Asperger's Question

I am old and have had 2 biological children, 4 steps,4 adopted boys and 97 foster kids. My impression of the autism "SPECTRUM" is that doctors and educators are trying to put everyone into a cubby hole. If a kid is the little bit different "THEY" need to label him. Imagine what label "THEY" would have given Bill Gates or Einstein? Then imagine what might have happened if "THEY" were able to change either one of them to conform to the rest of the kids.
I am sure someone will decide your son has a problem, but he sounds fairly normal to me. he is shy, small kids are scary, they grab and hit and hug and scream and do all sorts of strange things. He is just sensitive and afraid of them. If you have a friend with one little one try having play dates with hi or her. Get him used to one toddler at a time.
At any rate I wouldnt worry about any label "THEY" chose to put on him, relax and enjoy him for what he is. He sounds like a lot of fun and very smart.

2 moms found this helpful

Hi There,
I am responding to your question because I am an Occupational Therapist and I have worked with many children on the Autism Spectrum, including Aspergers Syndrome. Your son does fit some of the criteria, but not all. It sounds to me like your son my have Sensory Processing Disorder, which can mimic many of the traits of children who are on the Autism Spectrum (many Autistic children have sensory processing difficulties). Although Sensory Processing Disorder is rare as a stand alone diagnosis, it is a very real problem for many children... but it is still a widely contreversial diagnosis. However, the fact that he doesn't like baths, or sand in his shoes, shows that he is hyper sensitive to touch (tactile defensiveness), this, rather than shyness/awkwardness socializing, may explain his fear for interacting with other children. Young children tend to be very physical, and he could be afraid of being touched/bumped etc. Low muscle tone, and clumsiness can be another attribute of sensory integration disorder. On the other hand, these traits can also be part of Autism or Aspergers. If you have any concern at all, you should get your son evaluated, and atleast put your mind at ease. If your son is not diagnosed with Aspergers, he may just have sensory processing issues and should continue to work with an Occupational Therapist. A great book to read about this condition is called "The Out of Sync Child". It really describes the nervouse system in simple terms, and how it works for a child who has sensory processing disorder. I wish you the best of luck with your son, and if you have any more questions, please contact me.

1 mom found this helpful

sounds to me like it could be aspergers but a mild case OR it could be you have a genius on your hands. It could be he has an IQ that is very high and that is the reason he doesnt' "like" little ones and wants to hang around older kids. I want to say does he eat/drink anything with red dyes? If so take him off of that. Also anything with high fructose corn syrup. (don't believe those stupid TV commercials-they are lies) I know some kids with "allergies" to those that once they were taken off were completely different. OR were diagnosed with ADD but would have been tremendously worse if they ate/drank those things.
Just a thought! Also I know that prayer works wonders.

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Hello-

My son just turned 4 in February and has outgrown a lot of things that used to concern me about him. For example, just this last year he's finally able to be around loud sounds without becoming terrified or, at the very least, holding his ears. (We'll see how he handles the parades this summer. He loves emergency vehicles but held his ears the entire 4th of July parade last year.) I was always so concerned about this behavior of his but it seemed to just slowly go away on its own. I don't want to downplay your concerns about your son. You certainly know him better than anyone else. If he qualifies for early intervention, and it is successful in helping him, then that is wonderful. However, I don't think the "unusual" fears of a young child are that unusual at all, or cause for great concern. All children vary in how they process sensory information, some are just naturally more sensitive than others. (I think my mother would demand everything to stop if something was in her sock.) Again, you and your doctor are best able to judge if his behavior is within the normal range.. which is quite a large range.

My son still doesn't draw a lot of pictures, either. He prefers to scribble "abstract" works. But he can draw if he wants to, can write some letters... just like your son. So it is mostly a personality thing. This probably isn't so concerning. Your son sounds very bright. The muscle tone concern is something the pediatrician may want to watch, but I don't know what the normal range for gross motor development is.

