him medicated...by the end of his second year in head start the staff had pretty much exhausted all their teaching strategies for dealing with him then he hit his pregnant teacher in the belly. i pulled him out of headstart with a month left but i could not deal with the stress...we had been referred to child develoment specialists and he was evaluated and diagnosed with PDD-NOS when he was 5 yrs old just before kindergarten. He was put on Clonidine and the first half of special ed kindergarten was hell...My older daughter is a type 1 diabetic and I recieved a phone call from if not one then both teachers everyday at work...the last major incident that I remember in kindergarten was my son was put in the time out room and defecated and painted the walls with it...in the middle of the school year we moved back near my family and the new doctor put him on Adderall and he was put in the ECDD pre-k classroom and the teachers and the new meds made it seem like a whole new kid...the speech teacher was awesome and the special ed teacher was miraculous and i received few calls at all...he has improved dramatically since those early days but Joseph is still different/special and receives speech therapy and occupational therapy and is goning to be in a social skills training group, his meds have been changed again to Risperidone and Vyvanse and it is still kind of early to tell how they are doing but after little bit of a rough start he is adjusting well to another new school which is a charter school with smaller classroom sizes and lots of special time with the principle, considered his break times and as long as he gets all the services he needs that are available which we are still working on but as long as he gets what he needs that I am not not capable of giving him we are getting along very well...good luck and know that things can get better as the child grows as long as he gets the services that he needs...

Brandy - posted on 09/24/2010

Oh I almost forgot, my son also has a problem going to sleep. One thing that has worked for me is the radio, he loves music, clocks, and lights, I got him an old clock at a thrift store for three dollars and he plays with it more than the drum I bought him for his birthday. He loves drumming, on everything. Even his own tummy!! lol. I hope that helps you a little.

Brandy - posted on 09/24/2010

My son was diagnosed when he started K. Now that I know he has it I realize some of the things he did when he was younger make since, the obsession with lights and not really wanting to be around strangers. He goes to a special school and he now has a psychiatrist. It was really hard at first to except but now I would not trade him for the world. I love the facial expressions he makes, they make me smile everyday!!!
Brandy

