Maybe it really isn't Asperger's

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2006
Maybe it really isn't Asperger's
9
Tue, 10-02-2007 - 5:27pm

Emma had her appointment with the new Psychiatrist today.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Tue, 10-02-2007 - 6:10pm

Brook,


I can't count the number pf people who have heard "no eye contact, so it can't be ____ (on the Spectrum)"



Now I am not saying the shrink is wrong to keep an open mind, but the eye contact thing is not mandatory for an AS dx. Here

-Paula

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Avatar for nutmegspice
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 10-02-2007 - 6:16pm

I don't think eye contact should be a deal breaker in dxing AS. Sam has pretty good eye contact. I think the DSMV says an impairment in eye contact which Sam does show at stressful or stimulating times. He cannot look me in the eye if he's all revved up or near meltdown but most of the time his eye contact is ok. Now that we have DS #2 around I do notice that it's different somehow. I can't quite say how though. I just notice that Harrison looks at me differently; there's more connection there.

The eye contact was the sticking point for Sam too. His outgoing, social personality and ability to make eye contact most of the time is what kept him from being diagnosed earlier on in life. All I knew about ASDs before Sam's dx was Autism; nonverbal, handflapping...etc. And Sam is quite far from that, but he certainly fits the dx criteria for AS, even if it's on the mild side of it. I mentioned the eye contact issue to the PhD who dx'd Sam and he pretty much said, "but there are times when he can't make eye contact, right?" When I said yes he added, "well there you go." DH and I scoured the dx criteria for days afterward trying to figure out why we didn't pick up on it earlier. When we really thought about it, Sam met all the criteria for the dx - some criteria presented more often than others and some are present very mildly in Sam, but he's got them all and that's what counts.

If you're unsure, get a 2nd opinion. It's pricey to pay for 2 evals, but it might be worth it if you're unsure about this Dr.

Good luck!

Chrystee

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Avatar for littleroses
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Registered: 03-28-2003
Tue, 10-02-2007 - 7:12pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Tue, 10-02-2007 - 8:04pm

I have to agree with the ladies here.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2007
Wed, 10-03-2007 - 12:21am

I also heard this too. My dad was the first one that suspected Aspergers and then his pedi, but they both thought that since he responded to people and made eye contact it can't be. I think originally when

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2007
Wed, 10-03-2007 - 12:52am

Hi,

I'm a child psychologist, and you're right that the diagnostic criteria for bi-polar in kids is ill defined. Officially, kids have to meet the adult diagnostic criteria. But, the proviso is that many bp kids express their mania through rage, irritability, and grandiosity. The older kids get, the more their symptoms look like adult bp. Right now, pediatric bp is a "sexy" diagnosis and is very frequently diagnosed. Some people think that's good, that lots of cases that were previously missed are being picked up on. Other people think it's being over-diagnosed. Check out the website: www.bpkids.org

Diagnosis is an art. If you don't trust the psychiatrist, find another one. It might also be worth paying for a thorough psychological evaluation. A lot of times psychiatrists send kids to me to be tested when the diagnosis isn't clear. And, since your "mommy gut" suggests that it is AS, try to articulate for yourself (and the psychiatrist) what makes you feel that's right. You know your child better than anybody else, and have important information to convey to the doctor.

Good luck.

Beth www.bethkingphd.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2006
Wed, 10-03-2007 - 11:11am
Thank you all for re-affirming that I should trust my gut.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2007
Wed, 10-03-2007 - 12:07pm

hey, a bit late to the game here. what med did the pdoc prescribe ;I know alot about this stuff from early on when Liam's first dx was bp. email me if you need to. liam330@windstream.net

Dee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2006
Wed, 10-03-2007 - 1:02pm

Thanks Dee.