Asperger's Syndrome, Gifted Child

My son was evaluated by Dr. David Falkstein who has an office in Allen and one in Sherman. He's a diagnosing psychologist & school counselor. My son, who has a medical phobia, LOVED this guy and was ready to wrap him up & take him home. He used games to do tests and it wasn't at all like a medical doctor's office.

sounds like a wonderful student that I had for three years in my Montessori classroom.
he had aspergers...very high functiining....i suspect his mom did too...very sweet family...just quirky....the more training I take the more I see of many things in us all. lol...it is important to have the same expections and work with everyone to suceed...mpntessori seems to work well as there are different ages to social with and while there just enough going on to practice manners most are good hearted kids....like a family...

Hi CF, I know moms wiht asperger's syndrome that I can have you speak with on a 3 way conference to see if there is any similarity. These moms are happy to share information to help others.

Let me know if interested.

A.
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It sounds like he could be on the spectrum. You can go other places to get him evaluated such as Our Children's House Baylor where he would be in a more child-friendly atmosphere. It sounds like he is doing very well academically, but you really should get a professional opinion to know what you are dealing with. As he gets older the social and imaginative issues will be brought to the surface and more of that will be required of him at school. With an evaluation you can get the tools you need to help him through.

My older son was/is much like you describe, but not quite as extreme. He started reading very early and has had a complex understanding of the way computers/electronics work from a very young age. He showed very little creativity or unique thinking until he was close to 5 years old. Even now, at 7, his interests and creative thinking is very different from his peers. He has a difficult time making friends much b/c he is so different (wasn't an issue when he was younger).

Remember, you are your son's advocate, and sometimes that means doing things that are difficult for both you and him. You need to know what you are dealing with, whether its a child on the spectrum, a extremely gifted child, or both, there are issues with all of it.

Good luck!

i have a brother who is autistic and a sister with asperger .. my understanding of it is they are very high functioning..as a matter of fact my sister has 3 college degress and is super smart. she just has a difficult time with some social issues..it does not mean that your kid isnt smart..asperger kids are very talented and very creative and unique.

First of all, when did teacher's suddenly get a medical degree? Yes, they come in contact with children on a daily basis, but can they really delineate between different diagnosis on the autism spectrum? If you're really concerned you can get him evaluated by a D.A.N. doctor, one who specializes in autism. Your son sounds like he's more left-brained, logical and number oriented, which can really be an asset for his future. My 4 year-old son doesn't like change, has to keep everything in order, but loves music and creative play. Would I call my son OCD? Maybe, but he is well-adjusted and makes eye contact and is the coolest kid on the planet, (and I'm sure your son is too!) Nurture his skills and take pride in your son's early abilities. But, again, get him checked out by the appropriate doctor to ease your mind. It could possibly even send you in a direction to get him into a new school to further nurture your son's mathematic/reading talents! God Bless.

Most kids with aspergers are gifted. You might check with your local school district. Ask for special ed child find and they can either evaluate him or find you a nice , non-threatening environment and specialist to do the evaluation.If he is on the spectrum, catching it early will make a big difference in the quality of his life. Good luck!!

Wow, a lot of armchair doctors with broad opinions.

Does your pre-school teacher have a medical degree, degree or is she just a teacher? If you don't feel there is anything wrong then move on.

Call your local school district. WE have been going through a similar situation with my 3 year old daughter. They will set up an evaluation. This won't be anything like it would be at a doctors office. They will watch how your child plays and comprehends and all of that fun stuff.

Everything you described can still describe an Aspberger's child. A highly functioning Aspberger's child can meet folks and greet them and look them in the eye. Other questions to ask: Does he interact correctly with other children? Would he rather play by himself? Are rules so important that he can't function well when someone is breaking the rules? Does he understand innuendo and implied humor and use it himself correctly? Does he feel the need to interrupt constantly to express himself...almost as if he doesn't understand that he is interrupting? Does he fixate on things and not let you change the subject, constantly returning to the thing he wants to talk about? Does he handle changes in schedule well and adjust quickly or mourn the change for long periods of time?