As far as social fears, my son is very shy as well. He prefers older kids and adults as well. I too have noticed quite a range of how comfortable he is with other kids, depending on the situation and how shy he feels that day, I suppose. We all have different levels of comfort in social situations and some people are naturally more outgoing than others, especially in different social situations. My son takes a while to warm up to other kids, but he will be going to PreK next year, and so I know he will get better at interacting with them. He can be very shy around adults, but he is getting much better at talking to them then he used to be even a couple months ago. So basically.. he is a shy child who is more comfortable talking to older people but he is slowly growing out of it. There is a good chance your child is the same way. I wouldn't worry more than you need to about these things. Kids grow out of most of the behaviors that worry us the most. Researching different disorders on your own will only increase your fearfulness that your child has something wrong. Leave the diagnosis to the professionals and try to relax. With time, patience,and opportunities to interact with other kids, your child will probably grow out of most of these things. And if he doesn't, if a professional diagnoses him with something, then he will get the help he needs and he will still be fine. So don't worry! :-)

N.

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I agree with the OTs that have responded, I too am an Occupational Therapist and I agree that it sounds more like a sensory integration issue than anything else. If you are concerned please talk to your son's OT, he/she should be able to ease your mind and provide strategies to help you "work" on things at home. I agree "the out of sync child" is a great guide that will help give you ideas on how to steer his play to help him overcome these sensory issues. Try not to worry too much, people have a way of projecting things out and very quickly becoming experts whether they really are or not. Tell your friend you appreciate her concern but you've discussed things with your pediatrician and your OT.

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I would be getting him tested for allergies, food and clothing fibers in particular. Polyester, latex are very common allergies. Food allergies in particular can affect the brain.

The low muscle tone leads me to be believe he's not absorbing nutrients likely due to excessive heavy metals in the body which block mineral uptake and contribute to killing off good bacteria in the bowel. Almost without exception these children have mercury in their bodies and brains.

It's unbelievable how much can change for the better when the diet (usually gluten and casein-free) is altered, the metals are detoxified and proper nutrients are given along with avoidance of allergens. Please have him tested, preferably at a naturopath who deals with some type of biofeedback machine or EAV. Scratch testing at the MD's is not very accurate and will not pick up minor sensitivities that could be major for him.

If you'd like some suggestions for detoxification that's safe and effective, email me and I'll send you some files (remind me from where you're writing and preferably paste in this correspondence so I won't need to search for--if I'm busy it could get lost in amongst my other emails and forgotten).

Trains are a typical Aspbergers obsession!

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Hi M.,

Your son sounds like a delightful little boy who is struggling
with some manageable issues. I think it is a great sign that he
engages well with adults and older children. I think untrained
people tend to over diagnose problems and see a couple symptoms
As indicative of a bigger problem. If you are worried about
your son have him evaluated by a child psychologist. Get a second
opinion on top of that if you are at all unsure of the feedback
you get. Have you tried repeated playdates with one mild tempered
child your son's age? I'm wondering how he would interact if he spent
a lot of time with one child in a comfortable environment. What kinds
of things happen when he is with kids his age? Does he get things
taken from him? Will he share snack with other kids? I would
also consider play therapy with a child psychologist to help
him feel safer around other kids.

Good Luck!

K. Bieger

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Hi M.,

I am an OT, and from what you describe, I think maybe his problem with younger children has more to do with his sensory processing disorder than a spectrum disorder. Younger children are much more unpredictable in their movements and interactions, which can lead to much more unexpected and unanticipated physical contact with your son--which probably freaks him out! It's understandable, when you look at it that way. As he gets older, you can start teaching him some coping strategies to deal with situations like that.

