Aspergers Syndrome - Updated 10/11/09 -

[baby.love]

Hi girls

I dont know if anyone can help at all, but i was wondering if anyone had any dealings with Aspergers Syndrome?

My 3 year old son is being referred to a paediatrician due to a few problems.. he has been showing signs of something being "wrong" since he was around 1. At 1st we thought it could be ADHD but have been told this is unlikely, however from what i have been reading he is showing signs of mild AS. I also spoke to a friend who works at a school and they agree the signs are there.

I am due to see my HV soon to sort the forms for the paediatrician and will be talking to her about it a bit more but wondered if anyone has lived with this.

I'm almost 100% sure this is what he has and to be honest i am relieved that we may have found the problem, which means we can get the right help for him. I'm not bothered if he does have it as he is the most adorable little boy in the world and i wouldnt change a thing about him, if it is AS its what makes Ethan Ethan iykwim?!

Thanks if you have read this and thanks if you can offer any advice


Update 10/11/09

Well we are just back from Ethan's 1st appointment with a paediatrician and she has said we are definately going down the Autism route with him, what part of the autism spectrum we dont know yet... we are being refered to our hospital and from there we will get the full diagnosis. I dont know how i feel at the moment as now we know it feels different to saying "maybe"

x

 

[Tinax]

hey hun.,

if they refer Ethan they would get a specialist to see him and usually do a DISCO assesment, if he attends nursery it would take place there, as they like to speak to the teacher aswell as you and Ethan!
When my son was diagonised it took 6 months to get the assesment, and usually they tell you on the day if he is or not, also takes about 2 hours!

i hope this helps a bit x

 

[EstelSeren]

I don't have any children of my own so I don't know how it is for parents of children with any sort of difficulty. However, my cousin has asperger's syndrome. He's absolutely lovely, if very boisterous and completely unaware of his own size! He's 13 or 14 now and was only diagnosed at the end of primary school and so didn't get any help at all all the way through primary school. He was just treated as though he was naughty and stupid and went through quite a bit of bullying (unfortunately and very sadly often by one of his cousins who went to the same school as him). The bullies were often successful in getting him to lash out in response to what they had done and so getting him into trouble knowing that he would have difficulty communicating what had happened to the teaching staff, meaning that he was punished by the school effectively for being bullied.
So your son will be in a much better situation as he will have all the support right from the start and his education and well being won't suffer through no fault of his own. I agree with you that it's not something to be too worried about as it's what makes them them and it's how things are dealt with once a problem is identified that makes all the difference.

I hope that I wasn't out of place in saying any of this and wish you, your son and the rest of your family all the very best.

Beca :wave:

 

[RedString]

My OH has/had asperger's syndrome. I've heard that it only affects you during childhood, but I've heard the exact opposite, so

It took them ages to diagnose him though, and his mother made him go to therapists and psychologists, and he was on random behavioural drugs for 7 or so years of his life. That's all the exposure I've had to it, and tbh I thought it was a load of bull.

obviously your little ethan is much luckier than my OH, as you seem to be a pretty sane mother.

 

[baby.love]

Thanks for the replies

I have the health visitor out today so will be speaking to her about it, as for drugs NO WAY! my son is adorable just a little challenging at times All i want is a diagnoisis if there is something "wrong" so he can get the correct help at school etc.

Thanks again all replies are very much appreciated.

 

[RedString]

yeah, see, sane mother. I'm not a huge fan of my MIL. But from what I understand it's mostly a difficulty reading/understanding facial expressions and emotions, and being obsessively good at something. Or something like that. It's on the lower end of the autism scale. You can usually find some decent information on it via google or something, it's been a while since I looked it up.

 

[Tinax]

if its aspergers hun they dont give medication infact there is no medication for asd xx

 

[baby.love]

if its aspergers hun they dont give medication infact there is no medication for asd xx

I didnt think there was for Aspergers thanks for confirming it

 

[coccyx]

My 20 year old nephew has aspergers. Not very good at picking up social cues, interpreting facial expressions etc. Had some problems at school as diagnosis not really understood by teachers. He is now studying law at university and doing very well.

 

[U8myplaydough]

Usually the first red flag is lang. delay, social skills and lack of attention span. I have taught many kids with AS and all have been so wonderful. Once you know, it will be better! You will get the help needed. It just takes forever. Also, I'm sure your state has parents reaching out or some help to get his disability started to help your finances. Good luck!!!

 

[Parkep]

hey hun i read your thread not knowing what it was so i googled it, there is SO many famous people with it albert Einstein , Robin Williams,Charles Dickinson just an interesting fact...