Rita_2_davey - posted on 09/23/2010

Hi Sarah: My heart goes out to you. If only more Pediatricians' would just get it. My grandson was diagnosed at the age of 3 of having ADHD/Asbergers'. He at that time was put on Ridilin and Respiridol. Prior to this he had Kawasaki Disease when he was just a little over 2. He is now 11.
My daughter took him off of his pills slowly when he was 8, he seemed okay but her Pediatrician warned her that he may need them again. Sure enough, at the age of 11 (Hormones) he started with the acting up, screaming, cursing, hurting my daughter and my grandaughter. She went back to Pediatrician but this time he only said Respiridol 1 daily. Well I babysat just last wknd. for her. Wow!! Did I get the shock of my life. He tried unsuccessfully to get me going on the Saturday night, that didn't work. Prior to this someone else (his aunt) babysat him and he pulled a butcher knife out on her. Few wks. later a hunting knife on his sister which the sitter said that is not a wise choice. (I have no idea where this knife came from) needless to say he grabbed her by her hair and dragged her down the hallway (roughly 8ft). Since I didn't fall for his antics on Saturday night he again got mad at me Sunday night. He came in and I told him not to change the TV channel, his sister was watching a show. Instead he took her spot on the sectional. I asked him nicely to pls. give your sister back her spot. It was just Ugggh!! I hate you! I had then put his baby sister to bed (only 1) not the middle sister(9). He phoned his mom and work and said I was being mean to him but he wouldn't give me the cordless phone. He threw it. I went to clean the highchair up which is around a corner wall. Before I knew it he had come around to the back of me, put a choke hold on me, calling me everything. I finally got my self turned around and grabbed his shirt and said get in your moms' room now. I was the one in control and got him in there. Next thing I knew he grabbed my hair at the back, I honestly dont' know how I got his hands' off of me. Prior to the highchair he tried to knock me down the stairs, I had to fall forward on him to break my fall.
I phoned his mom and told her to get home "I couldn't deal with him". He ran out the door, screaming obsenities at me. My daughter came home, had to call the Police because we couldn't find him. They found him, brought him home (now 2 cruisers in the driveway). They spoke to him and then came outside in the back to see me. My kneck was all blood marked from the choke hold, black eye when he threw the phone, my finger was all bruised (I still don't know how that happened. They wanted me to go to EMERG I said "no" only because my daughter had to leave with him to go to CAS. While there they instructed my daughter to take him to a Mental Facility, 3hr. drive away. They weren't even sure whether she/he would be seen, but told her to expect that they may keep him for up to 4 days. Needless to say, 2 physciatrists' checked him at 8am, sent him home. He is now on Prozac,Ridilin. One heavy dose in am. 1/2dose at lunch at school, and heavy dose when coming home. He as well was complaining to me about leg pain, stomach pain, prior to all of this. I told him it could be growing pains. Now I am thinking "no" its the Asbergers' that is doing this. I've checked the internet about his Kawasaki Disease and his heart to be checked for up to a yr. thereafter. This did not take place. It also said that 57% of children who have had this disease may in later yrs. develope an anurysm, could be small, medium, large. Now I myself to, am wandering if this isn't part of his problem. He doesn't have friends, hates school with a passion, its either PlayStation (loud) or TV. He doesn't have anymore than one friend. Hes' told the Principle at school to f**k O, and actually hit him. Suspended more times than enough. They are now after 6yrs. of school sending in someone to evaluate him, which has only been asked by his Pediatrician for the past 4yrs. (Ignored). Now the Physciatrists' are involved as well as the Childrens' Aide Society, Since school started hes' only been going half days. This will change next wk. once papers' have been sent through. When he was about 2 1/2 he would scream, bang his head on the floor, fixate himself in front of TV, a few favorite toys. He would pull tantrums' where you just couldn't hold onto him, kicking and screaming.My daughter has moved to the country and at this point I would really like to set up an appt' with his Pediatrician here, just ot speak one on one. I'm sure he'll get the papers' on what has happened. What I recommend very strongly is having your child see a reputible Pediatrician, tell him you want tests' done on your child. Lay everything out on the table, I would even go so far as to have a CAT Scan done, EKG, everything. I would hate to see you caught up in the predicament that I myself was in as your child gets older and stronger. My grandson is 11 and weighs' approx. 140lbs. 5'2". I can honestly say I was dealing with a total stranger. Any other time, he was here just before School went in for the new yr. and he was as good as gold. Get your child help and you yourself speak with a Councellor. They will help you learn how to deal with all that is happening. This disease is heart wrenching and you don't want to hurt your child.Have someone teach you the proper way and have your child checked. Again, sorry for the long story but it was just a heads' up on their strength and your own ability to react, respond. This is where the Specialists' come in. I wish you so much luck!!

Sarah - posted on 05/28/2009

so it sounds like most of you went thru the family doctor first! Were you referred to someone else? At what point? How long did it take for diagnosis?

Laura - posted on 05/25/2009

Beginning when my son was about 18 months he started regressing and losing skills, which I thought was related to other events. He ended up in the hospital with pneumonia a few months before he turned 3 and at his follow-up visit our family doctor noticed even more things... and recommended we get him checked out. By the time he was diagnosed about 3 weeks before his birthday he had stopped talking altogether. He is now in a child-care program for kids with medical and developmental needs so he gets the therapy he really needs. We still use our same family doctor.

Amanda - posted on 05/23/2009

My son is 3 and a half and has only just been diagnosed, I had noticed that he had similar traits to my friends daughter who was already dianosed with high functioning autism but thought I was just being paranoid. A childcare worker mentioned to me that it might be an idea to have him tested so I took him to our GP who refered us to a ped. specialist, and a S/T. I paid to privately have him tested as in South Australia the waiting times for public diagnosis can be quite long, within two months we had an answer (a mild case of high functioning autism) The biggest suprise was how little help you get once your child is diagnosed.

Deana - posted on 05/23/2009

Hi,

I have a 3 yr. old son who was diagnosised 2x already in a yr.his 1st ados testing was when he was 2yrs. old and the 2nd one and the final one was just when he turned 3 and it took me a change of doctors to finally get someone to hear me out and see what we were seeing at home with our son not meeting his mildstine and decrease in areas of speech,emotions etc..he was doin alot of spinning,tippy toe walking,repetive running,turn on anf off light switches,open and closeing doors,loved watching fans spin,laid on the floor for hours just watching his thomas train go around and around and would not communicate in any way of form just screamed,had sensory issues really bad,developmentally delays,sleep was not good at all etc.



