ASD Rollcall

[Elizabeth in MN]

I'd love to know or see who all is dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorder. My dd, 11.5, just was diagnosed last week. Right now I'm feeling a bit alone and a lot lost. Going through the pages of this sub-board is a bit confusing because of different people using different terminology. The new diagnostic criteria doesn't help matters, either.

 

So Hi, I'm Elizabeth and my daughter has ASD.

 

:grouphug:

[Twilight Woods]

"Aspergers" here. DD 6. :)

[Dandelion]

DS8 has Asperger's.

 

Hope you find the support and answers you need to shake that "alone and lost" feeling soon. :grouphug:

[TippyCanoe]

.

[frugalmama]

Suspected Asperger's / ASD here - dd age almost 6. We are just starting down the path to an official diagnosis.

[MomatHWTK]

We got a lot of "NOS" instead of the Asperger's dx. Doctor doesn't want to commit until the mood issues are under control. I think maybe she's thinking that he would look less Aspie if they were. I think the Aspie is showing more now that the mood stuff is getting worked out.

 

I have not read it yet, but lots of BTDT moms recommend the autism book by Tony Attwood. Here's a central website with resources:

http://aspergersyndrome.org/

 

Also visit Autism Speaks.

[rafiki]

.

[hsmamainva]

I have an 18yo son with Aspergers (diagnosed at age 6)

 

I also have a 10yo daughter with Autism & mixed receptive expressive language disorder (diagnosed at age 3)

[chiguirre]

Greg Wiggle is moderately autistic, somewhat verbal (he uses speech to communicate, but it's not fluent).

 

Geezle has hf autism and talks my ear off. He's struggling to learn to write and do math, but he can read pretty well now.

[Crimson Wife]

My youngest was diagnosed with autism back in December at 2 yrs. 11 mos. At that point, she was moderately impaired, but the developmental pediatrician said that when she's older and her speech & language have developed more, she'll most likely present similar to an Aspie.

[Cortana]

Our 10yo ds has high-functioning autism (dx at age 6).

 

Our 12yo ds has down syndrome.

 

Our 3yo dd has speech and cognitive delays and we suspect possible ADHD.

[Finnella]

13 yo old Aspie here

[Nature]

Teenage son with Asperger's.

[Misty]

3 daughters diagnosed with Asperger's... 14, 11, & almost 9.

 

5 1/2 yr old son not on the spectrum.

[Amirah]

3 yr old non verbal waiting on a official diagnosis ( we will get wait listed for an assessment will take 14 months -2yrs) unofficial diagnosis low functioning Autism. he is actually getting worse by the day

[MamaSheep]

Ds just turned 15, and was diagnosed with Asperger's when he was 5.

[Jennifer-72]

Ds7 was dx as PDD-NOS at 2 1/2.

[specialmama]

My boy has classic autism, or what autism used to look like before the umbrella. He will be 11 soon, and was dx'd a few days before his second birthday.

[ClassicMom]

9yo son with ASD, ADHD, and OCD here. You are not alone.

[houseofkids&pets]

DS12 was diagnosed with PDD-NOS at 3.5 years old. Our autism consultant commented that he would probably meet the criteria for a diagnosis of autism now.

 

DS9 is quirky due to social anxiety issues, but is not on the spectrum. He was been diagnosed with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia last June.

 

DD12 is doing great academically, but is having more issues with what appears to be anxiety and OCD. We are currently looking for a therapist/psychologist to address her needs.

 

Brain wiring is so complex!!

[Kathryn]

DS6 was diagnosed with autism last year in March and called "high functioning" because his IQ was above average.

[prissygirls]

My eight year old dd is diag. PDD-Nos. She just got diagnosed this Feb. So I often feel alone and overwhelmed.

[AmyinMD]

My 4 yo has an Autism diagnosis. He was diagnosed just after turning 3. He's lower functioning and has almost no verbal ability beyond some labeling.

 

When he was first diagnosed we were led to believe he was moderate but he's just gotten worse over time. His language is worse today than it was 2 years ago. He attends public school because his needs are so great I just cannot meet them with having other children I'm homeschooling. He really requires one on one support. He's currently in a mod/high functioning class and they are trying to move him to a severe classroom. It has 1 teacher, 5 assistants, a SLP, and OT for 8 children.

