Does this sound like Asperger's?

[Dandelion]

Hi All,

 

Long-time lurker, first time poster on this board... :)

 

I suspect my 7yo DS may have Asperger's Syndrome. We've known DS was different from other kids since he was about 2, but just always chalked it up to "quirkiness". Now we're thinking it might be more than just that.

 

We have an evaluation scheduled at a local Autism clinic in November (the soonest we could get in). In the meantime, I'm doing more research (reading lots of books, reading posts on this forum, surfing the web, etc.).

 

I've listed his primary "symptoms" below - would love to hear from parents of Aspies and/or people who know kids with Asperger's Syndrome as to whether this fits with an Asperger's diagnosis.

 

- Socially very awkward. Has difficulty entering into play with peers (usually barges in, comes on too strongly, and has difficulty integrating into play). Often interrupts other kids' games in his attempts to join in. For example: he'll see some kids (even complete strangers) playing soccer, and then run in and take the ball away from them and try to play with them - and then he'll be surprised that they're ticked off. Despite all this, he's very socially inclined and loves to be around other kids/people in general.

- Can't read non-verbal communication. He is unable to see when others are upset with him, annoyed with him, or are trying to get away from him. He will continue walking after kids trying to engage them in play or conversation, even when it's totally obvious to everyone else that these kids are uninterested. He will also strike up conversations with complete strangers (adults and kids alike) about his topics of interest and he is unable to tell when they're uninterested and when they want the conversation to stop.

- Does not seem to learn from his mistakes. He makes the same mistakes over and over and over again - 1000 times. Especially in social situations. We can coach him until we're blue in the face on what he should/should not do or say, he can repeat all that information back to us perfectly, and yet when he's back in a similar situation he makes the same mistakes again.

- Low tolerance for frustration. He becomes frustrated VERY easily (especially when asked to stop doing something or transition from one activity to another - or when asked to do something he doesn't want to do, e.g. chores). He can turn from a perfectly pleasant boy into a screaming, tantruming mess in 1 second. And then he can pop back out of the screaming/tantruming just as quickly and be back to normal.

- Very, very stubborn and argumentative. He is extremely strong-willed and will argue for what he wants for exceedingly long periods of time.

- Encyclopedic knowledge in his interest areas. He "cycles" from interest to interest (usually spends at least a couple months on each one) and absorbs TONS of information about his topics of interest. Not only does he learn and retain lots of information, he's able to synthesize it and come up with new ideas. concepts and creations based on what he's learned.

- Lots of sensory issues. I posted in the other thread on the General Board about this. He's sensitive to sound, certain fabrics/clothes, tastes, textures, and has a high tolerance for extreme cold and extremely high tolerance for pain.

- Food sensitivities. We had him tested for food sensitivities (via an IgG blood test) this year, and he's sensitive to all gluten/wheat, eggs, milk, peanuts, almonds, and oysters.

- Some "stimming". There was a period of several months (when he first started preschool at age 4.5 - an awful time but not relevant to this thread) when he would pace back and forth from one wall of the room to the other, sometimes up to an hour. Just back and forth in a straight line - and he would continue until we would stop or redirect him. He rarely does this now (I think because we homeschool now and his life isn't stressful anymore). He also chews on non-food items constantly - toys, pencils, the TV remote, whatever he has in his hand. I don't know if this is stimming but it's something he does non-stop unless I tell him to stop (and then he starts up again 5 min. later).

 

The above list just lists what I consider to be his "non-neurotypical" symptoms - aside from that, he's a very happy, loving, energetic and all-around amazing child. :) Academically, he's right on track or ahead in all subjects (especially science - he reads our old college chemistry and engineering textbooks and retains it!!).

 

Thanks in advance for any experiences or insights you can share!

[bonnie_ann]

Hi Julie, if he were my son I would have also set up an eval, so I think you are on the right track. You are so lucky that he is doing great academically, that makes life easier, right? For both of you! :-)

[Dandelion]

Thanks for the reply, Bonnie! Yes, being on track with academics does make things easier...

[Guest]

Well, Asperger's is, in a way, quirkiness squared, although several close neurological relations of Asperger's can share so much of the symptomology. You have a pretty classic list there! Your feeling your son was "different" at a quite young age was very similar to my instinct about my dd, and it was just a bit later than your son's age when she was diagnosed. It will really help at your appointment if you have that list plus some specifics: types of things that happen, any triggers you can pinpoint, ages at which you noticed various things. As I recall, there were lots and lots and lots of developmental forms and questions.

 

I wondered whether your son is seeing an OT for help with the sensory issues? Sometimes, if you get a really great OT who clicks with your child, they can help with the frustration and transition issues. Ours did not; but still, she helped hugely with the sensory things going on along with general coordination and balance. I'm so grateful, even now, six years down the road. (And actually, it was our OT who sent me off to check out Asperger's.)

 

It's hard to wait for that official appointment and diagnosis; but it sounds as though you have a clear, insightful knowledge of your son along with a great love for him, so he has the best thing he could ever get right there. Best wishes.

[PeterPan]

I'm with Karen about getting started looking for an OT. They take a long time to get into, at least the really good ones. My dd is not aspie, but the OT spent fully 3 sessions (each multi-hour!) evaluating her. There really are differences in OT's and how much time they spend, how much of themselves they put into the kids. Anyways, this OT I found does listening therapies which can help with the sound sensitivity. I've been talking with her about it as a possibility for me actually. There can be apraxia and other things in these kids that an OT can identify. The OT evaluation process was really helpful to me in understanding dd, and it brought out a lot of things that I was able to connect to how we homeschool. (the neurological stuff leads to a thought process which they can explain and you can then apply to how to select curriculum and methodology)

[Dandelion]

I wondered whether your son is seeing an OT for help with the sensory issues? Sometimes, if you get a really great OT who clicks with your child, they can help with the frustration and transition issues.