We just notice different things more and more which was throughing red flags up at us so when i chnged dr. for my son the new doctor seen the red flags too right away and lead us in the direction of Early Intervention and now that he is 3 he is in school a program for Autism children and does very well he has came along way just lot of work and intense structure constantly..



He started early intervention and they did speech 1x wk and ot 1 time a wk and a special teacher camein and taught him things like staying in chair to to table stuff taught him how to play with toys,parrell play with children etc. it was a fortune it thing we were able to get the help we did and when we did and still are receiving for our son.



Early Intervention got us contacted to a pshycologist to get him tested for Autism do to they saw signs and our son showed all the signs of Autism that was the first time he was diagnosised then again by a different pshycologist again just to make sure it was right the first time now thathe was older and sure enough it was..



We are greatful now because our son signs to us and also has limited words and we dowhat is called the PECS program which is a picture exchange so now he has a way to communicate and tran ition to things etc..hope this is helpful little...deana

Cindy - posted on 05/23/2009

Hi,

I always knew something wasn't right with my son, but like someone here said, I just thought that he was a sensitive soul.



We took him to a speech therapist when he was three and she told us that he didn't want to speak, and when he feels like it he will speak. A little more than a year after that my son's teacher recommended occupational therapy, and in her report she made him sound 'really stupid' and incapable of anything, And since he started ot at school he didn't want to go to school anymore, so we stopped it.



Last year we took him to another speech therapist, who after she evaluated him, and actually listened to us, said that he has a lot of autistic traits. From there on we took him to a developmental pead, who diagnosed high functioning autism.



I never suspected autism until about a month or two before he was diagnosed, because in South Africa autism isn't very high on the priority list, if you know what I mean.

Anne - posted on 05/22/2009

My oldest one (I have 2 with autism) was diagniosed with everything but autisim by the age of 8. ODD, Detachment disorder, Add (which he has) ect. I am his step-mom and when I met my husband I had 3 of my own. I kept saying, Honey I love you I love the kids but something is not right with your 4. Socialy, verbally, mentally. He was "angry", detached, just didn't connect. Finaly someone told us about Fraser. I took him in and in a 1/2 hour they said all clasic signs of autism. We were so relieved! Finally knew what we were dealing with! With Athena our youngest of 7, By age 3 I told my husband she parrots, tippy toe walks, lines up her my little ponies with the matching book (and if she didn't have the matching omg) has wandered off (to our horror) after the train, when she hears the siren thinking it is Thomas the Train and is obsessed with Thomas!Went after the dog all the way to the highway because she just wanted to follow him she said. She rocks back and forth when in uncomfortable situations, and has memorized stuff no 3 year old could possibly know! Took her to Fraser, and just walking down the hall to the exam room they said autism. She was in rare form that day LOL twirlling, parroting everything the lady said. Had her measuring ribbon to find out how "big" things were. Had her my little pony bag with her ponies and matching books.. got to room and lined them all up. All I can say is be an advocate for your kids! We have been through the gambet with these 2. People will tell you this or that, but you know what is best for your kids better then anyone. Good luck! willing to talk anytime.

Sarah - posted on 05/22/2009

Thanks Anneka. I am definitely gonna check out ACRC. I just want him to be happy and I need for our family to be happy. It is not peaceful around here and I hate the constant yelling (between him and brother, him and dad, then dad me). Its like a chain reaction and makes for very miserable days.

Another thing that has been suggested is food. Do special diets with no this or no that. Is (or has) anyone doing that and if so, is it working? And if so, how do you incorporate that into the entire family meal planning and outings?