I would listen to your son's teacher's concerns and give them merit simply because she is watching his social interactions with a lot less emotion invested. She is probably seeing things that you can explain away and there are red flags along the way. If your son is diagnosed early, there is SO MUCH that can be done to make his way easier and smoother. It is worth checking out, even if she is completely wrong.

Many of the folks who diagnose this kind of problem use a play therapy type setting and not a sterile doctor's office. I would go that route so that your son is relaxed and calm.

Good luck.
VickiS

We have a child who was tentatively diagnosed with Aspergers by a child psychologist.(he is also gifted, much like your son-he accomplished many of the above tasks @ the same age)My first question would be what other traits/habits/actions are observed in your son's behavior to make the teacher make such a diagnosis? It sounds like your son is gifted,no doubt. Extremely gifted children sometimes exhibit characteristics of of an individual w/Aspergers. And there are many degrees of Aspergers. I would encourage you to talk in more detail w/the teacher. Please don't hesitate to have your son evaluated by a pediatric psychologist. With research, info from other parents,the pediatrician hopefully you will find a physician with whom your son will be comfortable. Best wishes.

Have you researched Asperger's? Kids who are labeled Asperger's (I say labeled because I do not ever believe a kid should be called something) are VERY smart, but lacking in social skills and other odds and ends behaviors.

I would not knock the idea. I would not talk to your general pedi about it if that is not their specialty, the answer wouldnt be correct anyway. I would, like other posters suggested, looking into an actual therapist or doctor that specializes in autism and have him evaluated that way.... IF you feel he needs a correct diagnosis.

But, it isnt like this situation needs medication, so even doing your own research and trying some of the suggested things yourself might be a good first step.

Good luck! I have a daughter who has ADHD and tends towards some Asperger behavior, I hope that you find what you are looking for.

I have a friend with a child with Aspergers. He make eye contact all the time. I do not however know enough to answer this question, but there are places he can be evaluated that is not in a doctor's office setting - Texas Scottish Rite Hospital would be a great resource.

Good luck!

I don't have any advice other than he needs to see a specialist to get a diagnosis. He may hate it, but you can't do whats best for him until you know what you are dealing with. Praying for your family.

Take Care and God Bless!

I have not read all the responses you've received, but wanted to offer my two cents.

Children at your son's age exhibit all kinds of behaviors, inhibitions and abilities. Because your son can read and draw doesn't mean much beyond the fact that he has a good mind and is eager to do things - encourage him in all of these things, but don't pressure him to be perfect in any of them now. The overall task of early childhood is physical and emotional development - help him with social growth and friendships, learning to enjoy things and to love and care for himself.

We have friends with an asperger's diagnosis for their son - and he is a difficult and amazing kid. He tries everyone's patience as a preteen but he is a wonderful boy and so, don't be afraid of the label -- just advocate for and help your child. Focus on what he needs to learn to be functioning well -- social skills, empathy, self mastery and the mastery of skills at an appropriate level.

And watch him - he is too young and outside of ECI to be dealt w/ within the school, though you could try to have in evaluated through ECI and your district for intervention services in terms of social skils. You could also take him to see a good diagnostician - insurance my cover this if you suspect a neurological problem. There are great neurologists in Dallas and they can help. His aversion and sensitivies will not be new to them and they will help you with getting him there.

Susan Istre works up at Shelton and has social groups for kids, as do other places. Once he is school age, the school will help you and you have rights within the system. There are many good private schools as well. I'm sure you know a lot of this as a teacher...

Bottom line: intervention to work on his needs is important, more important than a label at this time. Most schools use a response to intervention regime to understand what is going on academically with kids - and you can use an investigative approach with your son. Consulting a developmental pediatrician or a like professional yourself may give you the tools you need to continue your observations and provide your son the support he needs.

Our friend who have gone through this with their child went years without a true diagnosis - first it was thought he had ADD/OCD, anxiety. But aspergers, finally, made the most sense. Dan Akroyd has it, as many others have over time...(there is even a movie out on the topic), so take heart...and enjoy your child. But be prepared. These issues can drain a family of joy, resources, and contentment. If you can get close to what is going on and accept that your son has 'exceptionalities,' than you will be on your way, no matter what the answer is...early intervention is absolutely key to helping him and your family, though, no matter what is going on.

