New here and a few questions

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2007
New here and a few questions
2
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 11:20pm

Not even sure that I belong here. I am not sure if I am looking for another dx for my son so much as I am just trying to understand him and myself better. My son is 6yrs old. He was just dx with ADHD and is on ritalin which is helping with his lack of impulse control and focus, very well. I also homeschool him and his younger sister and brother. I keep a pretty rigid routine and they all do well with this, as so do I.

I have always had a slight thought in the back of my head that he also may be on the spectrum, very high functioning as well. Then just a few days ago he spent some time with our neighbor who has a good friend with a daughter who has ASD and she asked if I had every had my son evaluated, that he did a few things that reminded her of her friend's daughter. I did bring it up to our ped who said, no way that he is autistic. Not sure how much he knows about it so that did not mean too much.

A few red flags for me have been, his sensitivity to sound, so much so he has been known to cover up his ears and cry for the noise to stop(this happened alot when he was younger)and he would not even go outside without his earplugs for a good time when he was younger. He is a bit better with sound now, but still can be apprehensive at times. He has had no real delays but he is very physical, likes to touch everything(ritalin seems to help with this). Could not keep his hands off of things. His foods cannot touch but he eats okay. He has no social reading skills and invades personal space often. He likes other kids, always has but he is shy in groups too, warms up pretty fast though. He does tend to play with younger kids or the ones with behavior issues(when he was in public school for 3 months he gravitated to another kid who was in trouble alot) He has what I think is an excessive amount of fears, always has. He is very sensitive to his surroundings and does not do well with change. I moved his car rug mat about 2 days ago, maybe just 3-6 feet and he has yet to play on it. Said today that he really wants it moved back. he talks alot, nonstop sometimes but I figure this is an ADHD symptom. He has always done okay socially, a bit immature and aggressive but not real excessive. I watch and tend to catch problems before they occur though. Eye contact has been rare but we always thought it was from ADHD and being in trouble alot. tantrums and anger can be issues at times. He gets overstim very easily, and can escalate so high up that he can not come down without help(hyper). After I list these things I see that I have some of these qualities too. I am also a big smeller, and feel uncomfortable alot in social situations. I like my few close friends but in groups I get very nervous and have anxiety about going to these sort of functions.

I just wonder if any of these behaviors would fall on the asperger's spectrum. Is any of this making any sense? I am sorry I am all over the board with this but these are all things that make me go Hmmmmmm. My kid has medicaid so I would have to get referrels for eval's and the ped already said he did not think this was an issue. Not sure what I am looking for here, except maybe to see if any of this even sounds remotely familiar. Maybe what we are dealing with is ADHD and I should leave it at that. Like I said, we homeschool so school is not an issue. Socially I do try to get them out to a group activity with the local HS grup at least 1 time a week and the kids do interact with each other here at home. I think I would like to know if I am way off base here or not seeing how this has been on my mind for awhile now. Any info or insight would be so appreciated!

Thanks so much!
Rose

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2006
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 8:41am

Hello Rose
Welcome to our home away from home. I am so sorry to hear you are going through a confusing time with your child. I see from your letter some spectumish things.
When in doubt get it him checked out. The sad part in all this is MOST ped doctors are NOT trained about autism. Sad I know and quit frightening cause they can't dx anyhow BUT should be able to see the signs rearing its ugly head.

I would get a psych eval done just to be safe. Your son could be so high fucntioning that the doc doesn't see it, but it would be a good idea have a 2nd opinion.
It will give you the answers you need and IF it is spectrum, the right course of action to help him.

Hang in there, it's a difficult time just getting the answers.

We'll be here if you need us.

good luck
Nora

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 9:41am

Hello Rose and welcome!


Everyone belongs here who needs to be here, regardless of DX (or not).


Your son definitely sounds like he has some sensory issues.

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com