Aspeger's or P.D.D. N.O.S children?

[jimsmith]

My 12 year old has Asperger's and I am not to sure that I am NT myself :)

[Jucius Maximus]

What exactly is the question here? I don't understand the acronyms used in the subject line. (Although I know that NT = neurotypical.)

[Hellfire]

Start watching Boston Legal - Specifically the eps with Jerry

[keanefan]

PDD-NOS =
Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified

http://www.freewebs.com/calnaa/autismspectrumexplained.htm

http://www.aspergers.ca/syndrome/WhatisAS.html

http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic147.htm

http://wrongplanet.net/

http://autismforum.net/forums/forum.php

http://www.mnip-net.org/asperger/discussi.nsf/ (http://www.mnip-net.org/asperger/discussi.nsf/99174ca20e5e898585256bb700611ac5/)

:arrow:

[keanefan]

Take The AQ Test!!!!

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

Psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues at Cambridge's Autism Research Centre have created the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, or AQ, as a measure of the extent of autistic traits in adults.

In the first major trial using the test, the average score in the control group was 16.4.

Eighty percent of those diagnosed with autism or a related disorder scored 32 or higher.

The test is not a means for making a diagnosis, however, and many who score above 32 and even meet the diagnostic criteria for mild autism or Asperger's report no difficulty functioning in their everyday lives.

[jimsmith]

What exactly is the question here? I don't understand the acronyms used in the subject line. (Although I know that NT = neurotypical.)
I was just wondering if any one else was in the same boat as myself. willing to share experiences. I took my son to the zoo 2years ago and he went up to a child with MS pointed at him and Yelled "Hey dad this guy has no brain " If I remember correctly my wife sort of melted into the foot path. luckily for my self I do not get embarrassed
:)

[shoppingmama]

I do not...but 3 of my girlfriends have kids with asperger's.

[Topher]

My son was diagnosed with mild AS almost a year ago. (He'll be 8 this summer). I don't think I have AS, but I do exhibit a number of the characteristics, but not enough.

Check out www.aspergers.ca and the above mentioned wrongplanet.

AS is nothing to be overly concerned with, but I would do a lot of reading, as it will help you understand what AS is, and how do cope with it. There is a great book on AS for adults, but I don't have the title here. I'll try to find it and post back in this thread.

For my son, our biggest problems are his "meltdowns". I've had to take extra care in not showing my anger, and instead approaching him very calmly to get him to calm himself down. It has also helped to get him to voice his frustrations (without yelling, sometimes), as that also seems to bring him back to earth.

Otherwise, he's a very intelligent young man, and is fascinated with maps and countries of the world. He's teaching himself small phrases in many different languages, yet getting him to do his French homework is like pulling teeth!

My only concern is that he is especially gullible, and I'm trying to teach him to look out for certain things, so that he won't be taken advantage of. That is my greatest fear.

There are lots of resources for learning about AS, so don't be afraid to do lots of reading.

[Bullseye]

Is it just me, or does there always seem to be some 'disorder du jour' that people claim their kids have? I'm not directing this at anyone in this thread, it's just that it seems certain disorders come into 'fashion', every other parent you meet says their kid has it. Back when I was a kid it was hyperactivity, then ADD, not it seems like it's Asperger's. To me, it all seems just like people trying to pin a label on their kid who is not exactly the same as all the other kids. I think back in the old days, they just called it 'eccentric', or maybe 'brat'. ;)

I read the symptoms of these disorders, and most of them could be applied to almost any kid at some point in their childhood.

[Topher]

^ I would tend to agree with you, or at least, I would have, until we had our son. (My wife still doesn't accept the diagnosis). His school asked us to get him tested for ADD and ADHD before they finally had the school psychologist meet with him weekly for a few months. A child with AS is very significantly different in that it is easily seen as a communication disorder. My son has a hard time understanding non-verbal communication, and has trouble telling when I am joking and when I am serious, etc. My fear is that because he is especially gullible, he will be taken advantage of at some time in his life, and won't know how to cope with it. Other than that, he is very intelligent, and otherwise well-adjusted.

I don't see AS as a disability at all. Just a definition of the way he thinks. With a better understanding of that, we are better able to assist him with understanding the things he just "doesn't get".

Believe me, I wish he didn't have AS, but the choice isn't mine. Understanding it, certainly makes raising him much easier, and far more enjoyable.

[Bullseye]

^ just to be clear, I don't doubt that AS is a legitimate disorder, I just think it's probably over-diagnosed in error. My wife is an RN, and her feeling is that sometimes parents just want a diagnosis, any diagnosis, for their kids. It makes them feel better, so doctor's likely just give in and tell them what it MIGHT be.