Well, my first thought was what issues is he having in class that make you or his teacher think he needs to be evaluated. I do think the things he is doing is definitley above average, but how is this impacting his school experience? Are there social issues? Behavior issues? As his mom, you do not sound like you have any issues with him, so is it to just know, or is it to seek intervention for something? He definitely has some of the 'flags' for what the teacher is stating, but if he is doing well in all areas I would not really fret about it---if on the otherhand he has any area of struggle, I would jump on it to intervene as quickly as possible.

What about contacting an occupational therapist who provides home-based services? Maybe they could come to your home and evaluate your son on his turf?

At age 3, my son was diagnosed with aspergers. He is extremely intelligent and remembers things like you would not believe! Kids with aspergers are high on the spectrum and are usually very intelligent. The problem is that they lack social skills. They also tend to like structure, routines, and boundaries.

My son met all of his major milestones, makes eye contact and loves to hug. I even had him potty trained by 3. He looks like a normal little boy. But, he does not do well in large crowds, struggles with change, has sensory issues, echos (repeats what you say), does not deal well with emotions (prefers for everyone to be happy at all times), does not initiate play with other kids, has fine motor skills issues etc. Also, he acted totally different at school than he did at home. The class environment was just too much for him and he totally shut down. Did the teacher elaborate as to why she thinks he is asperger's? That might help you understand better.

We took our son to a pediatric neurologist, Dr. So in Plano and then had him evaluated at Our children's house at Baylor. It has made a huge impact on our son's life!

If you are concerned, I would look into it. It cannot hurt your son, but only help him later in life.

I recommend seeing Dr. Tom Payton. He is a psychotherapist and was extremely helpful with a family friend whose son was in this same position. His number if ###-###-#### and his office is at Coit and Alpha in Dallas. He will work mostly with you so he doesn't have to see your son directly much which avoids the 'dr' situation you mentioned. I'd suggest you at least have a phone conversation with him and see if it's a fit. Good luck!

We are going through this with our son right now. He is extremely bright but does show some issues that concern us. After reading a little about Aspergers we talked to our ped and she referred us to psychologist. The evaluation is very simple mostly talking to our son, My husband and I had to fill out some questionnaires and the doctor spent time just talking to our son. Since aspergers is a spectrum disorder he may be be somewhere lower on the spectrum, I know our son is considered to have asperger tendencies but at this time as not been given the full diagnoses.

I don't think your son's teacher would be raising the issue if she didn't see something in the classroom setting that you are not seeing at home. Having said that, I am convinced that my husband has Asperger's (for a lot of reasons), but he's brilliant and very successful. Once you learn how to live with the many (many, many, many!) quirks of someone with Asperger's, it's not that big of a deal. Your son sounds very smart and maybe just needs a little help getting in touch with his creative side, and in addressing whatever classroom issues that his teacher is worried about.

I wonder if your public school system could evaluate your child? I know my friend has an autistic son who attended the local elementary school for therapy even though he was only 4 at the time. The school bus picked him up from the house, even. It was some sort of program to help kids get ready for kindergarten, maybe a continuation of ECI?

Hi CF- You have received alot of great advise, but everything you have said sounds exactly like typical Asperger's. He is to old for ECI to get involved, but you can go through the school district or contact SW Medical Center's Autism center and have him evaluated. Dr. Avery Hoenig is very personable and just has a way about her that makes the kiddos feel instantly comfortable. Good Luck.

Hi C.F.,
High intelligence doesn't necessarily negate Asperger's. You might ask the teacher for specific reasons or examples. She may have had a lot of experience with your son's age group. You could also check with your doctor and give him or her the list you have included here as well as the information from the teacher and make an appointment without your son present (or talk to the doctor over the phone.) I hope you are able to get the information you need!
Leanne

