Confused...Can you help?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-29-2006
Confused...Can you help?
6
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 9:11am

Hi there! We are trying to figure out what is going on with my 8 year old son and I have a few questions....Jacob was tested a year ago and nothing came up about Aspergers but he was shown to have some hallmarks of ADD/ADHD. We put him on a stimulant and have seen only marginal improvement. I have always felt that we are missing something. That leads me to you...I recently got a book on Aspergers and some things fit but alot don't. Jacob had a speech delay (didn't talk until 3), didn't walk until 20 months, had some odd behaviors like shaking his head back and forth (he doesn't do this anymore, but did until just in the last year). He has a lack of social skills. He doesn't understand how to make friends and gets angry very easily. He does not shy away from people and does try to make friends but usually ends up turning them away with his goofiness or his outbursts. The smallest thing can make him explode with anger or with tears. He has a funny gait when running, but does have some athletic skill and plays baseball. He does not have the preoccupation with a special interest like is common with Aspergers, nor is his vocabulary exceptional like is also common. Does this sound like Aspergers? We are going back to the pediatric neuropsychologist next month and also getting him into a counselor in a few weeks. I am hoping that we can get him into a class for social skills training. Has anyone had experience with this and did it help?

Thanks in advance! We really want to understand Jacob better so that we can get him the help he deserves!

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 3:22pm

I think its very wise to re-test. Nothing wrong with a second opinion, especially if your guts telling you to do so.

One thing I have learned being on this board with these lovely ladies, is that every child on the spectrum is different. Not everyone has ALL of the classic signs.

As for the obsessions, I'm not sure. In fact I would like to know that question also as my younger guy does alot of the same things my older guy does but not to extreme as my older guy does. He also doesn't obsess the way Chris does. But he does crave the sameness with routine and such.

Lainie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2003
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 3:49pm

I had been wondering that myself,


 


Mich

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 4:22pm

Hi Sara,

I am also Sara and I have a 10-year-old son whose dx is PDD-NOS. He is very smart and verbal and funny, has a great group of friends and activities where he is very successful but also struggles with social skills esp. in new surroundings, he can overreact with anger or tears (although that is improving), can also be awkward and lose touch with his spacial awareness, but is also strong and able to play many sports. His neuropsych told us his dx is considered borderline, but as his problems come from where he IS on the spectrum, she was giving him the PDD-NOS dx. He is not considered Asperger's, although he has developed a Pokemon obsession this year that makes me wonder if that might not be changing!!! But anyways, this dx'ing is potentially a subjective area here for a boy like mine. The P means Pervasive, and how much trouble the symptoms cause is important.

The big question to me is exactly what help does my child need in order for him to succeed and how do I get that help for him. We do have our ds in terrific social skills groups and also working with a psychotherapist, and these things have been greatly beneficial to him and his development. Our ds does best in small groups, and as his sensory needs can be high, this also has to be addressed. We use chewing gum and lots of physical activity.

Anyways, welcome to the board. Tell us more about you and your boy, stick around, we are here to help out if we can.

yours,

Sara
ilovemalcolm

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 4:39pm

No, you don't have to exhibit every symptom in order to have AS. In fact in the diagnostic criteria it will tell you exactly how many of each for a minimum (2 of first category, etc). The criteria are listed on the community website still I believe, if not I can give you a link to it.

That said, I think the DSM is more a guideline then written law of diagnostics. It was written nearly 14 years ago and so much info about ASDs has come out since then it is amazing. THe DSM is grossly overdue in an update.

And all that said, Autism is a spectrum disorder truly. No 2 people with autism or AS are the same. I have 2 of my own and they are vastly different but both are definitely ASD. There is just a way people with autism process the world. It is hard to explain but it is a qualitative difference from other special needs and within that there can be a TON of variance.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 6:05pm

Michelle, I went to EPU to help be my son's advocate at his IEP meeting. They are wonderful! I haven't gone to them for testing tho, as we have a regional center here in Visalia.

Lainie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2003
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 7:08pm
Oh, maybe we have one here, I haven't checked yet!!!

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Mich