 

I'm with Karen about getting started looking for an OT. They take a long time to get into, at least the really good ones.

 

Thanks for the additional insights!

 

Apparently, the Autism Clinic we'll being visiting for the evaluation does a "three-in-one" - along with the ASD eval, they automatically include an evaluation for OT and speech therapy needs. So, we've got the OT angle covered.

 

I'm glad to hear that OT has been so helpful for both of your kids (there was a lot of positive feedback around that on the "sound sensitivity" thread on the General Board as well). I don't know much about OT and hadn't really considered that it could help DS, but I'm encouraged to pursue that now...

[Guest momk2000]

Our dd (now 9yrs)has also had a lot of what we saw as just quirky behavior, and major temper tantrums. She is also a perfectionist and will have a total meltdown every time she makes a mistake. We had discussed her behavior with the Pediatrician when she was little and would always bring it up again at her annual check-ups. We even took her to a counselor a couple of times over the years. They couldn't give us any answers and basically would give us the impression that we just had to be more firm with her and we would get a few parenting tips. We always sensed there was something different, but just couldn't put our finger on it. We figured maybe she was just very strong - willed. Friends would tell us she would grow out of it, but it was getting worse instead of better. By the time she turned 8, she developed anxiety over things that she would obsess over, and her meltdowns became unmanageable. Thankfully, we found a good counselor and were referred to see a Psychologist specializing in Autism. She was dx'd this past year with PDD-NOS.

She is now on medication and doing much better. It is still quite a challenge, but under control since she started the meds. Since her diagnosis, I feel like my eyes have been opened up so wide to her issues. I feel like I can see it crystal clear now, and wonder why we didn't pick up on this sooner. I sometimes feel a little guilty, but then remind myself that many of the "experts" couldn't figure her out either.

Of course as soon as the label was determined I had Psychologists, Social Workers, etc... even a family member start hinting that she really should be enrolled in public school. She has been HS'd since K and nobody ever bothered me about this before, why now? I felt so guilty for months and had a tug of war going on in my head ...PS - HS - PS - HS, arrgh! Then I realized homeschooling is what she really wants to do. All of her friends in the neighborhood attend PS. She knows she has the option of going to PS if she wants to, and has never expressed an interest in it. She has been doing very well with HS, why is everyone pushing me to change something that makes her happy? Slowly my guilt disappeared and we are happily homeschooling (meltdowns and all :))

I would definitely go to a specialist for an evaluation. I hope you find an answer soon. :grouphug:

[Dandelion]

Since her diagnosis, I feel like my eyes have been opened up so wide to her issues. I feel like I can see it crystal clear now, and wonder why we didn't pick up on this sooner. I sometimes feel a little guilty, but then remind myself that many of the "experts" couldn't figure her out either.

 

That's exactly how I'm starting to feel now, and we don't even have a diagnosis yet... But the more I read about ASDs (and specifically Asperger's), the more the puzzle pieces are falling into place. It all fits, and it's helping me make sense of some of the things DS does that I've never understood before. Of course, I'm not locking myself in to a certain diagnosis - if the evaluation comes back with nothing (or something else), that's fine too. In my mind, that won't negate the things that do apply to DS (regardless of his ultimate diagnosis). Anything that helps me understand him better and/or change my parenting to better support him is a good thing.

 

I'm glad your DD is doing so well now!

[Nature]

OT has also been helpful for my son (Asperger's), who had severe sensory issues. He went through a couple years of sensory integration and now, he doesn’t seem to have hardly any sensory issues.

 

When he was younger, he couldn’t wear socks with seams or any clothing that wasn’t really soft. He was also seeking sensory input—poking himself—as if he didn’t feel pain. He would (and still does now sometimes) go barefoot and the winter, oblivious to the cold. He would never eat anything crunchy and would only eat soft food like bread or mashed potatoes. He would rub peanut butter or other things in his hair, apparently seeking sensory stimulation. His OT said that the head was related to jumping, so the more he jumped (getting input in his feet), the less he needed input on his head.

 

Noises bothered him, but then he also sought out loud noises. He needed to be in motion and loved the swings. He loved to climb and “perch†somewhere high.

 

I’m just so amazed with sensory integration. I think the therapist makes a big difference. We did go through a couple until we found one that we really liked.

[Dandelion]

His OT said that the head was related to jumping, so the more he jumped (getting input in his feet), the less he needed input on his head.

 

That is so interesting! My DS likes to ram into things with his head (like ramming into the couch head first at full speed, etc.). We do have a large outdoor trampoline, so I think I'll start scheduling more trampoline breaks into our day to see whether that helps.

 

Noises bothered him, but then he also sought out loud noises. He needed to be in motion and loved the swings. He loved to climb and “perch†somewhere high.

 

I’m just so amazed with sensory integration. I think the therapist makes a big difference. We did go through a couple until we found one that we really liked.

 

The more I read about everyone's positive experiences with OT/sensory integration, the more I'm looking forward to DS's evaluation in November and what they might recommend to us...

 

Thanks again for all the replies!

[MamaSheep]

I think you're on the right track with getting an evaluation done too. Deep breaths, and keep yourself busy while you wait. I know it can be nerve-wracking. :grouphug: