My Son's ASD Diagnosis----Still a Little Skeptical.

Hi R., first I want to say that not every child with ASD is the same...they don't all not speak, they don't all have the exact same "quirks". My son was diagnosed with an ASD when he was 5 also, it's called Asperger's Syndrome and what you have described here sounds JUST like my son. With Asperger Syndrome, the kids are typically VERY high functioning. They are "scary smart" is what I call it. My son was making web pages at age 5 and now has 3 of them that he maintains regularly. He is obsessed with computers. What you should do is some research of your own. There is nothing "wrong" with your son, this is just his way of being in the world. There is no one to "fix" him as he is not "broken". He has a different way of seeing the world and his own way of dealing with life's everyday frustrations.

I think you should look up ASD and Asperger Syndrome and do your own research to get comfortable with the diagnosis that you have gotten. The diagnosis is a label and I personally HATE labeling, BUT, you will need it to get the services your child will need in school. My son is now 8 and still has the meltdowns and scripted language and repetitive movements and such, but he is doing well. We also have OT at school as well as outside school. His major problem at this stage is social. Please don't disregard his diagnosis. Kids with ASD need help in so many areas that we take for granted every day. Do your research and if you still feel that something isn't right, by all means, pursue it. Follow the "mother's instinct". I knew that something was going on with my son from a young age. Jump on the therapies and the help you can get now so that later you won't face bigger obstacles. I had a doctor tell us that our son may not ever be on the exact same level as his peers but with therapy and consistancy we could get him so close you'd never know anything else.

If you would like, there are TONS of people out there facing the same thing you are. I am currently on the executive committee for the Northwest Louisiana Autism Chpater and we have monthly meetings. Our next is Sunday, the 25th at Willis Knighton Pierremont from 2pm to 4pm. We have a wonderful speaker coming and then we'll have an open forum. Our website is www.autism-society.org/chaptert581

If you need any other info or just want to talk to someone going through the same things, please don't hesitate to email me!

most people associate autistic with dumb. that's just not the case. autism is a social, and sensory condition that causes the child to withdraw into their own world. it is often left undiagnosed and untreated until the child is 5-8 when the symptoms present themselves. i know you don't want something to be wrong with your child, but since you know that there is, you should put your energy into finding the best schools, care and resources to help him. autistic children who are gifted(especially when it's caught early) can retain that thirst for knowledge, but only if the social disruptions don't over come learning time. so it is very important that you find help now in terms of a psychologist, a pediatritian, and a school that won't segregate your child to a "special" class room (this should only happen if your child is autistic AND mentally challenged, which your son is clearly not), but will make modifications to keep your child where he belongs learning everything that the other children do.

I am not an autism expert, but I teach in a public school and I have several students who are autistic. The thing to keep in mind is that it is called autism SPECTRUM disorder, meaning kids can fall anywhere on the spectrum from mild to severe and still be considered "autistic". Without having met your son and not being a docter myself, i would say that your son exhibits many of the same traits and behaviors as my autistic students, especially the sensory issues. What you are doing with occupational therapy and speech therapy is excellent and chances are the longer you continue with the therapy the more improvements you will see. Some autistic kids are very high functioning and need very little if any "special ed" services. I have one autistic student in one of my 5th grade classes who attends regular education with no modifications and does extremely well, even though she does have some obvious autistic behviors and "ticks". Some autistic kids are on the other end of the spectrum and are completely nonverbal and "out of touch" with mainstream society. To me it sounds like your son is on the high functioning end of the spectrum. I don't know how old your son is but as he continues to get older and continue on with his therapy and education you will continue to see improvements. Don't think of Autism as a life sentence. Just because your son has the disorder doesn't mean he won't be able to live a full and productive life. Some things may come harder for him, but some things may come very easily and naturally. As long as he continues his therapy and you are in constant communication with his therapists and teachers (which it sounds like you already are) and realize he may need more time and patience for some things, you and your son will be fine. Really having a diagnosis even if you think he doesn't need it or it doesn't apply to him really is the best thing because many therapies are only available if you have a confirmed diagnosis. Don't sweat the label. Just continue to love your son and continue doing what you know is best for him.

I have a son with ASD. He is very intelligent, but quirky, and with sensory issues. It falls under the umbrella of autism, but does not exhbibit the same a-social symptoms. Many ASD kids want terribly to be successful socially, but don't understand the concepts and social skills required to make them successful - not intuitively like most of us. They have to be taught not to stand to close when talking, not to interrupt, to take turns, and that sometimes when someone calls you dummy and giggles at you it is just because you did something silly, not because they think you are really dumb or that they dislike you. They have trouble laughing at themselves. As time goes on, the melt-downs can become bigger and harder to deal with. The hurt and depression can really creep in if they have difficulty socially, so if you notice that your child is having difficulty fitting in or making friends, intervene early. I reccommend Dr. Jules Weiss at ArkLaTex Counseling next to Orr Hyundai on St. Michael Dr. He is wonderful with kids and he can tell you within a session or two if he agrees with the diagnosis. He pegged my son quickly and has given us multiple techniques and solutions to problems that have helped. He is very upfront, as he isn't a southerner, and doesn't really have the whole hospitatlity thing down the way we do it here, but he is a great guy. Good luck. Did they just diagnose him with ASD or did they go so far as to say Asperger's Syndrome?

M.

Hi R.,
I have a son (10 yrs old) that is also autisic/aspergers and many things that you have described about your son remind me of mine. I went through the same feelings that you are now and it is hard, so keep a close support group and friends that are dealing with the same disorder- they will be your guiding light when times get tough. I am dealing with the behavior issues that are horrible at times and the school district not being as supportive as I expected. I encourage you to keep the therapies going- they are crucial at his early age. If you haven't already, do some reading on AutismLink.com. They will send you e-mails and keep you informed on things happening and all the research that is currently being done, and there is tons of it due to the amount of kids being affected with this. Feel free to e-mail me with any questions that you might have and keep in touch. I can say that what I have experienced with my son has changed the way I look at life in every way and made me a better person. Take care!

It is possible for a child to be both autistic and bright, even gifted. A good friend of mine has a little boy who is very similar to yours. He's five, autistic, extremely bright, and hyper-auditory. The way my friend puts it, the kid can hear his blood flowing. He also becomes extremely distressed when there are loud noises - they cause him excruciating pain. He also sometimes repeats himself, almost to the point of chanting.
Autism is not necessariyl a catastrophe - kids like your son and my friend's son can and do flourish with proper assistance. One thing that she did discover was that our public school system was not right for him. The public school he was originally attending had one self-contained class for all the learning/mentally/physically disabled kids, grouped strictly by age, and they were all basically just being baby-sat. She took him out of public school and put him in a Montessori school, and he's doing great there.
As far as meltdowns over "no," that sounds like just a strong-willed kid. If you stand your ground and he gets over it, then he'll eventually figure out that "no" means "no" and the meltdowns will stop.

My son was having problems in headstart and they tested him for autism.And I asked them why ,he spoke very well and was a very smart child.They said it was different in all kids ,that some may only have certain charcteristics,not all.He had sound issues too and he was very perticular about food textures and had a few other quirks.But in the end they determined he did not have autism that it was just his way.If you are not satisfied with what they said ask someone else.He may have it but he may not.It wouldn't be the first time a doctor has misdiagnosed a child.Do what you think is best,you sound like you know your child well.Good luck