Anneka - posted on 05/22/2009

I have to agree with what you say..a lot of the things you are saying are the same with Triston. Trying to cross the road just last night, he walked out in front of two cars and then got mad at them for almost running him over!! My son is pretty calm, it takes a lot to get him mad, but when he does, run for cover! The sleeping thing sounds a lot alike and the school stuff. He's in a special needs class and he's in 4th grade and he's in with 7 5th graders and 2 other 4th graders and he helps the 5th graders so he's smart. I would say in my opinion, with the routine, the lack of social skills (which is what ended up getting my son diagnosed) and lack of understanding things (back to the common sense stuff) the sensitivities to things...light, sound, textures....to me it sounds like autism. I had the same problem with the school thing that you have. We lived in California and we took him to ACRC (Alta California Regional Center) and they evaluated him, and after a few hours in a room with him, determined that he was fine. Ugh!! But in their defense it's very hard to tell he is unless you spend time with him in HIS world and on his time to truly see his routines and ways. Sounds to me like you might be onto something though..you might want to visit their website: http://www.altaregional.org/
It has eligibility info, and the services they provide and everything. They were good with him, they were just wrong about him, but a couple doctors have been. I sure hope you get the help you need. I know that it's SOOOO frustrated to have people look at you like you WANT there to be something wrong with them, and you're just making it all up in your head. These people are wrong. It sounds to me like your concern is genuine and I'm so sorry for all the heartache and misery you're having to go through..I've been there and it sucks! Good luck to you and please let me know if ACRC is any help.

Sarah - posted on 05/21/2009

WOW... again... I really feel like this is own life that I am reading from you all. I am still hesitant about where to start but am feeling that going thru the school is going to be my best avenue. I hope. Right now our school has issues of its own, let along the entire state of california with the budget issue.

My son was born a month early... emergency C-section. I had cholestatis during pregnancy and my amniotic fluid dried up. He was small but completely healthy, no NICU. He did loose weight (down to 4 lbs. 7 oz) and got severe jaundice (had to do the lights for 2 days in the hospital) but we went home and all was fine. When he was 15 months, he got Kawasaki Disease. If you dont know what this is, it affects the heart and arteries causing swelling. He was in the hospital for 7 days. After that we had to do ECHO tests on his heart to check for aneurysms every couple months for a year and then once a year thereafter. He also was on aspirin for a year to reduce swelling in the heart. After this happened, he was sick all the time. Ear infections, colds, etc. When we was 2 and a half, he had ear tubes in/adnoids out and at 3 and a half had his tonsils out. The first surgery did something to him and he had night terrors for months and thereafter has been completely hysterical if a dr does anything... even take his blood pressure. It was around age 3 that we started wondering if something was wrong. Everything bothered him. Routine was a must... don't deviate. He went to daycare while I worked and did fine with other kids but other kids always hurt him. Sounds bothered him but he was loud (still that way). Light bothers his eyes (still does). Clothes hurt him (still does but we buy the no tag shirts, underwear with cotton waistband, etc). He is very touchy/feely... touches women on breasts/butt, etc and doesnt understand that it is wrong... he just like sets his hand there while talking. The list could go on and on. At 3 his pediatrician said he was just an active child and that there was nothing to do.

Once he started Kindergarten is when things were more obvious. We were used to the way he was. But his teacher constantly had to redirect him... like 150% more than his peers. She developed a special chart for him... he got 3 chances where other kids got one. It was at the first parent teacher conference of the year that she told us that we might want to look into having him examined. She thought he had a sensitivity issue... I think it is called Sensitive Intergration ... nope.. just checked and its called Sensory Processing Disorder. She suggested a book to read called the Out of Sync child and it sounded so much like my son. So I did the dr thing and they said they could only diagnose for ADHD and that is probably what he had. So, he was diagnosed with ADHD/impulsive side and the defiant disorder. We put him on Concerta.

He is now on Concerta and Strattera (the latter helps him sleep because otherwise he would be up all night). The Concerta helps him get thru the day... for the most part. We can tell a HUGE difference between days with meds and the days we accidentally forget. He is liked for the most part but has a hard time with social skills. Academically, top of the class. He gets in trouble for talking out of turn, being off task, and not sitting still. He is punished with the loss of a recess or more.

At this point, mornings and evenings are definitely the worse. He wakes up and screeches like a banshee, cries hysterically over things such as putting on socks... hates wearing shoes (we buy him uggs), etc....Evenings are very similar. He has a younger brother who is almost 4 years exactly younger and in my opinion, they are on the same level. They fight over the same things, such as the sound A makes. The younger one has learned to annoy the older and do things that wouldnt bother anyone else but the older one. Constant separating is the only solution with them. My older son also has a trigger reaction on things... he loses a game and cries so much that he throws up, or can't have something and starts screaming at us that we are the worst meanest people and we take everything away and then storms to his room and slams doors, yelling at us the entire time. He has attacked his brother in a rage, which scared us. I dont know if he is even away of his reactions. Common sense does not seem to apply to him... like look across the street before crossing. He has to have 150% of anyones attention. Well, that list could go on and on also. A friend of mine has seen children with Aspergers and tell me all the time that she thinks my son has it.

