Asperger Syndrome and Auditory Processing Disorder

Updated on June 21, 2010
J.N. asks from Fairborn, OH
7 answers

My 8 yr old son will be tested son for both. I was wondering what other moms noticed different about there child with either of these problems. And any good questions to ask when I go. Thanks

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L.

answers from Cleveland on

my son was diagnosed with auditory processing disorder and pervasive developmental disorder when he was about three or four. It was not until the seventh grade that I learned that PDD is a form of Autism.

Get on the internet and google these terms. There is a wealth of information out there for you.

I know there is a special school for autistic kids but if you cannot get him in there make sure you get an Individual Education Plan for him from your school.

You will have to get educated about these things in order to help your child succeed, and get ready to be an advocate for him because if you don't fight for him to overcome his difficulties, the school will just push him on through.

My Aspie son will be 16 this summer. He passed the eighth grade with all F's but after a re-evaluation and some special ed classes with modifications, he just finished his freshman year in high school on the merit role.

don't let the terms scare you...your child can achieve great things. You will just have to give him a little help and direction.

Write me if I can be of any help.
L.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

Hi-
Here are a couple of sites that have general info for both diagnoses:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/detail_asperg... (aspergers)
http://www.thegraycenter.org/autismaspergers (asperger’s)
http://www.incrediblehorizons.com/Auditory-checklist.htm (good things to think about re: differentiating between auditory perception, auditory processing, etc)
http://www.bridges4kids.org/Disabilities/CAPD.html#1 (good info on APD)

as far as auditory processing disorder - make sure it is an audiologist evaluating him (and then if they find anything speech will evaluate second).

Good luck!

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C.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

My 6 year old daughter was diagnosed with Asperger's when she was 4.5 years old. We suspect she might have auditory processing disorder as well and will get assess for that in a few months.

Our main issues with her were rigidity, difficulty with transitions, and limited interactive play. She's now doing MUCH better! Yay!

C.
www.littlebitquirky.blogspot.com
Vote for my blog!

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K.B.

answers from Houston on

I have an 8 year old son with Aspergers who was diagnosed at age 4 1/2. Is your son being tested by a Developmental Pediatrician? If so they will probably guide you through everything but make sure you leave there with a plan for therapy. Most likely they will recommend OT and speech if he's not already receiving those.

With my son he goes through phases with different "obsessions". As a small child it was trucks, then it was dinosaurs, now it's sports. With sports though he's not so much interested in watching the game and the actual play that is going on, he wants to know what state they are playing in, which state each team is from, and what the final score was. He wants the facts and statistics of the game not so much the play. He'll get hung up on one game (right now it's Sorry) that he will ask to play everyday for a period of time. Sometimes it's a month or so, sometimes longer.

Physically, my son does do the hand flapping and bouncing up and down when excited. He is clumsy and has trouble with fine motor skills such as tying his shoes and his handwriting.

Academically, he is amazing. He has memorized his multiplication tables without practice. He simply understood the process of multiplication and just knows how to do it. He has a clear understanding of negative numbers as well which is something that was never explained to him in any detail. I think one day he asked what 7 - 10 is and I corrected him and said, you mean 10 - 7 because you can't take a big number away from a small number. He said why not, and I explained that you can but then you get negative numbers. I'm not kidding at all when I say that simply made sense to him and now you can ask him any subtraction problem, like 27 - 42 and he will get it right.

My son doesn't handle change in routine well. Days at school that most kids look at as being fun because they are special and out of the ordinary send my son into a bit of an anxiety attack. Nothing too serious, but he'll ask a million questions about what to expect and usually has a bit of meltdown at the end of the day because he was so anxious all day long at not knowing what to expect.

I hope I answered your question. If you have any specific questions feel free to send me a note.

Good luck,
K.

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M.K.

answers from Chicago on

Auditory processing disorder is a sensory processing disorder. However, it is common for a child on the "Autism Spectrum" to also have some sort of sensory processing disorder. (Asperger's Syndrome is a high functioning autism spectrum disorder.) The two disorders are mutually exclusive, but often seen together. I think the #1 question you should ask is what exact diagnosis/es is your son getting. He might get both. This is very important when you ask your local school district for resources to help your son. If he does have an auditory processing issue, have the Doctor specify this in the diagnosis -- instead of just "SPD."

I have heard that there are wonderful new therapies for auditory processing issues (although I am not personally familiar with them.) Also ask the Doctor who is evaluating your son (I'm assuming a Pediatric Specialist and an Audiologist) where the nearest resources for auditory processing disorders is.

I wish you and your son the very best.

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M.R.

answers from Columbus on

CAPD is a langague processing disorder, and Asperger syndrome is an Autistic spectrum disorder. It is quite possible that he has elements of both. Central Audio Procssing Disorder was the diagnosis dujour about 10 years ago, and many children with social differences, language issues, fine motor delays, gross motor akwardness, were diagnosed with CAPD, this was my 18 year old aspie's first diagnosis, followed by ADHD+a whole slew of langague, motor and emotional issues, then ADHD w/autistic features, and finally Asperger Syndrome at age 11. Your son may follow a path that is equally confusing, and the diagnosis may evolve, or you may have a diagnosis that makes sense from the beginging. If they are looking at both, he may fall into that gray area where he is not a "classic" presentation for any one diagnosis. If you find yourself in that spot, there are some important things to remember.

I know that it may not seem comforting but let me say that we have learned that it does not matter so much in a clinical setting what diagnosis he carries. It may matter for school purposes (although if he has any qualifying IDEA diagnosis and needs special education, it should not) However, our experience is that our daughter's treatment plan did not change one iota once she was finaly diagnosed with an ASD. If he has CAPD or an ASD, you will treat the medical symptoms he has and provide therapy for the needs he presents with. All therapy is provided based on specific needs, and needs are identified based on standard evaluations, not diagnosis; diagnosis does not limit the type or kind of therapy or intervention (a very important point to remember for writing IEP's.)

He may have elements common to both disorders in his treatment plan, and he may even have both disorders.

I guess I am trying to say, it does not matter so much in the long run, let his needs be the guiding force, both for treatment, and for questions, and try not to focus on his diagnosis, because that may change, or be confusing, or be inconclusive. As questions about your son, not what you suspect he has. It may feel wrong, and I know you want desperately to know what it is, but you will probably get appropriate priveate treatment without a diagnosis. The only real obstical you will have is with schools, so try to pin the evaluator down to get a diagnosis that qualifies him for IDEA services, if he needs those. CAPD may not, and an ASD will be a qualifier (if he also needs special education.)

Good luck with his evaluation. Get therapy and treatment for everything you see, and don't delay.

M.

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R.H.

answers from Washington DC on

Lois Kam Heymann is the leading authority on Auditory Processing Disorder. You may want to contact her via her website at www.ListenLoveLearn.com. She recently published a book titled "The Sound of Hope with a foreward by Rosie O'Donnell whose son was helped by Lois Heymann. You can find the book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble or Borders.

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