[CSK'sMom]

What your wife experiences may be the case bullseye, but I would venture to say it's the minority from my experiences. I've done some special ed. advocacy work and Topher's wife is more the majority. The last thing many parents want to hear (or accept) is that their child has a problem. I have seen parents flat out refuse to have kids assessed when there is clearly an issue as they don't want their kids "labelled". When this happens the child also doesn't recieve the much needed accomodations or modifications to become successful in school...

[CoffeeAddict]

At one point I thought I might have Asperger's as I read about it and then felt like I could relate to a lot of the points. I never did go for a diagnosis but I do remember reading about many places where you can get a diagnosis in toronto.

I imagine that Asperger's symptoms CAN fit a lot of children, just like in the way a horrorscope might sound completely accurate, but it would take a professional find out if it is in fact AS.

[Bullseye]

What your wife experiences may be the case bullseye, but I would venture to say it's the minority from my experiences. I've done some special ed. advocacy work and Topher's wife is more the majority. The last thing many parents want to hear (or accept) is that their child has a problem. I have seen parents flat out refuse to have kids assessed when there is clearly an issue as they don't want their kids "labelled". When this happens the child also doesn't recieve the much needed accomodations or modifications to become successful in school...

I think it depends on the general impression society has about the disorder in question. If it's considered common and that lots of kids have it, many parents don't feel there is any negative stigma attached to it. Parents often just want a doctor to tell them that their child's behaviour is happening for a reason, and that there is something they can do to control or prevent it.

[jimsmith]

I think it depends on the general impression society has about the disorder in question. If it's considered common and that lots of kids have it, many parents don't feel there is any negative stigma attached to it. Parents often just want a doctor to tell them that their child's behaviour is happening for a reason, and that there is something they can do to control or prevent it.

Dear Dr Phill you have no idea what my wife (who took 8 years to accept this) or my self have gone through" control or prevent " please tell me what i can do. his tourrets tics and his occ must be some kind of bratty ploy or my lack of parenting skills manifesting in some strange yet wonderfull way. try explaining to you child that his new(and only)freind cant play with him anymore because his parents dont want their kid to be seen with him .kid just want to be seen with that cool ass burger kid .You sir are a Gigantic Dickhead!!!:mad:

[CSK'sMom]

Bullseye, I will respectfully say you are dead wrong, in my experiences. It has absolutely nothing to do with "the general impression society has about the disorder in question. If it's considered common and that lots of kids have it, many parents don't feel there is any negative stigma attached to it."

As the Mom to 2 ADHD'ers I still see societies stigma rearing it's ugly head. ADD/HD is not what would call uncommon either. I see kids at my kids school's that are quite obviously ADD/HD. They are struggling with both the school consequences and social consequences while their parents turn a blind eye to avoid the "label". I have seen parents rip their kids from schools they have attended for a numbers of years just because the teacher and administrators suggested there might be a problem. The parents that do want answers and run from Doctor to doctor are far and few between IME. If I told you the dollar amount we have spent remedying our oldest's problems you would probably drop your jaw to the floor. That amount does not include the $300+ per month for his ADHD meds either. ;) ...

[Topher]

Bullseye,

I believe that ADD and ADHD are overdiagnosed by those who are not qualified to diagnose. AS, on the other hand, is probably underdiagnosed. Believe me, we didn't ask for him to be tested, but the school made it very clear that it was for his benefit. I am happy they did it, as it gives me a better understanding of what goes on inside his head, and how I can approach certain things with him. My son is my best friend, and I tell him that almost daily. We get along great, and he understands that there are certain things that he has difficulty controlling, yet we are making some breakthroughs when it comes to dealing with those issues, as he and I are working together to help him understand himself. All of this is without medication, I must tell you. I do not want to medicate my son, unless it is absolutely necessary (such as his asthma).

@jimsmith,

I don't understand your post at all. Dr. Phil is a big advocate of correcting misdiagnoses in children, and he recently taped a show on this topic, although I don't know what the airdate will be.

Here is the book I talked about in an earlier post:

http://www.amazon.com/Solutions-Adults-Aspergers-Syndrome-Maximizing/dp/1592331645

[jimsmith]

I was sarcastic. I can not stand Dr Phill and I dont care what he does.
therefore my post would be directed to mr Bullseye, as in keep your comments to posts about taxes,Algonquin park or sell off vacations. Hey ! Is it just me, or does there always seem to be some 'retort du jour' that people claim they have a clue about:razz: What I learned so far from this post is that there is a common concern about gullibility . i also have concern that my sons teaching assistant and IEP are looked at as ticket to ride and a source of extra funding by his school.

