ADHD or SPD?

[hopecounts]

The two are not uncommon co- morbids so it may be both if anything.
How long has she been in a group setting?
I admit the fact that she isn't playing with toys or engaging in the classroom is very concerning.
Personally, I would call to make an appointment with a Developmental Pediatrician tomorrow that would be the best person to evaluate your daughter and figure out what if anything is going on.
Most have a 6-12 month wait list so if things smooth out or other wise get addressed you can always cancel, getting a medical diagnosis can be helpful as well as havung a sort of general contractor overseeing things to make sure the whole picture is evaluated.
as you know schools can only give an educational diagnosis (whoch could become important later) and at 3 gettiing the whole picture may help you better advocate for the best approach for her whatever that may be.

[hopecounts]

I would take it one step at a time, she sounds like she is doing well generally so I would do the evals and go from there.

[craftyone]

Have you had your daughter evaluated by someone qualified such as a developmental pediatrician, neurologist? Generally they will do observations, questionnaires. They will account for the differences in social settings etc. THey can narrow it down and what treatments would work.

[auntie]

Nov 9, 2014 19:46:49 GMT -5 @barefootbarista said:

Nov 9, 2014 19:45:17 GMT -5 craftyone said:

Not yet. This is a pretty recent issue, within the last 6 weeks. prior to that there were no concerns. I'm definitely going to get her evaluated by a developmental pedi. And soon. Probably within the next couple of weeks.

Is she a young three or an older one?

Unless there are some very extenuating circumstances, the typical wait time to see a dev pedi is 6-12 months in the U.S. It can be up to two years (last I heard) at world class centers like Yale's Child Development Clinic. You might get seen sooner if you are paying out-of-pocket; many of the best dev pedis don't take insurance and consequently can schedule 3-6 months out. I would side eye anyone who could see me next week. DS's dev pedi is working 4 months out; his psychologist has an 18 month long wait list though he'll probably retire sooner. Neither takes insurance of any kind and I live in an area pretty well served in terms of developmental pediatrics. 

Attentional difficulties and sensory glitches are common comorbids. She's certainly old enough to be dxd with SPD, but typically clinicians don't/won't dx ADHD until closer to 6. She's throwing some red flags that would also be seen in the context of ASD- the disengagement with peers and school activities, the sensory issues, not playing appropriately with toys, the straight away "jogging" could be a behavior called "edging", the drawing could be seen in the context of a special interest especially if her drawings are sort of "scripted" in terms of being more or less the same thing.

I'm not saying she's on spectrum, but it might be considered. Why are you having her speech evaluated?

[auntie]

Nov 10, 2014 9:51:47 GMT -5 @barefootbarista said:

Nov 10, 2014 9:50:30 GMT -5 @barefootbarista said:

Her speech is getting evaluated. I'm seriously about to cry auntie. The docs want her to continue to go through Ot and speech before going to the developmental pedi. Yes, her drawings are pretty much the same things. Sometimes she adds details.

Sorry, her speech is being evaluated for receptive and expressive. I have concerns about her conversational skills.

Try not to panic. 

She could just be a little immature in terms of social and around skills, but ASD should be ruled out at some point. For now, working on the areas where she needs supports make good sense since that's probably what they'd do even if she did have a dx. If she does- IF- she likely has a very subtle presentation more akin to what was previously called Aspergers since her self-care skills are age appropriate. Most kids with more classic forms of ASD are significantly delayed around things like dressing and toileting.


Waiting a bit to do the dev pedi eval might give more clarity around whether she is just a kid who needs time to warm up to school and peers or if there's more to it. Keeping her in a traditional preschool is a great way to expose her to teachers/peers to see how she does while you wait. 

Most kids with Aspergers like ASD are very verbal and have good rote memories and expressive/receptive language, but have glitches around conversational use of language. You might see work reversals around pronouns, literal interpretation of idioms, odd inflections or prosody even if speech is advanced for age. Things will be clearer as she gets closer to school age.