Melissa Dilmaghani Full-Autism, PANS & OCD

About this episode

Melissa Dilmaghani discusses her experiences as a parent of neurodivergent children, focusing on PANS PANDAS and its intersection with autism and ADHD.

Melissa shares her experience as a parent of two neurodivergent children, including her 10-year-old son who was diagnosed with PANS PANDAS following multiple infections including strep throat, Lyme disease, and pneumonia. She explained the challenges of distinguishing between PANS PANDAS symptoms and autism or ADHD, describing how her son's behavior suddenly changed with intense anxiety, throat-clearing sensations, and school avoidance. Melissa discussed treatment approaches including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and the importance of finding the right educational environment, noting that her son now attends a flexible democratic school program that works with his special needs. The conversation also covered the connection between neurodivergence and PANS PANDAS, with Melissa emphasizing that many families struggle to get proper diagnosis and treatment, often facing skepticism from traditional medical providers.

People in this episode

Host: Cindy Gelormini

Guest: Melissa Dilmaghani

Topics covered

• neurodivergence
• PANS PANDAS
• autism
• ADHD
• parenting challenges
• educational environments
• treatment approaches

Keywords

• neurodivergent children
• PANS PANDAS
• autism
• ADHD
• treatment
• educational needs
• parenting
• anxiety
• school avoidance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PANS PANDAS, Lyme disease, strep throat, pneumonia, democratic school program