Questions about AS - a bit lengthy
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| Fri, 05-11-2007 - 10:26am |
Hi everyone!
My ds Nick is 5 and was recently dx'd with ADHD with Social Anxiety disorder. I am concerned that there is more to it than just that though. We are going in next month to see the pdoc again and I have been doing a ton of research trying to muddle through everything so I can be prepared. DH showed me an article last night and asked me about AS and alot of it seems to fit Nick, but not everything. Can a child have a mild form of AS, fit most of the criteria, but not all? I know AS, ADHD and anxiety can all run together. The doc is confident we can rule out EOBP, but I wanted to ask about AS. Here is what we are dealing with:
1. Nick has no feeling for other's emotions, when I am upset, he gets mad. If someone is hurt, he walks away. If he physically hurts me, he just doesnt care.
2. He cant keep eye contact in conversations, if I need to tell him something important, I have to touch his cheek and tell him 2-3 times and make him repeat it back.
3. He is very dominating in conversation, he kind of takes over, doesnt wait his turn to talk.
4. Extremely controlling at play. Things have to be played his way.
5. He will not engage in team games, even in casual play. He doesnt like competition.
6. He doesnt even want to learn to ride a bike, rollerskate, he just wants to push his Little Tikes car around the sidewalk.
7. He can recite Monster Truck stats like Rainman (I mean that in the most loving way). He has been fixated on Monster Trucks for about 6 months and knows the trucks and drivers inside out. Before that, it was Thomas the Tank, he knew (still does) the inside out. He is also fascinated with real freight trains (Norfolk Southern, BNSF, etc.). He is now getting in to NASCAR and has committed it to memory at amazing speed.
8. He has a hard time with humor, he has a quirky sense of humor, but doesnt get simple humor, I have to explain jokes to him sometimes.
9. As mentioned before, he has social anxiety. Even at playdates with his friends, he is very anxious. He picks his lips and balks at new situations.
10. He has temper outbursts that go beyond the normal. He will explode into violent outbursts and "check out". He will throw whatever is in reach, he will kick, punch (usually at me), say nasty things, call names, storm around the house, break his toys, I usually have to restrain him until it passes or else I worry about him breaking something or hurting himself. Afterwards he is usually calm and apologetic.
11. He is very intelligent. When we had him evaluated the doc said he is in the 6-7 year old range and this was when he was 4 years 9 months. It is like talking to a little adult. He uses alot of words that a child wouldnt use and comprehends everything. He knows his letters, is already doing addition, subraction, spelling, and starting to read etc. DH and I spell alot of things out around him so that wont last.
I know some of these things are 5 year old behavior and some are the ADHD, but something just doesnt seem normal. He is going to start kindy in the fall, I can have him not start, he is so advanced. Not sure about family history of AS, my mom was adopted so not clear if history, on my side there is ADHD, LD's. I have anxiety issues as well.
I guess I am trying to find out if this is worth looking into. He doesnt have some of the other typical AS symptoms, but does he need to? He is my sunshine and I just want to get him the help he needs! Thanks so much in advance!
Christine


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Hello Christine and welcome to the board! :)
Well, if your gut says there is something more going on than ADHD and Social Anxiety Disorder, I think you should follow your gut and pursue those answers.
For what it's worth, reading your description of your son, I think your gut is onto something. I could not say if it is Aspergers, or another PDD or something else. Only a professional who has evaluated your child could make the distinction. But If I were you, I would probably not be satisfied with the DX as given. I think a second opinion is warranted.
You can have him evaluated through the school district (although they will probably not give a DX at this age), or go privately. Here are some evaluations I would recommend besides the usual psychological and IQ testing:
A full
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Christine,
Good luck. You might get lucky. Some of these kids are better behaved at school than at home. LOL, my son has the opposite problem. His behavior was much worse at school and we had to start homeschooling. (btw, homeschooling is working like a charm though...i feel like my son can get over his issues through our homeschool program.)
Thanks! I am going to get out the DVD's we did from when Nick was a baby to current and see if I can scan through them and see if I can pick out anything else. I can remember some things, but I know video is priceless. I was looking through my photo albums last night and I came across some pics we took of when Nick was around 4 and went through this phase of lining up his Matchbox Cars on the couch. He dragged off the cushions and methodically lined them up on the spings. They had to be perfect. We figured it was part of his perfectionist personality. He used to do the same with his Thomas trains at 3. He does this with his monster trucks, but is not quite so particular as he gets older. I just wonder if there were other things we missed. I have a list of 18 things I want to talk to the doc about!
Christine
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Christine
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