Laura - libra01971

[Elaine Keller]

Laura,

I read in one of the posts where you mentioned your son has Asperger's Syndrome. If you don't mind me asking, how old is he and when/how was it diagnosed?

I also have a son with Asperger's and have never known anyone else who has a child with this.

 

[libra01971]

Hi Elaine,

Ds is 8 almost 9. From day 1, his father and I knew there was something "different" about him. Early on, he was very advanced but also very hyperactive. He also has ADHD. We've been to several psychologists, psychiatrists and one neurologist and they all seem to have a different opinion on which is more prominent. (ADHD or Aspergers)

Originally, he was diagnosed with ADHD but when he started school, his teachers seemed to think it looked more like Aspergers. Then, we found a new psychologist and she agreed about Aspergers. Now the current psychologist thinks ADHD is more prominent. (Will someone figure it out already!?!x( )

Anyway, he repeats things quite a bit and he always has to have some sort of self stimulation. For instance, he carries around a watch and never wears it but flips it up and down in front of his face while "singing". He's very into music and about 90% of the time he has a song on his mind and will either sing or hum it.

When he started kindergarten, he was on a second grade level so the teacher's couldn't figure out if he had an attention problem or was just bored. I think it was both. So this past year that he was in second grade, he has continued NOT paying attention and I think now he is falling behind. He is on medication - which I was against at first - but it seems to have help although only slightly.

How old is your son and how was he diagnosed? Feel free to pm me. It's definitely been a struggle and we have good days and BAD days. Also finding help with doctors has not been easy. I still don't feel we are getting the help we need.

 

[Elaine Keller]

Hi Laura,

My son will be 14 in September. He definately has Asperger's syndrome but it's been a journey getting to that diagnosis. From them time he was a baby it was apparent to me that there was something "not right". I kept coming up with autism on my own but was assured by the doctor that since he let me cuddle him then I was wrong.

He was diagnosed when he was 4 with ADHD and started taking ritalin. We went with that for a while but the medication seemed only to subdue him. This made his teachers happy but left me feeling sick and guilty.

When he was in third grade someone told me about Tony Atwood's book about Asperger's syndrome. When I read the introduction I knew right away that was what my son has. I took him to a psychologist and finally go the correct diagnosis.

Now he's getting all the services he needs in school. Its also so much easier dealing with him knowing what he's got, although I'm frequently exasperated with him! Poor guy, it's as if he's an alien in this world some times.

He's brilliant, testing at grade 12.5 in math (he just finished 7th grade) but with his deficits my husband spends an average of 1 hour an evening on homework with him.

The way you describe your son it sounds like Asperger's to me. The self stimulation! My son drives me crazy when he paces, paces paces. And the "special interest" in music. My son's special interest changes periodicaly. He knows tons of information about outerspace, geography, world religions, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and on and on.

Does your son have an IEP fro school? As far as getting the help you need I've found that with the school you just have to insist on getting what you want. Sometimes the hard part is knowing what is needed.

I guess I should have PM'd you but I've not done that before. Sorry this is so long. If you have any questions feel free to contact me. I also have several books that I'd be happy to share with you. I don't mind mailing them to you....