Aspie questions

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Aspie questions
4
Wed, 03-21-2007 - 6:53am

I'm starting to wonder if my 3 year old with PDD is really an Aspie. He has really caught up with his speech, not too far from age appropriate. Still mild to mod delays in cognition, adaptive skills, etc. But I had been figuring, as did all the others, that he would lose his diagosis by Kindy.

Especially in the last few months, he talks constantly. If he asks me a question, he will badger me and repeat it louder until I answer. He is very interested in construction vehicles and bugs, especially spiders. He will say the same things everyday. For example, at bathtime everyday, he asks if there is a spider in the tub. is it a fuzzy, is it mommy's hair? Over and over and over until I'm ready to duct tape his mouth shut! He knows a lot of details about the bugs and vehicles, especially for a 3 year old. He seems to have an incredible memory, he remembers facts after hearing them just once. We will drive somewhere and the next time we go by it, he will label it as such and such store or house.

Do these sound like aspie traits? I have been use to thinking of perservative behavior in terms of my oldest, with repetitive toy play or stimming. So, is the above more typical of aspergers? Any links to tests, etc would also be appreciated. Thanks, Valerie

~Valerie
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: vcjacobs
Thu, 03-22-2007 - 6:54am
bump. thanks, v
~Valerie
Avatar for kingalex
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: vcjacobs
Thu, 03-22-2007 - 1:42pm

Sounds VERY much like Asperger's to me. Unlike others on the spectrum, language development is not usually delayed in Aspies. The repetition of certain phrases and the intense interest in something (in your ds' case, bugs and vehicles) are also very characteristic in Asperger's.

My ds, who is now almost 9, was very much the same when he was 3 (and still is!). He will repeat the same things at certain times; I can always count on it. Whenever we drive down the far end of our road, he always says at the same spot, "remember when the cows got out of the field here and were in the road?" That happened a year ago, and he still says it every time in the same spot. When he was 3, he could (and still can) name any car he sees by make and model. He lives for the day each month when his Motor Trend magazine arrives in the mail. He also has an incredible memory.

I could go on forever, but IMHO, it certainly sounds like Asperger's to me.

Laurie

Laurie

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2005
In reply to: vcjacobs
Thu, 03-22-2007 - 5:35pm

That's great to hear that your little guy made such progress! Congrats to all.

My little aspie is 8 now, he got the dx when he was around 4.

I'm always hesitant to label certain behaviors as aspie or not, simply because although I've read a ton of books and searched the net many hours since the dx, I still feel like I'm winging it most days. But I can tell you the things the things that concerned us when Ryan was three.

At 3, Ryan was very very stubborn and inflexible. He had craved routine, sameness, and had a really bad time with transitions. Although he talked alot, he didn't really have a handle on the give and take of conversation (we'll still working on this). But even for a 3 year old, he didn't get it. Interrupted all the time. And he didn't make eye contact with you when talking.

His social skills were also off for his age. Since he's an only I didn't see this until he went to preschool. Although he didn't avoid other kids his age, or run away from them.. he just didn't communicate with them. Just adults.

Other red flags for us were sensory issues (he had a ton), fine motor skills (OT helped alot), and gross motor, mostly motor planning issues.

He did (and still does) have a great memory, esp for details of subjects he's interested in. I'm not sure if that is really aspie or not.

But the total of all these things added up to the aspie dx. In your case the bug interest, repeating phrases, excessive talking, could be aspie or not, imo. Guess it depends on what else is going on.

Wow that was really helpful wasn't it? NOT. Sorry I don't have any tests or anything to help with.

Kate

P.S. I list a ton of issues here, but this stuff has improved alot since 3. Some stuff more than others.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: vcjacobs
Fri, 03-23-2007 - 12:26am

Hey val, how about the childbrain PDD test again. http://www.childbrain.com/pddassess.html That will help. You know the old it is impossible ot say via the internet. However, he has had a PDD dx in the past, there is family history, so there is a good chance.

I would definitely fight for good speech therapy and such for him now regardless as there is so much progress to be made while their brains are still so little and pliable.

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