[SkateLeft]

My son was originally diagnosed with ASD around 2yo. He had no spontaneous language until almost 4.

 

We know now more about the medical causes underlying my son's DX, so we don't offer refer to his ASD diagnosis anymore. Up until this year, he was in the public school special ed system, and had an active IEP under the autism criteria. He currently receives private speech, OT, developmental services and adaptive PE.

[PrincessAriel]

nt

[Aoife]

my 5yo is a high functioning autistic

[MomatHWTK]

I read this article last week regarding play therapy for autism:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304451104577389893715036310.html

 

If you go to the website of the hospital mentioned in the article there are more resources and information.

[melmichigan]

One DD is diagnosed Gifted w/AS (it is different than just AS according to the specialists).

 

Another DD is PDD-NOS.

 

With another DD everything now falls under her CP diagnoses.

 

I have no idea what all that will mean with the new criteria.

[ravinlunachick]

My son is mild to moderately (depending on whom you ask) autistic. He also has apraxia, which prevents him from relying on speaking as his main form of communication. Words slip out, now and then, clear as day, but he is completely unable to reproduce them, despite getting speech therapy from 18mos-5yrs old. He primarily uses ProLoQuo on the iPad for expressive communication. He's getting much better with it, and we've been shocked to discover recently just how much he knows. He has begun reading basic sight words and names *without any instruction*!

 

He goes to public school, although we've been conflicted over that this past year. Basically, he was in a terrible, awful placement with very low-functioning kids and a teacher who knew nothing about autism and who had essentially written him off. We argued and pressed and demanded and advocated on his behalf, and lo and behold, got a wonderful new placement for him for next year, as he begins kindergarten. We are extremely hopeful for this fall, and I look forward to working with him this summer. I love stumbling upon something he knows! He gets so excited, and claps and cheers for himself, and looks at me with those big blue eyes as if to say, "YES!!! You FINALLY get me!!"

 

:001_wub: I ♥ that boy.

[freeindeed]

We do not have a definite autism diagnosis yet, but we are fairly certain that our dd4 is on the spectrum. She is also visually impaired and has other developmental delays as well.

[EmilyinND]

Asperger's DS 13

[CarolineN]

8yo ds- pdd-nos

5yo ds- autism

2yo ds- speech delay, suspected on the spectrum, gets weekly speech and 2x weekly toddler group for social skills

 

I also have an 8 month old son. He's on track now, but so were the other 3. I'll probably bring him to be evaluated by Early Start sometime between 18 and 24 months.

[Critterfixer]

One of my 8yr old ds twins was diagnosed at age 2 as autistic, suspected of being hFA. He's the most outgoing of the entire family. He's slowly showing a grudging interest in the printed word and enjoys math and building things. His current obsession are windmills and water pipes and he enjoyed building dams in the creek back when we had rain.

 

I'm strongly suspected of being an Aspie, although I have not pursued an official diagnosis for myself.

[Guest tdk316]

No official diagnosis (waiting to see how the OT and speech work first) but one with sensory processing disorder (SPD), ADHD and severe anxiety and the other with other speech and SPD issues... you're not alone! Just read a good book - "Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid" - it's a lot less judgmental than the title suggests. I identified with a lot that the authors were saying, especially about their acceptance processes. It's worth a look IMHO. :001_smile: Hang in there!

[Celia]

My 7yr old ds is on the spectrum - dx PDD-NOS. Doc said he fits aspie characteristics, except for a speech delay. He was diagnosed a year ago, and I remember the lost/overwhelmed feeling all too well. Sometimes it still hits me like a ton of bricks, but less often. You have lots of support here, so post whenever you need it!

[Holly IN]

My daughter has High Functionig Autism. She was diagnosed when she was 3 yrs old.

 

Holly

[dsmith]

I have a 13yo ds with Aspergers.

[cjbeach]

Cam the Man's mom here!

