Don't understand these results

[Traci_Momof2]

So this evaluation was done through the school? If so, I wouldn't necessarily take it as an absolute diagnosis. It's probably on the right track, and you son probably does definitely have one or more of the things listed. Does he have all of them? Maybe but maybe not.

If you really want to know for sure you need to find a medical facility that specializes in children's mental emotional behavioral health. And I know facilities like that can be difficult to find depending on where you live but that's the only way to truly know. When my kids were diagnosed we took them to such a facility. They were each evaluated - two day process - by four different specialists with different specific backgrounds. Then each of those 4 specialists made their own diagnosis, and then they all came together to discuss their results. If all 4 agreed "yes this kid has ADHD and autism" then that would be the official diagnoses. But if, say, 3 of them only saw ADHD and the 4th saw ADHD and autism, then they would go back and re-evaluate before giving the official diagnosis of autism. Or if they only saw the behaviors in daycare but not in school and not at home and not anywhere else, then they would dig further into the daycare environment to see why the behaviors are only there. In short, they wouldn't just diagnose based on one person's review of one test because they knew it's really not a full picture.

That being said, as far as the school offering services to your child while your child is in school, they are only going to care about which behaviors prevent the child from receiving their education at school. I know because I dealt with that before. You could have the world expert give your child a diagnosis and the school isn't going to care. The school is still only going to care about what prevents your child from performing in school.

So for that reason, maybe all that really matters is what the school sees because that's what they are going to help him with. And beyond that maybe a label is just a label and doesn't really matter. IDK, only you can decide that for your child but it's food for thought.

[Anonymous 3]

When my son was tested by the school they told me they couldn't give him a medical diagnosis of autism I had to take him elsewhere for that. But he actually showed a lot of signs and was formally diagnosed by an outside doctor.
I'd get a second opinion from outside of the school district for sure. And it wouldn't come from a primary care doctor either because they laughed at me and told me they knew nothing about autism but he's not autistic.

[Anonymous 4]

They get more money because the children need specialized education. Educating these children is more expensive.

Okay but several school psychologists and a private one have said my son does NOT have autism. I’ve wondered because of certain things he does. He does have adhd, anxiety and childhood apraxia of speech. So I don’t think schools just toss that diagnosis out especially if as you say education is expensive. I can’t remember but I think dysphasia was mentioned, adhd and dyslexia. Those are diagnoses the school can use to get the student funding and an IEP. If I was OP I’d see a psychiatrist or psychologist for a second opinion on the matter.

[Aletheia]

We decided to start the evaluation process with his school.

The diagnosis of autism REALLY threw me for a loop.

Should I see a doctor?

What were the qualifications of the person at the school who carried out the process?

If he wasn't seen face to face by a medical doctor of a relevant variety, the result in the report should properly be termed an assessment result rather than a medical diagnosis.

You'll find that's an important distinction when it comes to gaining access to other services beyond "what do the school staff need to bear in mind when interacting with this pupil".

Your next step is probably to do a bit of reading. Bone up on the difference between "Autism" and "Autistic Spectrum Disorder", get the terminology right so when you do interact with officials you press the "I need to take this seriously" button rather than the "she just needs me to appear confident in order to reassure her, the poor weak emotional dearie" button.

[Anonymous 1]

When my son was tested by the school they told me they couldn't give him a medical diagnosis of autism I had to take him elsewhere for that. But he actually showed a lot of signs and was formally diagnosed by an outside doctor.
I'd get a second opinion from outside of the school district for sure. And it wouldn't come from a primary care doctor either because they laughed at me and told me they knew nothing about autism but he's not autistic.

Yes, they did emphasize that this is not really a "diagnosis" because even though they are qualified, they can't do that in the capacity of their positions at the school. They begin the process and then you have to see a doctor. We did see his pediatrician but it's just a small neighborhood clinic and he seemed uncertain how to fill out the form and proceed with evaluation. I would expect you would need to see someone other than a pediatrician, maybe I need to take him to a psychologist.