Gotta go, my 2 year old is about to freak out. Good luck with everything!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi Mira,

It sounds like your son is doing just fine! Children are so different when it comes to the developmental milestones, and until you get a solid diagnosis from a specialist, you can't worry yourself sick about the small possibility of your son having Asperger's Syndrome. Autism is such a hot button these days and with all the generalized information you can find on the internet about autism, it is easy to place your child into one or more of the symptoms. Adults do it with other illnesses... cancer, diabetes, etc. I've done it myself!

Enjoy your son and who he is without thinking the worst! Stay positive and consider the evaluation as a way to learn more about your special child. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

M.,

I do not have a child with Asperger's but my husband has a mild form of the syndrome. More importantly, I am a child/school psychologist who has worked for many years with children diagnosed with this syndrome.

What you have described does not sound like Asperger's Syndrome for several reasons. First and foremost, you do not describe a circumscribed interest. For example, my husband LOVES "The Simpsons"- he quotes it, refers to it and watches is regularly. The children I work with often are referred to as "little professors" surrounding very specific topics such as dinosaurs or engines. They can tell you everything and anything about the topic and will continue to talk and talk and talk w/o reading the social cues from the other person that the topic is boring or that they are no longer listening.

Second, your son reads social cues. The children I work with need to be taught the "mechanics" of social nuances and need to practice. I literally have "face" flashcards and we practice them like others would learn math facts. With my husband, I often have to explain to him why something that he has said is offensive to the receiver b/c he cannot perceive their reaction.

Third, folks with Asperger's are entirely black-and-white. There is no grey area and they cannot comprehend when things are not defined. Math and science tend to be their preferred subjects and literature just isn't enjoyable! Lots of engineers have Asperger's... that's the mindset.

Finally, people with Asperger's Syndrome thrive on routines and absolutely must have them to function. If a routine is broken without warning, these individuals cannot adjust. They melt-down, act-out and need a lot of help to return to a calm state.

Unless your friend is a doctor, don't listen to her. Yes, people with Asperger's often have sensory needs, but Asperger's is a syndrome, meaning that there is no test for it. There are a series of behavioral hallmarks that must be present for a diagnosis. If you are really concerned, speak with the pediatrician.

Educationally, this is irrelevant as a preschool student. All children who meet eligibility criteria for CPSE services as they age-out of EI are considered Preschoolers with a Disabilty (PWD). Your son's needs will be reviewed to determine whether or not he continues to require OT services. If he is not eligible through CPSE, speak with the pediatrician and request a script and get the OT through your insurance if possible.

To tell you not to worry is like telling you not to breathe, but unless you are leaving out major behaviors your son does not meet the DSM criteria for Asperger's, but he may have Sensory Integration Dysfunction- or he could just be a "quirky kid" who needs some extra help.

If you have further concerns, just message me. I live with Asperger's each day with my husband and work with several children diagnosed with the syndrome. It's a challenge, but once you understand how they think and react you can work through it!

Good luck at your meeting and remember that your son will get the services that he needs with or without a diagnosis.

1 mom found this helpful

Mira,
I dont know anything about asbergers or autism. If your worried, bring him to a specialist. Pediatricians tend to wait on everything. My son has ADD and my pediatrician wanted to wait for a while, but I went to a neurologist myself. You'll feel better...However, I just wanted to comment about You...
The way you speak about your son is refreshing. I can feel the love radiating out of your email. I can tell he means the world to you. I love hearing that. Nowadays it seems less and less people feel that way about their kids when their is a problem or potential problem. He is a lucky little man. Good luck. I hope you find all your answers...
Kristina