 

[Sophie1205]

My younger brother has it. It took them up untill he was 13 to actually figure out what the problem was. And as posted above a lot of famous people have had it! My brother is turning 15 this year and he has a Teaching Assistant who sits with him in his classes. Other than him being really hyperactive 24/7 and his concentration problems, he is a very intelligent child. Theres support groups too, my mum attends one and finds it very helpful to meet up with other parents who have children with AS x

 

[morri]

I am myself also to find on the well other end (the border to NT end) of the ADS. I have heard some aspergers get actually some drugs but it depends from person to person, and even though there are some common stereotypes after all , all on the spectrum are widely different especially if they are n the higher functioning end..

 

[baby.love]

Hi girls

Thanks to everyone who took the time to read and reply

Well we spoke to the health visitor and she was brilliant, although she is not allowed to say either way if she thinks he has it, she did say she can see why we think it is AS!! We are seeing her again in August and then we will sort out where to go next,, But i think the nail has been hit on the head and i cant tell you what a relief it is.

Thanks again and i will update this post as we get results as who knows it may help another parent like me

 

[Kbee]

Hi Hun,
As you have proboly read aspergers is one syndrome on the autistic scale of development disorders (as they like to label them) autism is another though further up the scale. It will depend on how seriously Ethan is affected....as to the leval of help given. Sometimes psychologists and specialists get involved though sometimes parents are given guidance and just left to manage though often educational support is given.
Medication is not given for ASD as a whole but can be and is given on occasion to reduce certain symptoms eg agitation, generally this is a short term measure and would only be if the symptoms were highly distressing for the child and in conjunction with behavioural therapies........what places should do though is listen to you and your family...you know Ethan best....
though unfortunatly levals and standards of care do vary.
sorry to sound like a text book (I work in childrens mental health)
Hope all works out ok
xx

 

[smartiepants]

Hi, whilst I can't comment on raising a toddler with AS, I am an Aspie myself and it's not all that bad!

If you're looking for further advice, there's a parenting section on this forum which is a great resource.

https://www.wrongplanet.net/forum19.html&sid=d2ba4a4c4f7e5e0da2e83af1caea1b71

 

[Fern.x]

My brother has aspergers he is on the low spectrum of it tho.. he also has ADHD hes 2 years younger than me and was not given a diagnoisis untill he was ending primary school. there are no medication for aspergers but he takes concerta(sp) for his ADHD, he was always misbehaved and causing chaos around the house ( i even remeber him putting dog poo in my hair when i was little) lol you are in a good postion and by the time hes in school/ nursery you can push for every bit of help you can hun x

 

[morri]

Hi, whilst I can't comment on raising a toddler with AS, I am an Aspie myself and it's not all that bad!

If you're looking for further advice, there's a parenting section on this forum which is a great resource.

https://www.wrongplanet.net/forum19.html&sid=d2ba4a4c4f7e5e0da2e83af1caea1b71

Same for me - btw I also know a forum where people can asks Aspies too which is www.aspiesforfreedom.com/forums
Theres a special parents section

This is btw also a nice show of different characters of them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9Yd8E-IlVw
and aut tv all in all is nice.

 

[taperjeangirl]

My friends girl has it, like you they thought she had adhd from a really young age, her mum was told she would never be able to talk properly or communicate the way she should.

Up until she was about 8 years old they had her in a special needs school, then after that they realised that there was no need for it and she went into mainstream.

She is just about to turn 18 now and is going into 6th in high school, she is so so clever and an amazing artist.
She does still have some issues, moslty with confidence with herself and finds it difficult sometimes when there is alot of people around and is about to be put on anti depressants, but that aside she has grown into such a lovely young woman.

If you need to know any of the detailed stuff I am sure my friend will be happy to help xxx

 

[mer01]

Hey hun ive only just seen this thread, but we are in the proccess of getting liam diagnosed with AS after the adhd no longer makes sense. If you need me you know where i am.
Here are some of the things we have noticed with him
He makes very little eye contact with anyone
he has no social awareness- difficulty making friends
he "zones out" seems in world of his own
hes very inteligent and highly knowlagable of subjects you would not expect for his age, yet struggles to communicate everyday things.
he makes strange noises for no reason
hes very clumsy
he doesnt seem to understand other peoples feelings
he seems very dittatched
he repeats words and behaviours over and over
he is startled and gets upset at the slightest thing- the noise of the vaccum cleaner is very distressing for him

like i said if you need me you know where i am xxxx