What is the Worse Thing She Can Tell Me?

Before I went to the results meeting with the neuropsychologist, I was on the phone with my mom. She wanted to prepare me incase I was going to be upset after this meeting. I stopped her from going down that conversation road and told her, "Mom, the doctor will not tell me anything new. This is not our first rodeo. This is the second time we have done this and in-between  these diagnosis test, we have had screenings and evaluations for the past 7 years. I mean what is the worse thing she can tell me?"

My mom then went on to say," You know that the specialists and therapists have told you that he could have Autism. Its kind of 50/50 with him. There is evidence both ways."

I told her," I am aware of that. But, for six years he has been tested every year, and they always say his social skills are too high for Autism. Plus, we did not go to this doctor about Autism, we went to see if he has a visual processing disorder that is keeping him from being more successful in Writing and Reading."

My mom said, "Okay, I just want you to be ready incase today is the day."  I told her that I would be fine, and we hung up.

The meeting lasted an hour. The doctor went over all of his scores which were very similar to last time. His IQ scores were above average, his math scores were above average, his reading scores were low average, and his writing scores were below average.

Then, we discussed the past diagnosis: anxiety, sensory processing disorder, speech delay, and developmental coordination disorder. She went on to tell me that sensory processing disorder doesn't stand alone. It is usually paired with Autism or ADD/ADHD. She told me that she didn't think he had a visual processing disorder. She said, "He has a written expression disorder, ADHD that may be due to his sensory processing, and Asperger's. He is just like a little professor full of knowledge. I know he is going to do amazing things. We just need to give him a little more support to get there."

After that, she talked to me about speech, occupational therapy, social skills groups, and parent support groups, all in which we have done in the past. I told her that he would soon be starting Horseback Riding Therapy again, and she was excited to hear that. We then scheduled to meet again in a year for an update unless anything else came up,  and I left.

The first thing I was asked about hearing this news, "Are you upset?"

The answer is NO. A diagnosis doesn't change who my child is, he is still the sweetest and smartest little boy who craves knowledge. He is still the little boy I fell in love with the fist time I held him and looked at him. The only thing that has changed is a label. But even with that label, I know, just like the doctor said that this little boy will do amazing things!