DS has been going to a Dev Ped since he was 2.5 years old for autism and other disabilities. She basically acts as his medical case manager.
During the initial evaluation process (which took nearly 6 months), the Dev Ped ordered some of the tests and gave referrals to other specialists for other tests. She ordered the initial blood work, which included genetic testing, metabolic testing, and checking some of his vitamin levels. She gave us referrals to neurology for an EEG, audiology for hearing testing, and psychology for the ADOS test (Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale). She gave us paperwork to complete that included medical social history and the GARS test (Gilliam Autism Rating Scale). The Dev Ped got all the reports from all the other specialists as well as reports from us and the school. She made the official diagnosis of autism, but closely consulted with other specialists, particularly the psychologist.
DS sees the Dev Ped once or twice a year. She checks on his progress, his growth and development, and any medical concerns we have. When new issues arise, she orders tests and/or refers us to other specialists. For example she referred us to the geneticist when testing found a chromosome anomaly and ordered an MRI and referral to the neurologist when we discovered DS has face-blindness. She referred DS to the psychiatrist for ADHD symptoms and worked with that doctor to determine the best medicine for DS.
The Dev Ped does not do IQ testing. When we decided to have that done, it was done by his psychologist.
We have never had an issue with insurance. The Dev Ped and the other specialists are all at the local children's hospital and are all in network. Scheduling is a problem, however. We were on the waiting list for about 5 months before our first appointment. Even now, we have to schedule appointments several months in advance. It's very frustrating at times.
Gena
DS, age 11 and always amazing
“Autistics are the ultimate square pegs, and the problem with pounding a square peg into a round hole is not that the hammering is hard work. It's that you're destroying the peg." - Paul Collins, Not Even Wrong