[crikey]

My only concern is that he is especially gullible, and I'm trying to teach him to look out for certain things, so that he won't be taken advantage of. That is my greatest fear.

That is my greatest fear, as well.

My son is only 5 and was diagnosed at 21 months with mild autism. Intensive intervention helped a lot. From a non-verbal 21 month-old to a now too-talkative 5 year old is a 'be careful what you wish for' type of thing. I can't count how many times I've felt so embarrassed when he just blurts out something that some may find offensive. Most of the times, it's a bit funny since he's just stating an honest observation. But, he does not realize that it is offensive to be so truthful at times.

That diagnosis has evolved into Asperger's Syndrome as he manifests a lot of the symptoms of AS. The inability to read facial expressions and read into people's behavior is really something he has difficulty with. That and staying focus on the task at hand, especially non-preferred activities.

[stevethewheel]

Is it just me, or does there always seem to be some 'disorder du jour' that people claim their kids have? I'm not directing this at anyone in this thread, it's just that it seems certain disorders come into 'fashion', every other parent you meet says their kid has it. Back when I was a kid it was hyperactivity, then ADD, not it seems like it's Asperger's. To me, it all seems just like people trying to pin a label on their kid who is not exactly the same as all the other kids. I think back in the old days, they just called it 'eccentric', or maybe 'brat'. ;)

I read the symptoms of these disorders, and most of them could be applied to almost any kid at some point in their childhood.

I think you are correct that when a new 'disorder' is discovered, it is immediately topical (coffee conversation/on the news/in magazines) so there's a lot of talk and everyone knows someone who....

It is also logical that a lot of cases are suddenly discovered. These are children who didn't have a name to go with a disorder.

With the passage of time the disorder is not 'news', progress is seldom Checkout Magazine material, and children are discovered as they come along, which is a trickle compared to the original flood.

And yes for sure some parents/teachers/etc will attach a label to a behaviour because it excuses responsibility.

[felixdd]

That is my greatest fear, as well.

My son is only 5 and was diagnosed at 21 months with mild autism. Intensive intervention helped a lot. From a non-verbal 21 month-old to a now too-talkative 5 year old is a 'be careful what you wish for' type of thing. I can't count how many times I've felt so embarrassed when he just blurts out something that some may find offensive. Most of the times, it's a bit funny since he's just stating an honest observation. But, he does not realize that it is offensive to be so truthful at times.

Not that I'm trying to discredit your concern, but it's also important to not let the diagnosis take over how you see your child. At the age of 5, kids do indeed say the darndest things. When I was five, I approached an old person and asked if they were about to die soon -- and in my culture, that's a huge taboo.

Of course, you obviously know your son the best. Just be sure not to sweat the little things too much ;)

[crikey]

Not that I'm trying to discredit your concern, but it's also important to not let the diagnosis take over how you see your child. At the age of 5, kids do indeed say the darndest things. When I was five, I approached an old person and asked if they were about to die soon -- and in my culture, that's a huge taboo.

Of course, you obviously know your son the best. Just be sure not to sweat the little things too much ;)

True. But, I'm fortunate that he has a twin sister that I can compare him to. There are marked behaviors that my son has that my daughter does not. And one of them is being so brutally honest and loud about an observation.

One day in preschool, a girl was playing with my son. Well, my son probably noticed that the girl was not especially fragrant on that day and made it known to the world that so and so smelled like a garbage can that day. The teacher noted that and informed us. She found it funny.

On one of his sessions with his heavy set speech therapist, whom he found out was pregnant, he asked if the lady's baby was in her breasts since they were so big. The speech therapist was speechless.

Finally, on a drive down to FL, we stopped by a rest area where a battalion of soldiers happened to stop as well. As you can imagine the men's room was full of soldiers. As he was going about his business, my son made a comment that everyone in the restroom heard and made me fear for my life:

Son: Dad, are those soldiers?
Me: Yes, son.
Son: Dad, soldiers are bad!
(at this point, there was a tingle running down my spine):
Me: Why do you say that?!
Son: They kill people!
Me: Son, soldiers don't want to kill people. But sometimes, they have to so that they can protect themselves. They're good, they protect us.

I made a quick exit with my son, forgetting to relieve myself in the process. The drive down to the next rest stop was the longest 30 miles of my life.

[Topher]

My AS son told me that ants smell like roast beef. Where he got that, I'll never know, but I laughed so hard, I cried. I was driving at the time and had to stop the car.

[keanefan]

does this guy have Asperger's Syndrome?

some people think so...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=A9PrOH6M__w

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WCrQNWtbQg0

:arrow: