I write this with extremely mixed emotions. Part pride, part fear and a lot of tears. Eli has been declassified and is no longer considered PDD-NOS. The experts have been saying for quite some time that Eli was heading for this and I have known that with his academic test scores and IQ being so high that we would soon face this day. Well it has come and Eli has lost his classification and now faces his future without additional support. Does this mean he has been cured of his problem? No.
The problem with standardized testing for PDD-NOS and the entire Autism spectrum is that they count academics and the ability for the child to learn as the measuring stick. If the child is learning, and excelling then the handicap is not slowing them down and hence they are cured. Eli still faces a lot of social hurdles but I believe, let me rephrase. I pray that being around kids that are socially active and capable will teach him how to be more socially active and capable. My belief is that if you put a child in a room full of drug dealers, eventually he will become a drug dealer. The same holds true for kids on the spectrum. If you put a bunch of kids on the spectrum together, how do they learn more appropriate behaviors? Since learning social skills is something you get from experience, if you are experiencing bad social skills then how do you learn proper ones.
I think it is a blessing that we have come this far. I credit the people who have worked with him. Ralph Barone as his SEIT, the OT and Speech therapists working on his social skills, his teachers and his family and friends. Eli has evolved so much in the 3.5 years of services he received. I think it is time that money go to another child. Maybe the dollars spent will turn that child around and give him or her the opportunities in life that Eli now has.
I am worried for Eli, but I celebrate all that he has become and know I have to push him harder now to keep on track. Congrats my son…job well done! We always knew you had it in you and I am very proud of you. But if you continue to mouth off, be put on the yellow for socially misbehaving I will silently be thrilled, but I will punish you my little stinker head.
February 10th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Wow! That’s great for your son. Our’s is 3 years-old and he’s starting pre-school through early intervention. Did your son have any issues talking when he was young? I’ve heard mixed things from doctors like that they will grow out of it or they will have it for their whole life. Our site is lifewithpdd-nos.com. Any tips for discipline?
Jake
May 17th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
My 3-year old son was just diagnosed with PDD-NOS and just started ABA last week. I am still partly in denial…and scouring the internet for any information. Just came across your blog and started reading a bit. This entry gives me hope. Thanks for sharing.
May 18th, 2011 at 12:15 am
Denial is natural, but you are doing the right thing! I know it is hard but there is a simple realization you will come to. Doing nothing, ignoring the situation will only cause your child to suffer. The more you do at an early age, the more you dive into getting him help, the better life he will have. I don’t know your case, or how severe the PDD NOS is, but I have seen with my own eyes the transformation a child can go through. I have seen it in my own child and I have seen it with kids who were much closer on the spectrum to Autism learn to conquer their issues.
The fight against PDD-NOS is in your hands. Fight for services. If they offer you five hours a week, demand 10. If they offer you 10, demand 20. Speech, OT, a SEIT in his class, an integrated class (kids learn more from their peers than anyone else…being in a mix of other kids with and without development issues is a key to success. More importantly be patient with your son. He does not understand or know he is PDD NOS! He needs love, understanding and encouragement. Together you can kick the PDD NOS diagnoses. Good luck…if you ever need anything, feel free to contact me.