Most children on the spectrum are gifted and smart and also have empathy. There are a lot of MYTHS out there! PLEASE look up Hyperlexia. Kids with hyperlexia read and write early. My son has hyperlexia and is on the autism spectrum. Your son sounds like mine. My son did all the things you mentioned. He was diagnosed on the spectrum and with hyperlexia. We have the SAME exact eating issues too. Your sons preschool teacher is observing something and reporting it to you. In my opinion that is better than saying nothing. Try not to be scared. It is difficult in this town to even get a correct diagnosis. Dr. Lisa Genecove is a develpomental pediatrician and she is suppose to be good although her wait list can be long. If you need some more info email me off line. I can help you in a direction. I am sorry not to put it here but I am in a hurry this morning to get somewhere. Don't worry there is help out there and your son sounds like he has some wonderful gifts. Meantime google HYPERLEXIA. I feel you will say Wow thats my son!
L. :)

I have been battling with all the "syndromes" for years with my 13 year old son. He has a little of all the syndromes, but none of them are that extreme. He was diagnosed with ADD at 7 but now I think there are a lot more Aspergers signs in him now that he is older. Anyway, my point is the spectrum is wide for all these "syndromes", that it sounds to me like he has some Asperger's characteristics but it's not that bad. I am still working on a diagnosis but it's hard when they are not extreme cases! Good luck, but I would try and get a doctors opinion, even though he is still young, some of his symptoms sound a lot like my son. Is he very literal? My son is very literal and did not "invent" imaginary things, he is a builder and likes to put things together, not run around in a Superman cape and invent super heroes. Although, he is a very unique individual and I see now I wouldn't have it any other way.

What if you met with a doctor, without him to explain some of the behaviors. You may even be able to find someone that would to an evaluation in your home or at the school to see him in his regular environment and he wouldn't even have to know.

Just to be devil's advocate for a minute, do you think he shuts down at school? What led the teacher to her conclusion that he has Aspergers? Have you observed him at school without him knowing? Maybe he just shuts down and so she's only seen him that way and that's what brought on the "diagnosis". If that's the case, then there are still legitimate issues, even if aspergers isn't the right diagnosis.

Good luck, but I would definate seek more information on this.

Hey -
I am assuming that your pre-school teacher may have mentioned this because she is having a problem with your son in class? I would talk to her more to get an understanding of why she is saying what she is saying (set up a time with her so that she is not distracted with other children). The best reason to get him evaluated is so that he can get help and so you can get tools to help him.

I have friends who son is just now being diagnosed with Asperger's (tentative diagnosis), but it is all to HELP him with some of his problems (doesn't sleep hardly at all, doesn't like textures, other things like that).

My son was diagnosed with sensory integration disorder (which is not on the autism spectrum at all, but autistic children CAN have sensory integration disorder). My son did not like new foods/textures, he did not like some of his clothes, he did not like tags in any of his clothes. My son was also not very good at finite motor skills (including drawing and writing). My son also DID NOT like the playground. He didn't like heights or moving equipment. When my son was at home, you would never know he had any problems. But, the minute we walked out the door, everything was a battlefield. He didn't like to walk on grass or elevators or escalators. He didn't like noise. So, for us, therapy was a miracle that helped him work through his issues. My son is now 6.5 and I rarely see any problems with him.

Like others have said - the evals can be okay (not in a formal doctors office). The therapy offices are very kid friendly and have toys to play with. The only warning I can give you is that some of the children they are treating are loud - crying/or just making noises. Some of the therapy offices have open gyms where they do the therapy programs and the other children might be distracting.

Of course, you as a mother, know so much about your own child. I knew something was off with my child, but it took a long time before anyone agreed with me (but, my son was 18 months old when they did agree. I think it would be easier to tell on a 4 year old). Honestly, I started seeing "weird" things with my son starting at 5 months. He sat up late, he crawled late, he walked late, he couldn't hear/talk until late. So, we battled it early. But, the doctors all initially said he was in the low end of the "normal" range. Finally, at 18 months, he started falling below the normal range and that is when therapy started. He had therapy until just before he turned 3. Then, from 3 to 5, I kept him in dance and gymnastics to keep pushing him to his limits. Now, he's fine.

-L.

You can call ECI and they will send someone out to your home.

IF he does have Asperger's, you're almost out of the window of time you can "retrain" his synapses.

I would be concerned with the unballanced interests. It would be free to have ECI come check him.