My dilemna is where do I start? What is normal and what is not? I don't want something to be wrong with him (like my DH and his family say) but I want him to be happy and he is not. He is frustrated, has anxiety (grinds teeth, bites nails and lately always has an upset tummy), gets in trouble in school and then gets in trouble at home. We have tried reward systems, taking away things.. etc etc... but doesnt understand why he still can't have the reward when he is not behaving. I am at whits end and just unsure of it all. I dont even want to get into how the little one is... similar in some ways (noise level and smartness) but complete opposite in others. So between the two of them... by the end of the day, I want to cry! And there are NO straight answers on what to do.

Erin - posted on 05/21/2009

Quoting Erin:

I knew there was something amiss with my childs development as a mother and i pointed out my concerns to my health visitor who in my opinion was one of the worst i have ever came across! My son was not sitting up at the expected age nor was he crawling or reaching enough for things and was displaying repetive behaviours and not displaying as much social skills and interaction from around 6 months, my concerned were ignored and i was told repeatedly that i was a young mother and didnt know what i was talking about, albeit that my son was my second child and i am by no means an idiot i was only 18 at the time and had to push and fight for my worries to be taken seriously and only when i threatened to sue my health board for negligence did a sudden referral be offered to me at the local child development centre...... it turns out now that my son has ASD autistic spectral disorder has issues with muscle tone and his joints there is also a query over aspergers and has global developmental delay. Always trust your instincts as a mother.

I forgot to add as well that when finlay was younger from about 2 till 6 he didnt like things being moved around in the livingroom like if  i moved the coasters on the coffee table he would scream and get upset till they were put back again and he hated it if you put the light off he also detested low humming noising like a vacum cleaner or a drill and a hoover he would get very upset at that. He also used to go crazy in the car if you changed your regular route from goin some where familiar and he has never coped well going to new places without preparation first. he also used to repeat radio jingles constantly!!

Erin - posted on 05/21/2009

Quoting Erin:

I knew there was something amiss with my childs development as a mother and i pointed out my concerns to my health visitor who in my opinion was one of the worst i have ever came across! My son was not sitting up at the expected age nor was he crawling or reaching enough for things and was displaying repetive behaviours and not displaying as much social skills and interaction from around 6 months, my concerned were ignored and i was told repeatedly that i was a young mother and didnt know what i was talking about, albeit that my son was my second child and i am by no means an idiot i was only 18 at the time and had to push and fight for my worries to be taken seriously and only when i threatened to sue my health board for negligence did a sudden referral be offered to me at the local child development centre...... it turns out now that my son has ASD autistic spectral disorder has issues with muscle tone and his joints there is also a query over aspergers and has global developmental delay. Always trust your instincts as a mother.

I forgot to add as well that when finlay was younger from about 2 till 6 he didnt like things being moved around in the livingroom like if  i moved the coasters on the coffee table he would scream and get upset till they were put back again and he hated it if you put the light off he also detested low humming noising like a vacum cleaner or a drill and a hoover he would get very upset at that. He also used to go crazy in the car if you changed your regular route from goin some where familiar and he has never coped well going to new places without preparation first. he also used to repeat radio jingles constantly!!

