all wonderful advice!
thank you so much!
Without actually saying "autism" I did sorta list some concerns we did have way back when(that eventually led to his dx @age 3)
I did sorta HINT strongly to the Tester I am considering using, via a phone "interview", that yes, my DS spoke very early, but then he "stopped talking" and even though he did start to speak again- I noted that he seemed to have social difficulties in interacting with peers- DS does ok with adults and older kids. DS also has 1gifted peer and they get along excellently! (is that a word?),
I told Tester that he seems to need to work on his Pragmatics (he actually DOES receive Speech Therapy to work on his pragmatics)---
Tester said from all the other stuff I described that really he doesn't sound any different than any other gifted little boy- this of course without test- and we also discussed how a child can be a high achiever without having "gifted IQ" which is where possibly my DS is (and which I would/am totally okay with)
*
This tester really believes that a gifted child needs to be around intellectual peers and that homeschool is not a good choice. Also disc with me the different way in which they learn. (which I already know, DS is NOT traditional sequential learner)
OH- Tester said would make SURE DS comfortable with her and that she works very hard to establish that, believing a more relaxed happy child will do better on a test vs an anxious child (that's a given for anyone), and she believes in breaks and even coming back for another session if needed...
OK I am still on fence.
but leaning towards NOT saying anything else, except to make sure Tester knows DS "reserved" ?
and if Tester does start to mention anything afterwards, I will be honest re Dx, and decline further testing.
****if Tester NEVER observes NO s/sx/concerns re Dx THEN I might also tell Tester at this point.
*I would not authorize any further testing.
Thanks again