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Hello Mira,
I think your son just has severe sensory intergration disorder. My son had the same thing at his age. He was treated with OT and speech since he was 18 months old. When we transitioned into CPSE the psychological evaluation gave him a diagnosis of PDD. I began my reasearch and questioned his OT and Speech Therapist who had been working with him for over a year at that point. They both agreed it was the sensory issues. It was explained to me that all children on the autism spectrum have sensory issues, but not all children with sensory issues are on the autism spectrum. Children at this age are miss diagnosed all the time. We placed my son in a special education preschool in a 12-1-2 ratio class. He continued to get OT and speech for the last two years. OT really helped with his sensory issues and speech helped him communicate and be more social with his peers. The first year was a mild to moderate improvement. This year (the second year) has been a drastic change. I also enrolled him in a regular ed preschool for the afternoon with 20 kids in the class. I did this to get him accustome to being with so many children like he will be in Kindergarten and also so that he could make some friends that he will go to kindergarten with. This double education experience has been the best thing we ever did. He is totaly declassified of all disability now including the miss diagnosis of PDD. He will be going to regular ed Kindergarten with no assistance at all. I never imagined the changed that have occured with my son. On his latest evaluations which where done in February he scored in the 95th percentile for all areas. He has gone from not wanting to play with other children other than those he really knows to being very social. He will still approach unknown children with caution, but once the fun begins he is right in the middle of it all.
Just stick with all of your therapy. Get him enrolled in special ed preschool. You will see a difference as he gets older and learns how to deal with his fears.

1 mom found this helpful

It sounds to me like he may have sensory issues. especially with his hearing. My son had a severe speech delay and received early-intervention service though the state until he was three and then attended a pre-school program offered by my town. It helped him tremendously. Go to the doctors appointment with an open mind, but be prepared to tell the doctor WHY you think he doesn't have aspergers if that is the diagnosis he gives you. ALSO, just because you receive this diagnosis at 2 1/2 it is possible that some of the things he will outgrow. My son was originally diagnosed with a different speech problem, APRAXIA of speech, which as he grew up, he did not have. Sometimes when they are young, it is harder to diagnose.
IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, or DO NOT LIKE THE NEUROLOGIST or PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL DOCTOR YOU SEE, FIND ANOTHER ONE.
There are some good ones at Childrens Specialized Hospital in Mountainside. I am not sure if I can mention their names on here so I won't.

YOU WILL WAIT MONTHS!!!!!!!! FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH ANY OF THESE DOCTORS (if they are any good).

Another good source if your son does have Aspergers is COSAC
They have listings of doctors who specialize in Autism.

GOOD LUCK!

1 mom found this helpful

It sounds like it would help for you to have answers. The only place you will get a definate diagnosis is through a neuro psych or ed psych eval. Dr. Roseann Capanna Hodge is in Ridgefield and does do psych evals. She is very good. Ph####-###-####. I hope you get the answer you are hoping for! Best Wishes!

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My son has aspergers and tourette syndrom. Based on your description, your son does not have Aspergers. Sensitivity to touch is not trait associated with aspergers - it's a dislike of touching. I would recommend he be tested by a neurologist to be certain, but hypersensitivity usually is a nerve issue. If he can feel a bit of straw in his shoe through a sock, his senses are too high. Furthermore, if he makes eye contact, has the ability to read others, and interacts with several people, he is not in the autism spectrum at all.

Autism seems to be the new ADHD of the '90s. Everyone plugs that name onto any child who doesn't fit the ideal. Children who are autistic live in a world of their own. They don't interact. They don't read people. They don't make eye contact. They play by themselves for hours on end. They act out if their schedule changes in the slightest. They exhibit very little emotional attachment to people or animals, but fierce attachment to inanimate objects.

Because your son was early, he may have hypersensitive nerves. One of my friends had an early arrival (29 weeks) too and he is very sensitive. He can feel a hair in his shoe and if his sock isn't exactly right, it irritates his foot until it is just right. He reads a room very quickly, too. He sings and reads rather than play. He still walks on tiptoe and cannot kick or throw balls well. He prefers symbols to actual letters and has his own "alphabet" of markings that he "writes" with. He's now 3½ years old. He has only one friend his own age that he plays with - otherwise he prefers to be with adults. He is an only child which may contribute to preference of adults to children.