Terri - posted on 05/20/2009

I have three children and didnt notice anything different with my third child until she attended daycare for a short time. You would think that having two older children and having been a daycare worker myself at one time, that I would have noticed the signs before she turned 3. Her first words were at 5 and a half months, way before my other two children; however, she didnt walk until she was 14 months. I just thought it was because she knew she didnt have to because she had 3 people that would jump up and get her whatever she wanted before she even knew she wanted it. But when I started picking her up from daycare and asking her how her day was and what she had done, I realized that she only repeated the questions I asked back to me. She has always played alone and with her brother and sister. She gives hugs and kisses freely and has no problem with eye contact with me. She was diagnosed with high functioning autisum, but it took two different times of testing at the Dennis Developmental Center, to come to her diagnosis. Her's was so mild that after the first test they didnt want to diagnos her right away. They suggested that she go to Opportunites, which is a sort of preschool that specializes in children with disabilities, for six months and then be retested. It took a little of the guilt away when even the professionals werent sure if anything was wrong the first time around. Unless I tell people my child is autistic they do not know, because they think she is only shy. She can speak fairly well but still has a language of her own. She has made amazing strides going to Opportunities. I cannot comment enough on how much I appreciate all they have done. She is starting kindergarten next year right on schedule and she will be in a normal class. The school will have a special ed teacher that will keep up with her progress. It is called "no contact special ed." Kinley will have not direct contact with her and will only be taken out of class for speach therapy. I am so proud of my little girl.

Erin - posted on 05/20/2009

I knew there was something amiss with my childs development as a mother and i pointed out my concerns to my health visitor who in my opinion was one of the worst i have ever came across! My son was not sitting up at the expected age nor was he crawling or reaching enough for things and was displaying repetive behaviours and not displaying as much social skills and interaction from around 6 months, my concerned were ignored and i was told repeatedly that i was a young mother and didnt know what i was talking about, albeit that my son was my second child and i am by no means an idiot i was only 18 at the time and had to push and fight for my worries to be taken seriously and only when i threatened to sue my health board for negligence did a sudden referral be offered to me at the local child development centre...... it turns out now that my son has ASD autistic spectral disorder has issues with muscle tone and his joints there is also a query over aspergers and has global developmental delay. Always trust your instincts as a mother.

Mikaela - posted on 05/20/2009

Hi Sarah,

My son was diagnosed with Asperger's when he was 8. I notice when he was about 3 that he was a "sensative" child but aas he's my eldest didn't really think too much about it until my 2nd child started nursery and the differneces between them became much more apparent (not just personality wise). the school he was attended at the time weren't very helpfull & quite dismissive when express I thought there was a problem. I moved him to another scholl and they have been fantastic, within 3 weeks the class teached said he suspected he was on the austic spectre and things moved on from there.

I had alot of backwards and forwards between school and Dr's as to who should initiate refereing him to Child Mental Health for a full diagonsis but eventually that came from the school. I t really helps if you have the schools support as they could be quite involved in any difficulties that are goning during school.

I went with an open mind as to what he would be diagnosed with.



My son never goes to sleep either!! Still haven't found anythig that works!!



Good luck with your challenge.

Sarah - posted on 05/19/2009

Thanks Anneka! the last part you said sounds really familiar.

Anneka - posted on 05/19/2009

also something I forgot to add..he is very sensitive to bright light and sounds. He used to HATE loud sounds, now he listens to his Ipod and TV as loud as they will go. He is still quite sensitive to bright lights and has a very hard time sleeping at night, but currently isn't on any medication for anything.

Anneka - posted on 05/19/2009

Hi Sarah,

Well I started working at a child development center on an Air Force Base when my son was a year old. I was working with 1 year old children at the center. I began to notice certain things with my son, who also went to that center, but wasn't in my class. I was noticing that he would NOT play with another child. If a child came to play, he'd either throw a fit or get up and leave. The more the teachers worked with him, he would eventually join in parallel play. Also, he didn't speak (even words) understandably until he was 4. He would always make weird patterns with cars and blocks instead of building or racing with them. Just all kinds of things like that...plus his sleeping was a nightmare, literally. He had night terrors when he was younger. By the age of 2 1/2, we moved to a different base and they also noticed these things. By the time he was 3 he was in speech and language therapy through the school system. We had thought and talked about autism, but the doctors kept telling us we were crazy, basically. The older he got, he became to adapt to things a little better, so it was harder to notice. But it IS still there. Especially the social issues. He gets sick if he gets around a lot of busy kids (like a birthday party.) Finally, we moved a couple more times and a psychologist through the school said she'd like to have Florida State University take a look at him. They asked us a bunch of questions, did several observations on him at school, and after lotsa waiting, finally diagnosed him with PDD-NOS at the age of 10. Teachers and friends have been telling us he was, and we kept agreeing but we just couldn't get anyone in a position to diagnose him, to listen to us. Hope that helps : )