 

11yo Aspie

with side orders of hyperlexia, dysgraphia, auditory memory issues, and Sensorimotor issues.

[HSmomNY]

DS2 was diagnosed with classic autism at 2 .

[mc26]

Mom to a 9 yo Aspie here. He also has a smidge of hyperlexia, some ADD (Inattentive) and a boatload of anxiety.

[Irishmommy]

Still waiting for more test results, but probably Aspergers. He also has ADHD and anxiety. He is extremely smart and creative.

[Maverick_Mom]

Ds2 has Asperger's (in addition to ADHD and a seizure disorder). He is 13 and is "officially" in 6th grade -- working at grade level or above in math, reading at about a 4th grade level. He scares me with math -- although I wouldn't say he's advanced in math, he understands concepts intuitively. I'll start explaining the lesson, and he'll cut me off -- "Got it, Mom. I know how to do this." Emotionally, he's probably more like 8 or 9. He loves nature (tarantulas and sharks in particular), the Titanic, and anything related to Legos. When he's talking about subjects of interest to him, he uses this pedantic "little professor" voice and will talk your ear off. He can recite endless streams of movie dialogue ad infinitum (and ad nauseam :D). He has the lowest frustration tolerance level known to man and, although he has good days (or at least parts of days), in general he hates school. He was in ps for a year several years ago, and it was a terrible experience for him and for our family (I'm sure it was no picnic for the school, either). Over four years later, he still gets upset when talking about his time in ps. So we homeschool (which we were doing before he was diagnosed and before his year in ps), and it's the lesser of two evils for him. Anger is a problem for him; he is terribly irritable when he's frustrated and wants to punish the world. Any kind of competition upsets him. I think counseling would be a very good thing, but we're running into roadblocks with his pediatrician (who thinks meds would be better for him) and the insurance company.

 

He may yet drive me to drink, but when he is having a good day, I couldn't be happier.

Edited May 18, 2012 by Maverick_Mom

[swellmomma]

I suspect ds13 has aspergers along with a mood disorder, so far his Dx changes constantly based on who sees him and no one can agree on a course of treatment so he remains untreated.

 

DS8 is thought by most of those working with him that he has PDD of some sort. I have to get him the psychoeducational testing before the neurodevelopmental clinic will bother to see him. So it could be a while before that Dx comes along.

[Tap]

Aspergers dd5

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

Ds 7 was diagnosed last year at 6 with High Functioning Autism. He also has ADD, tourettes and Sensory Processing Disorder. He really REALLLLLLLLY struggles with school work. I am sure if you look you will see a rollar coaster of posts from me about him. Good days and really bad days! We are on a downward spiral currently :001_huh:

[Finnella]

One DD is diagnosed Gifted w/AS (it is different than just AS according to the specialists).

 

I would think it would be since someone isn't required to be Gifted in order to have an AS diagnosis. My son has the AS, the Gifted, and LDs. (I never knew that was possible.)

 

I'm worried about the new criteria; I'm afraid my son might be stripped of his diagnosis. I guess we're "fortunate" in the sense that we still have an ADD and 3 LD diagnoses to fall back on if he needs accommodations. It still concerns me.

[Verity]

13DS with Asperger's -

[DawnM]

14 year old diagnosed with Asperger's and Non Specific LDs.

 

Dawn

[jolley]

ds 10 (diagnosed at 7) has high functioning autism and learning disorders

[dalynnrmc]

No dx here, but 13yo highly suspected of HFA or possible Asperger's. Just starting to consider getting a dx. I'm sure gifted, dealing with anxiety, and (at least lately, not sure if it's just puberty) attention and/or forgetfulness kind of stuff....

 

Closest we've gotten to any dx's include the ps dx in K of semantic pragmatic disorder (language processing) and "probably a little hyperlexia." In his pK year he saw a child psych who said he was highly intelligent, reading on at least a 4th grade level (at 4 years old), and "the rest is probably just self-esteem issues, don't you think...?" Um... no...! :001_huh:

 

It was such a relief to me when I discovered info on HFA/AS and knew that my son was really dealing with some true issues, and that it wasn't just me being a bad mom. You are not alone!