Preparing For An Evaluation

"We are going to a psychiatrist tomorrow to have our 7 year old son evaluated (who we suspect has asperger syndrome, high functioning). What can we expect to happen, and is there anything we should take to the appointment?"

Being well prepared for the evaluation can help you make the most of your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what you can expect from your son’s psychiatrist:
  • Ask a family member or friend to join you and your youngster for the appointment, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
  • Make a list of any medications as well as any vitamins or supplements that your youngster is taking.
  • Write down any symptoms you've noticed in your youngster, including any that may seem unrelated to an autism spectrum disorder.
  • Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Preparing a list of questions ahead of time will help save time for the things you want to discuss most. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For Aspergers and high-functioning autism (HFA), some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
  • Are there any specialized programs available to help educate my son regarding social skills?
  • What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
  • What is likely causing my son’s behavior?
  • What kinds of tests does my son need?
  • What should I tell his school?
  • What treatments can help?
  • What's the prognosis for my son?
  • Will he outgrow this condition?
  • Would changes in diet help?



In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your psychiatrist, don't hesitate to ask additional questions during your appointment.

Your psychiatrist will probably ask you a number of questions too, including:
  • Does anything seem to improve your son’s symptoms?
  • Does your son have close friends?
  • Have these behaviors been continuous, or occasional?
  • Have you noticed a change in his level of frustration in social settings?
  • What are some of your son’s favorite activities?
  • What specific behaviors prompted your visit today?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your son’s symptoms?
  • When did you first notice these symptoms in your son?
  • When did your son first crawl?
  • When did your son first say his first word?
  • When did your son first walk?

Because Aspergers and HFA varies widely in severity and signs, making a diagnosis can be difficult. If your son shows some signs of the disorder, your psychiatrist may suggest a comprehensive assessment by a team of professionals. This evaluation will likely include observing your son and talking to you about his development. You may be asked about your son’s social interaction, communication skills and friendships.

Your son may also have a number of tests to determine his level of intellect and academic abilities. Tests may examine his abilities in the areas of speech, language and visual-motor problem solving. Tests can also identify other emotional, behavioral and psychological issues.

More resources for parents of children and teens with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's:

==> How To Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums In Children With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's

==> Parenting System that Significantly Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism

==> Launching Adult Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance

==> Teaching Social Skills and Emotion Management to Children and Teens with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism

==> Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Comprehensive Handbook

==> Unraveling The Mystery Behind Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Audio Book

==> Highly Effective Research-Based Parenting Strategies for Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism

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11 comments:

  1. Our son was given a couple of tests at Loma Linda Behavioral Services, the WISC and the WIAT. They will probably have you give a physical and mental health history if you have not given one already. We took our medical records of our son with us.

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  2. Not sure what kind of questionnaire they will have you fill out, but be prepared to take some time on it. Lots of questions will make you really think about behaviors. Things you may not have even thought are related to Aspergers. At least that was my experience. There is no real test. My daughter chose not to communicate at all with the psychiatrist, which made it very difficult for her to see her verbal skills and intelligence. Prepare your child as much as you possibly can.

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  3. They will ask you questions on your childs devleopment. such as when they walked , talked, & crawled etc. Also about pregnency and about family history. such as any one in the family has it or other simular conditions. They should tell you if you need to bring anything. But, if he takes any medications you should bring those. Good luck.

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  4. Mine was in the uk sat my son in a room with myself and two paediatricians in the next room watching through a two way mirror. Just did tests which looked like games to him which I could not understand significance of however they were fully explained to me after. My son was fine with it he's 7 also x good luck

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  5. Write everything you can think of from birth on, and bring a copy for the doctor and keep one for yourself. Write everything...even if you think it's not important. And even after the appointment, keep the sheet up to date with changes in behavior or meds...Good luck, this is the first step and the hardest one but you will see some results.

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  6. Hi Mark,
    Just a letter from a lurker on your site who's enjoying tremendously the resources you share! It's funny that I saw this in my inbox today, as I just today began a talk for a women's group with a nutty scene at Walmart w/my daughter on the neuropsych spectrum! Your tips are fabulous as always.

    Grateful for another coach and trainer out there working with all these exhausted special needs parents!

    Take care,

    Laurie

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  7. When we went to our 1st apointment we brought a letter from our sons school stating what the teacher sees in the classroom.

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  8. I downloaded the questionnaires and got everyone in my son's direct environment to fill one out so I had everyone's perspective .. it was very interesting to learn what things others had noticed that I did not .. eg. He has to rub his nose a certain way when talking .. did not even cross my mind as I was so use to it .. I even sat down with my 8 year old at the time and helped him to fill out one now that for me was a big learning curve eg .. did not know that on certain days he has to eat his dinner in a clockwise motion from less favorite food to most favorite with nothing touching each other on the plate . I never thought to ask my son if he truly knew when someone is sad angry or happy.. this I learnt was very hard for him he seems to feel that if they are not laughing then they are angry all the time .. be strong open minded but it will allow you to learn so much about your child .. we are closer then ever now because of it :) good luck

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  9. sometimes they don't want a lot of info from the past - as crazy as that seems. We've been to several psych - my son has bipolar and aspergers, has been on meds since he was 3. I'm always ready to give them the whole story but some of them only want genreral milestones nd current info. Be prepared for a long intake, usually 90 minutes or so. Good luck.

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  10. Dear Mr. Hutten: I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at the Illinois Center for Autism in Fairview Heights, IL. I have found your website MyAspergersChild.com be a very valuable resource. I was wondering if I could have permission to copy off some of your blog articles from time to time to share with a few of our parents with children with Asperger's and High Functioning Autism. Not all of them have access to a computer, and I feel they would find the information you provide to be extremely helpful.

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  11. Sure ...as long as you include in the print-outs that the articles came from www.MyAspergersChild.com

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