All of the kids I have known with Asperger's are REALLY smart, but their interests are very focused. They show disinterest/frustration/extreme boredom(when they're being nice) in other activities their peers enjoy or endure without a fuss.

I teach preschool also (former high school Chemistry teacher too). I would check your son out. It is hard to explain when a child doesn't behave like the other children. She may not be doing the best job (saying a specific disorder), but knows something is different.

CF,
I am not judging your teacher. She may or may not should have opened her mouth, but I am wondering why she mentioned it. Have you read about Asperger's? It is a MILD form of autism. It is not the "autism" you have seen in the movies. Quite often people with Asperger's are at a genius level intellectually, have no problem making eye contact and because it is not easily "seen" struggle for many years before a diagnosis is made. Textures and foods can be a problem, but that is not a defining reason to label your son. An Asperger's person will have problem with social cues.....a hard time reading them. He will hear your words and take them literally whereas you and I can interpret from tone to decipher the true meaning.... and early intervention you can make a difference.

I certainly don't know the whole story, but I would keep an open mind though. If your child does end up having Asperger's you can help him. He can grow up, go to college, drive, have a career and a family. But I do believe starting early can make a huge difference in his success and in his emotional adjustment.

I'd recommend you do a little research and see where you can start with an evaluation of some sort. It may be just finding a pediatrician that is familiar with Asperger's. There aren't many out there, so check around.

Sounds like you have a gifted child. Whether he has Asperger's or not you can help him to succeed.
All My Best,
P.

Hello,

Having a child on the higher functioning end of autism, I an sympathize with your struggle and confusion. Does he interact socially with others? For instance, engate in parallel play and/or want to play with others. To me that is the biggest indicator of Asperger's. He sounds extremely gifted. I will tell you that if he is on the spectrum, time is of the essence to get him the therapy he needs. My son was in therapy for a year and a half and the strides he made were phenomenal. He is 7 now. I cannot say enough about getting help early. As a parent, it is hard to accept that something may be different about your child, but you need to pursue it if there is any question. I can put in contact with local resources if you want an expert opinion (and I am not saying your opinion or the teachers is not credible), but sometimes a 3rd party can help since they have seen many kids on the spectrum and can eidentify the signs easily. It does not actually need to be a doctor, but someone trained in spectrum disorders. COntact me at ____@____.com and I am happy to help in whatever way possible. Best of luck!

You have received a lot of great responses....the only thing I would like to add is that it is possible that he is BOTH......It is termed "twice exceptional". If this is the case, he qualifies to be tested for the Aspergers and also for the gifted program. He may very well qualify for both and the school will be compelled to make the appropriate accomodations for him. My daughter is gifted and there is a young man in her 8th grade class who is also in the gifted program and has aspergers. Best wishes and may you encourage your son to reach his full potential, regardless of what the outcomes are.

My son was diagnosed with Aspergers last year through the McKinney ISD. I first had him tested through his preschool, when his teacher had concerns. He NEVER went to a formal Dr's office. The people that met with him came to his school, and actually "played" with him. They come to their setting, so it is comfortable for the child. If they determine he does indeed have a form of Autism he may have to go in for formal testing, but it was in a play room and they sat on the floor, so it was casual.

By reading about your son, he sounds very simiilar to my son. Children with Aspergers are very gifted.

Good luck!

I sent you a private message, but want to respond briefly publicly so others can consider.

I think you have some things to be concerned about, as you obviously do. We can, together, look at his function through the perspective of brain function. We can then work together to stimulate the areas of the brain that aren't reaching their full potential yet. Grow and organize the brain and we get improved function.

No labels, just staying focused on function.

Parents (with emphasis on Moms) are the best people to help their children---they just need the information and guidance on the brain function & proper stimulation.

If you are concerned, you are right. I'd be glad to answer any questions.

D.
www.parentswithpurpose.com
www.parentswithpurpose.blog.com
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Hi,

Based on your description, I think you should schedule evaluation.
You can do that through your ISD (public early childhood school) because he is over 3 years old. Just call your nearest Early Childhood School main number and let them know that you would like to schedule evaluation for your son and they will connect you with their Assessment Team. At the same time you can schedule evaluation with developmental pediatrician or neuropsychologist. That way you can hear more than one opinion. Testing through the ISD is actually lots of fun for the kid because it's usually done in the playroom full of toys.