Though my son was early (36 weeks), he has been diagnosed by two independant neurologists with Aspergers and Tourette Syndrom. If you're still concerned and thinking along these lines, get him tested. I'd recommend two separate and independant tests to rule out random inclusion.

Good luck.

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I just wanted to add a word of praise for taking your son in to find out more about his view of the world and his needs. This is a scary step and you are very brave and loving to do it. Good for you.

you really need to have aspergers diagnosed by a professional. The whole concept a spectrum disorder is just that. No one child fits any certain combination of "symptoms". I know a boy "Joe" who is aspergers. He is very high functioning, super talkative will talk to anyone actually, hyper active, looks you in the eye. He ran into a wall so hard that he knocked a painting off the wall and cut his face. So any number of parents on here can give you things their kids do and it doesn't mean that because your son does that, or doesn't for that matter, that he has this. You really need to speak to a specialist. Any info you find on the internet or get here is just a generalization and may only apply to 2 kids out of 100.

Mira,

You probably aren't going to want to hear this but your son sounds almost exactly like my friend's son!! The only difference is her son will have actual outburts when his senses go into overload. When you were talking about how he gets when things touch his feet and things like sand and snow and how he had low muscle tone...that is ALL my friend's son amongst some of the other things you mentioned.

He was diagnosed last year as having Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pervasive_developmental_diso.... You will see that Aspergers falls under the list of types of PDD. My friend's son is actually going to see specialists today because they are trying to figure out if he has Aspergers or falls in the Austistic spectrum.

While I know you hope the results are negative, there is obviously something medical going on with your son. My friend was so angry because she kept telling her husband and pediatrician for years that there was something wrong with her son and they kept blowing her off. Her son is 6 now and like I said, they just finally diagnosed him last summer I think it was. She is especially angry now because she knew something was wrong and when it comes to these things, time counts. It is better to find out as soon as possible what is going on so that things can be managed the best way for the child. To think that perhaps her son wouldn't have had the issues he has over the years had they known what was medically going on even 3 years ago that would have helped them, help him do better in various situations. You have the opportunity to do that for your son.

Remember, no matter the results, your son is still the same little guy you know and love. It just means you will be better informed on how to help him cope with situations best. Another friend of mine has a son with Aspergers as well and she has learned he does MUCH better with very specific structure. He has also had to see doctors and go through some procedures because of his weak muscle tone. Like I said, I just think it's better if you have the opportunity to be informed. I hope you will keep us updated.

Hugs,
L.

I think he does have some spectrum qualities. Remember how high functioning a child is will determine where they fall on that curve. My son has high functioning autism...there is some quality of aspergers that he does not have, though I am not recalling now what that is. In some situations my son seems pretty typical, in other situations his differences become more apparent. My son does and always has had a loving relationship with everyone in our family though even at 11 he remains a bit self centered. Diagnosis is only a tool to get a child the services they need (this is more important at school age where it is required for services) but aside from that its just a word and the important thing is to address his individual needs, such as sensory therapy via OT, counseling or whatever type of therapy may assist him getting over his fear of other kids (children, unlike adults can be unpredictable), speech if needed or basically anything else. Start early. I wish we had...we didn't get a dx or therapy until my son turned 6 after having severe behavior problems at school. If we had started earlier he wouldn't have had to suffer all the difficulties he had at school in Kindergarten thru 2nd grade. Best of luck.

Hi M.-
I think too many people are becoming overwhelmed with a "diagnosis" when a child does things out of the so called "norm" I'm not a doctor, but it sounds as if your son has a sensory issue. My son has had speech, and OT, through early intervention. He also has low muscle tone. One of the major causes of these problems is not having enough "tummy time" as an infant. My son used to get very upset if I walked into a crowded room with him. I enrolled him in a pre-k program and it has done wonders. He is more outgoing, he plays with his peers, and he's becoming less shy. Maybe you should consider enrolling him into a program so he can interact with children his age.
Sometimes too much information can do more harm than good. We as parents become so obsessed that we no longer look for simple answers. Your son just might be a shy little boy who is not around too many children his own age and is therefore fearful. This can be especially true if he is an only child. If you still have concerns, speak to your son's pediatrician.
I hope this helps,
K.

