My son was diagnosed last year with ADHD, yet after a year and three different meds that didn't work both myself and his pediatrition are thinking he might have a comorbid condition. It's likely bipolar, or asperger's. How do you know? He has a hard time socially (I've always described it as being socially inept), yet he also is all over the place. He doesn't have that one thinng that intrests him that he'll focus on like "most" aspes seem to have. Can you be "a little" asperger's? Are there "classic" symptons that you'll have no matter what?

Differential diagnosis (ruling in; ruling out) for psychiatric disorders is really hard (if not impossible!) in kids. I think your Pediatrician is WISE not to pre-judge and pre-label him, as frustrating as it is for you.

Schizophrenia, bipolar and super ADHD or PDD (Asperger's) can look alike. They can ALSO co-occur, with each other, or with other things (the comorbid disorders, as you mention) -- further obscuring the picture. And, ofcourse, the di/stress makes it all worse, too -- like a wild card thrown in.

It must be so frustrating for you.

However, you *may* want to consider it this way -- what if your Doc was a "know it all" (said your child has 'Bipolar' or 'Schiz') and put him on anti-psychotics, or anti-seizure/mood stabilizers, and your child had many nasty side effects. Then later, you found out it was not even the right diagnosis. That would be sad, too.

I know. I don't want to rush to a diagnosis. I just feel like I'm spinning my wheels. Is it ADHD? Bipolar? Aspeger's? Something else? Should I see a psyc, or a neurologist? Would a neuro even help? And with so many symptons overlapping it just makes the whole process that more complicated. And durring the whole thing it's nothing but notes home from school, and punishments that don't work.
*sigh*

I think you should see a psyc and a neurologist so you can get 2 different opinions as to what it might be...

Hang in there. I wasn't dxed with asperger's till I was 15 and my mom was told that I was just shy/timid until I was tested at 15.

PTSD and ADHD can have asperger's like sensory issues. Being in a battle mode like state. Over a clock on the neighbor's wall that is loud and won't stop ticking. White noise machines were a miracle.

Can you diagnose asperger's with a nerologist? (or any of these "issues" for that matter) I don't want to go rushing off to try something because "it couldn't hurt" or "what have we got to loose", but at the same time I don't want to pass on something that may help because I'm worried it's bunk. Add that to limited fundage....

I think a psychiatrist would be the best bet if the issue is limited fundage. But I think several doctors during the initial diagnosis stage would be a good idea to help prevent biases and mis-diagnosis...

I would say find a pediatric neuropsychologist or neuropsychologist. This person would be able to help with diagnoses of AD/HD, Asperger's Syndrome, and the others. Plus, a pediatric neuropsychologist specializes in children and knows how to diagnose childern.

In today's autism craze, I think that Asperger's Syndrome is really being overdiagnosed. For example, when I first saw my psychologist for ADHD symptoms, as soon as I mentioned my social phobia, he spent literally a half hour trying to dig up ASD symptoms on me. Then, he told me that I might have Asperger's Syndrome at the end and listed my symptoms of it as an explanation.

Of course, I looked up all these symptoms and found that EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM could also be explained by either ADD/ODD or social phobia. I confronted him with the information and he agreed that I did not in fact have Asperger's, but I am still amazed that without having ANY obsessive interests, hypersensitivity issues, or nonverbal communication issues that one would almost be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

well In my opinion of being 27 yrs old and finally diagnosed with aspergers syndrome, I would have to say nerologist is the best option cause all the doctors and physcologist couldnt even diagnose me as asbergers, I went though 12+ years of school not know what the hell was wrong with me, I thought it was always related to family deaths, stress, postraumatic stress when I was a little kid to around 20 yrs old, then it was added as schizophrenia and other stuff with same symptoms.. which of course was miss-diagnosed, if you combine the symptoms of everything I posted you may end up with aspergers.. I was somewhat lucky didnt have to deal with perscription drugs, but I have to say go and visit a nerologist, But having I.E.P records during school helps alot. of course they could only figure this aspergers diagnostic solution the last 10 years or so, which in my position was to late to do anything about it since I'm 27 now. So for those parents who have children or know someone whos young who may have aspergers. try to set up with IEP action meeting. at your school etc. to keep records on your childrens progress. This is what helped me get diagnosed with aspergers. If your children are in there late 20's and didnt have IEP meetings, records during school.

Best thing to do is find resources on the internet, youtube and others :0). to deal with the problem head on.