I would also like to recommend a really interesting book:
Disconnected Kids.

http://www.amazon.com/Disconnected-Kids-Groundbreaking-Ne...

The idea in the book is that Asperger's is result of overdeveloped left side of the brain (therefore all the things because of which you consider him gifted) and underdeveloped right side. The bigger the discrepancy, the bigger the problem. But, if you can stimulate underdeveloped right side well enough, you can get left and right side balanced again and solve the problem.
The book contains home program with lots of brain exercises to achieve that at home.
You can also find a lot of info about it on the web if you google "brain balance" and "brain balance centers".

There are also doctors who do QEEG brain mapping and will tell you which parts of the brain are underactive and will even have methods to stimulate those parts (neurofeedback).
Please google "QEEG brain maps". You can also check www.neurotherapydallas.com and www.onlinebiofeedback.com .

The third thing to do would be social skills groups as developing social sklls is the most important for kids with Aspergers.

In my opinion you should be very thankful for your son's good and informed teacher and the fact that she chose to let you know and even direct you to Asperger's. She told you her opinion, but it's up to you to decide what to do based on that...

Good luck to you all,
R.

Hi C F, We have 3 foster children who are siblins with Asperger's the two girls 17 & 14 and their brother 15 and he is level 6 & his sisters are level 5. You may not get an accurate evaluation at his age as it only starts to show up about this age and will get a better evaluation in grade 2 or 3, but he is showing signs of Asperger's in that he wants or needs order and has obsessions about things such as he knows all the streets and where they go. He doesn't like certain foods and this can be because of texture of them or the smell of them. He may not wear clothes made of some materials as he doesn't like the texture of that material. Our son has obsessions that aren't considered normal as he knows all about airplanes and he can look up and tell you what airline the plane is that is flying over head and what model what flight number and what time it left and where its going and what time it will arrive. He also knows about real estate and what is for sale in our area and how much a house sold for. His older sister just finished grade 12 and her obsession is going out to movies or shopping and doesn't like to stay home. She is good with her hands and has made a lot of things in tech out of wood a swaggie's chair, coffee tables and other things. She can put flat stack furniture together without the instructions or bikes for the younger children we have in foster care. The younger sister is obsessed with boys and she loves babies and wants her own which we have been able to keep her from doing at this age though her mother had her first child about her age (9 total 8 living) and she loves the feel of the water on her skin when she has a shower and will stay in there for hours if you don't chase her out, but she isn't as bad now as when she was younger. We have several friends with young children and she minds them when they come over or will help mind our grand kids that live close to us. You may wonder about our son that has an obsession with planes as we live in Australia and he has gone from Brisbane to Sydney on the plane by himself 4 times over the last 2 years and that is why his obsession is dangerous as it over rides his natural fear of doing things. He is in respite care at the moment and he has escaped there 5 times since March and just a couple of weeks ago he did it 3 days in a row, but didn't go to Sydney he just went on a train to the airport to watch planes land and take off. All of these kids are very bright in their own way and the problem is how to tap into this so that they can understand what you are talking about as they main thing is they don't understand language as we do. Tanya our oldest will keep trying to do things till she can understand or do it the way she wants as she did trig and once she could understand the principle of it she could do it quite well and she did better in high school than in primary as in primary one teacher does all the subjects and say 9:00 is time for math and the teacher decides to do english instead she couldn't understand why the teach would want to do this as she was ready to do math, but once in high school a teacher will only do one subject and she knew that when she had that teacher she would have that subject. I don't think that your son will have such a high level of Asperger's though I'm not qualified to make an assesment, but he could be a lower level and it won't be has hard on him or you. Our son did attend school for a while, but with such a high level of Asperger's he hasn't gone to school for 3 years and we are trying to get him into something now with the help of Dept of Family Services. I know that this post is fairly long, but I want to encourage you to hang in there and try and get some help for you son as the kids we have didn't show that they cared for others at his age, and because of this I don't think your son has a high level as our kids. If you would like more info or if you have any questions you can contact me on my email: ____@____.com Regards Ed