Hi, when i was reading your blog, your sweet boy sounds like my sweet boy, who is 3 and dng w/ PDD-NOS, which is little traits if autism behaviors. My son has had OT, PT and speech--speech is his biggest issue but, eventhough he like baths, he hates pigeons and dogs -- can u image hw difficult it is walk the street of NYC? But we adjust. In terms of kids, he also likes kids 6 and up. Hos tecahers say that he is social, but my husband and I do not see it as much. He will be attending a wonderful intergrated preschool this september, we are confident that alot of this "stuff" will play itself out. I think your boy may have PDD-NOS. Talk to your specialist. Also my L had low musicle tone, but he has gotten better. His speech therapist told me that she has seen the most improvement with children like these who recieve lots of love from mommy and dadday . . . be encouraged.

Hi Mira,

I agree with all the other answers, a spectrum means that no one fits all criteria. Also, usually Asperger's is not being diagnosed at this early age, more towards the age of 5. Overall, don't expect too much from the school evaluation. While it will give you a very good clue about where your son stands developmentally, the school district only needs to determine whether your son is eligible for special services. Please watch out that they do take the social part into account and press them for evaluating him within a group of children also. Otherwise they only evaluate him in settings with adults and that will not show them what his core problem is.

I really think you should see a developmental pediatrican urgently. Usually it is very hard to get an appointment, but make sure you explain your son's social problems only with children and offer to come in with short notice if somebody cancels. Make sure to bring the evals from the school with you when you go. Also maybe the school district will refer you to a developmental pediatrician, ask them about it and demand it, then they will pay for it!

Until then, as suggested by another mom, start your son on a multivitamin, mulitmineral from companies like Kirkman Labs, Brainchild Nutritionals or Syndion and then start considering seeing a DAN doctor.

Also, look into a form of therapy that is called Floortime or DIR. It helps children learn to play appropriately. Once you have him interested in more things to play, maybe you can find an older child that is interested in playing with him and can then gradually find playdates with younger kids.

No matter what the diagnosis is, you will have to face what his issues are and the earlier the better. You are on a great path already and there is so much out there that you can do to make him better!

All the best for you, your son and your family!

MY SON Is 6years old and was diagnosed with Aspergers 2 years ago.Low muscle tone and the fear of certain things come with Aspergers.My son is afraid of thunderstoms.DOes your son look at you in the eye directly?This is also a sign of Aspergers.Also obession with objects is another.Get a professional opinion.It is a very frustrating process.ASpergers is very hard sometimes because thekids are so high on Spectrum.AspergersAssociation Of New Englandwas a great help to me.They are based in Boston.The website isAANe.org

Hi!

So sorry you are going through such difficulties. I worked in early intervention, I am a mental health counselor and I have a brother who has Aspergers so I am hoping to help you here.
It does sound like there is some delay happening with your son. The getting up to stand with assistance is concerning. The tricycle - don't worry! That 's hard stuff! My son is 3 and he can't do it yet - his pediatrician said he'll probably do it around 3 1/2.

It does sound like your son may have some sensory integration difficulties which an OT can help with. It may help if you had a OT who specifically focuses on sensory integration. Now I understand how difficulties with sensory integration can be confused with aspergers - some similar behaviors. This does not mean he has aspergers. He may be "on the spectrum" meaning autism varies SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much child to child he may have a minor form of it.....my advice....ask your pediatricain and early intervention staff....don't listen to anyone else....even me...LOL!

best of luck to you and if i can be of any other help please let me know!

Good Luck!! try not to read too much online. It always sounds worse. Let the pro's make the diagnosis. Be sure to have a second opinion also!!