Aspergers Millions Undiagnosed

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Aspergers Millions Undiagnosed
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Tue, 01-03-2006 - 8:10pm

They did a nice job talking about Aspergers

http://www.talkautism.com/Components/Video/Video.aspx?v=71

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 01-03-2006 - 9:33pm

Very nice!! Thanks!!

I'm now wondering if dh is aspie!!

Holly

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Thu, 01-12-2006 - 1:31am

Hi,
THis is is the first time I have posted on this board. FOr a long time I have been reading posts on this board. I always thought my son (Sravan) was different. I requested testing via school district and they said that his IQ was genius level and he was mildly ADHD and lot of anxiety. After seeing the video, I think these symptons can mask AS. He also has major social skill problem. He was getting better with emotions control, but this week has been down hill. Went to Pricipal's office every day and got picked at 11:00 a.m. WHere should I start with this testing? I am not sure the school district testing came out correctly.

thank you,
Anandhi

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 01-12-2006 - 9:24am

Hi Anandhi! Welcome here. The first thing I would do is call your pediatrician. Tell them you want to have your son evaluated to rule out Aspergers. That should be a good start. According to my pediatrician, I could take him to a pediatric neurologist, a developmental pediatrician, or a neuropsychologist (she personally did not recommend a psychiatrist - just her recommendation). You may have to wait several months to actually get in for an appointment - I know there was a 6 month wait for us.

I hope that helps....keep us posted as to what is going on.

Good luck,
Christie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 01-12-2006 - 10:56am

You can also go back to the school district and request another evaluaion. It takes 50-60 days to complete one so if you can get a medical dx or Aspergers in the mean time it would help.

I would call the ped and get into a specialist ASAP. I have found psychiatrists are easiest to get into (usually a month) and neurologists can take up to 6 or more. I am not a fan of psychiatrists per se but they can diagnose. Then make a copy of the diagnostic criteria, highlight and make notes of how your son fits those definitions. You are more likely to get a diagnosis that way. If you don't get an accurate dx, then ask for a second oppinion or go to the neurologist.

Now the reason I say get a medical diagnosis is to help get an IEP for your son. Though it would be best to get a correct diagnosis it really doesn't matter which one to be able to qualify the way I am thinking.

You see, if a child has a medical diagnosis, it is affecting their education AND they need special education or related services to help then they qualify for an IEP under OHI or Other Health Impaired. That diagnosis can be ADHD, Aspergers, etc. Considering you have already had testing and they denied him I am thinking he probably won't qualify under the autism definition so that is why it is important to get a medical diagnosis in this case.

Then when going to the school again, take his medical reports. make lists of how this disability is affecting him in school beyond the academics. For instance, being sent home from school. If his disability is keeping him from being in school it is MOST DEFINITELY affecting his education. Education goes beyond grades. Keep track of all the notes from school adn dates he has been sent home. Make a paper trail. Insist when they send him home that the proper paperwork is done. Is he having a 1/2 day suspension? If not then why is he being sent home? A papertrail will be your saving grace.

List all the other troubles he is having with regards to school too. Not just at school but any at home as well. If he meltsdown over homework, if he comes home stressed out and has more behavior problems on days when he is in school, that would matter too. I can show you where it is well documented that AS kids may hold it in all day and come home and fall apart because they do not have the appropriate supports in school.

Next start to list why he needs special education services to help these problems. For instance a behavior intervention plan and someone to implement it. Social skills classes.

I would make sure to have his language evaluated and make sure to do your homework on Asperger's and social language. AS kids can "pass" speech/language evals and still not have age appropriate conversational skills everyday.

HTH

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Thu, 01-12-2006 - 5:17pm

Anandhi -- did you used to post on the spirited kids board? Your son's name sounds familiar...

Just curious!

Jennifer, mom to Sylvia (12/26/01, PDD-NOS and spirited to boot) and Sebastian (10/2/03)

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Thu, 01-12-2006 - 6:14pm

Hi Christie,
Thank you so much. My ped. had long time recomended to get him tested at Palo Alto children's health clinic. So today I called them and left a message and I have our initial appt. on tuesday. He recommended a nuerophyscologist. I am hoping that things will go faster from then on. WIll keep you all posted. But after seeing the clipping I am so convinced that he will get diagnosis for Asperger. I have to get used to it though.

take care,
Anandhi.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Thu, 01-12-2006 - 6:29pm

Hi Renee,
Thank you all so much for such warm welcome and a wealth of info. He has a long history of school changes. His current school is very good. The Principal and the office staffs are warm and caring. I talked to his Principal and she said that the only reason they send Sravan is when he starts to throw things. Sravan had an eval. from the local school district Physcologist and that came out to be minimal ADHD and a lot of anxiety. HE has always had behavioral issues. He goes to OT for his apraxia and motor incoordination. Then when I saw this 30-min segment, I thought WOW! Sravan probably has aspergers. Principal said that to get special help, we can initially ask the physcologist to come back and do eval with Asperger of HFA in mind. In the meantime, I am also going thru a nuerophyscologist (sp?) to get an accurate medical diagnosis. He is very bright. SO there is no difficulty in doing the school work per se, but when the teacher says you have 10 min to do this, he totally falls (it probably will take him like 3 min) apart and asks her what if I cannot finish and never attempts to do it. Then the day goes spiralling down. I really don't know how to help him. Today, the teacher gave the whole class to finish 3 pages in 10 min. Since Sravan was sent home for 3 days, he had a lot of catching up. It took him 11 min to do 3 days worth of work what the entire class did for today's work in 10 min. The teacher said that he pulled himself and did it all because I was there. The Princ. said that she can get such help only if he has a diagnosis. This whole thing seems wait and watch.

thank you so much, You seem to do an awesome job with your kids.

- Anandhi

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Thu, 01-12-2006 - 6:33pm

Hi Jennifer,
Yes, I used to post in spirited kid board. Can you believe, I started posting there when my son was 3 and now he is 8 and I am still struggling. I hope atleast now we will have some answers.

thank you so much,
Anandhi

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 01-12-2006 - 8:09pm

Anandhi....my son is the same way....easily overwhelmed and easily frustrated. During math, they started giving the class timed tests....one page of 50 problems that needed to be finished in 5 minutes. Vaughn (my son) kept bringing home his tests with only 10 or 11 problems completed and the rest of the test blank. I couldn't understand it.....he knows addition and subtraction....this should be easy for him. So I wrote up a similar test to do at home....boy did I learn something. He saw one page with 50 problems and freaked...."how am I going to do this in such a short time"...."I can't do it"....."I don't know this"...etc. I took a pair of scissors and cut up the same exact test into 10 pages of 5 problems each and gave it to him. He did the first page no problem, flipped over the next and completed that, etc. He finished all 50 problems (all correct) with no problems or fuss. I told the teacher about this and she now does this for him. I feel like a detective sometimes.....

Again, welcome and I look forward to learning more about you and your family,
Christie

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 01-13-2006 - 3:37pm

YES!, when I volunteered in his class, I took a plain paper and covered all of the questions except first and then he finished all the way without getting overwhelmed. I guess, I have to re-enforce this at home too.

- Anandhi

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