This past week we had another appointment with the doctor who is continuing Kay’s ongoing evaluations to better understand whether ADHD may also be part of her overall profile.
During this visit, the doctor went through additional questions with me, really taking the time to dig deeper into Kay’s day-to-day behaviors, patterns, and challenges. I was also given a Vanderbilt Assessment form to complete, as well as a second one for Kay’s ABA facility. Since ABA plays such a big role in Kay’s current routine, it made sense to include their perspective too. They see her in a structured environment several times a week and are able to observe different behaviors, triggers, and responses that may not always show up at home or in other settings. At our next appointment, I’ll be bringing all of those completed forms back in.
I’ve also requested input and notes from Kay’s therapy team regarding her overall compliance, attention, and behavioral responses during sessions. In addition, I plan to include Kay’s most recent IEP from the previous school year so the doctor can review teacher observations and school-based supports as part of the bigger picture.
The goal right now is simply to gather as much information as possible. The doctor emphasized that this is a process of observation and collaboration, and the more perspectives we can bring together, the better we can understand what Kay truly needs moving forward. At our next appointment in July, I’ll be bringing everything together for review.
In the meantime, the doctor did prescribe a medication commonly used for ADHD. He explained that it can also sometimes be helpful for individuals with more severe autism-related attention and regulation challenges as well. This will be a very short, two-week trial period using a very low dose once a day in the morning. The intention is not to make any big or immediate changes, but to gently observe how Kay responds in a careful and controlled way while we continue gathering more information.
I truly appreciate that this doctor is being both thorough and cautious, moving slowly, asking for input from everyone involved in Kay’s care, and not rushing the process. It feels like a balanced approach that prioritizes understanding her as a whole child rather than trying to fit her into a quick label.
My ultimate goal is simple. For Kay to be able to focus enough to show her full potential. She is incredibly smart, creative, and capable. But often, frustration gets in the way, or her constant need to be moving makes it hard for her to fully access what she knows.
We’re still in the middle of figuring things out, but I feel hopeful that each step is bringing us closer to understanding how to best support her.