Thank you both so much.
aeh: Interestingly the OT report says no fine motor concerns and writing problems are not motor based. Is there something specific in the testing I could point to to try to argue otherwise? Also, given this data, which norm referenced assessment of written expression would you recommend I ask for? I feel like I already got a lot and for free, so I don't want to burden them with a bunch of additional requests, but if there is maybe just one more measure that would really give us useful info I'd love to have it done.
blackcat: I find it interesting that ADHD used to be called minimal brain dysfunction, because I find that a much more accurate way of thinking about my DS. Nothing is so far off he can't function, but most things seem to be at least a bit off. DS has been assessed as low tone in the past. He has qualified for PT at various points. He does have poor coordination on many gross motor tasks. He has the ADHD. The TS. Emotional and behavioral regulation issues. Various mild sensory issues. I do often wonder if just one part of his brain just isn't working right. I am very happy to hear of another kid with a similar pragmatics profile who is not autistic. I don't think we will ever shake that diagnosis now that we have it, but any little bit to help me feel more confident really helps
One really funny thing about DS is that his verbal skills seem to be at their highest when he is angry/fighting. He can reason and scream out the most amazingly complex and vocabulary rich things when he is mad at us. Which makes it really hard to stay mad at him! I wonder if he does it on purpose? Maybe I should suggest to the school that they work him into an angry frenzy and then ask him to come up with a story?
He's just so variable in general. Last year he wrote some beautiful poems and he used to dictate huge stories to us when he was 4 that often had very creative elements (and totally crazy ones). His art teacher says he is a very talented painter, but I haven't seen him paint at home in years (in fact I was convinced for quite awhile that she must have me confused with another mom). He hates to write, but he will happily draw and solve mazes for hours. Just a very inconsistent and strangely amazing child
