Aspergers/ASD support thread

seven-day-weekend

jimsmum wrote:

Einstein didnt talk untill he was 4!!!!!!!!!
you might have a genius in the making!!!

It is also very likely that Einstein had Aspergers Syndrome.

Savvy_Sue

Dummie wrote:

They came to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with DS's hearing because he obviously heard and responded first time round but they are at a lost as to why he paid no attention the 2nd time round.

Huh! Because he'd got something better to do, ie play with toys in front of him rather than respond to noises behind him which he'd just heard and established weren't very interesting?

DS1 'failed' his first 2 year old hearing test because they put a line of toys in front of him, and the HV was whispering which toy she would like him to pick up. Unfortunately the toys included a little doll. DS1 had a doll at home, and grandma had knitted lots of lovely clothes for the doll, but all DS1 ever wanted to do was take the doll's clothes OFF to inspect the doll's belly button. This doll at the HV's was dressed, but you couldn't take her clothes off because they were sort of glued on. DS1 spent the entire test trying to undress the doll ... nothing would induce him to listen to the HV.

So the referral process is on its way now, things should start to become clearer. And he'll be no less lovely whatever they suggest is different about him!

Dummie_2

Savvy_Sue wrote:

Huh! Because he'd got something better to do, ie play with toys in front of him rather than respond to noises behind him which he'd just heard and established weren't very interesting?
QUOTE]

LOL. This was my first reaction too!

But then I thought, surely if they use this kind of test to confirm whatever it is in their book, then surely most children must respond each time? I think they were expecting him to.

Tomsmum

Dummie I'm not sure where you've got with all this but if it IS ASD or similar do bear in mind that it's treatable both with therapy and in many cases with supplements. Your HV will DEFINITELY fob you off on this score as autistic children, or indeed any child with special needs, are expensive. If it's helpful look at www. treatingautism. com - Uk site, solely about how you can medically help autistic children (for example, both my son's had disastrously low levels of zinc. Fixing zinc in the younger one just "fixed" his developmental delay within days. Sadly not the older one but he's making progress now) IF your DS has problems you will be on the receiving end of a lot of advice. Sadly, much of the advice we received from the NHS was rubbish and the advice from other parents (with BS detector set to "high alert" of course) has been incredibly, life changingly useful.

Good luck

Steph x

carbonel

Hi Dummie,
Have just found your post and wanted to let you know that I have a son who is on the autistic spectrum, probably Aspergers. He will be 28 this year and I knew when he was a baby that he was 'different', but back then I didn't have access to the services available now. We just did the best we could.
My son now lives in Australia! He did as well as he wanted to at school -he is extremely bright if he wants to be - and held down several jobs before deciding to see a bit of the world. This was a HUGE step for him as he finds it extremely difficult to form and build friendships and relationships. However, he arranged a job over there and off he went. I am so glad he was able to take that step but, as you might imagine, contact from him is very sporadic - in fact nil for some time now! That's one of the most frustrating things about autism - their lack of understanding of emotions, particularly other people's emotions, my son would say that he hasn't anything in particular to tell me about so why does he need to keep in touch! He cannot understand what all the fuss is about!:rolleyes:
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that if your son is on the autistic spectrum it really doesn't matter - he is still your son, and he will grow up to be as good a person as anyone else, and as valuable a member of society as anyone else. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Good luck!

painted_lady

I am a special needs teacher with a post graduate degree in autism and communication, as well as having a nephew and sister in law with autism. I have done a lot of research and hands on work in the area. Please PM me any concerns or questions.
Autism is a very diverse problem, which is why it is referred to as a "spectrum." Autism is very difficult to diagnose and at this early age it could be an individual difference in development. Also note, there is nothing physically wrong with a person with autism, it is the way the environment is set up that they find difficult, by understanding it better, we can remove these environmental barriers and help them lead successfull lives.

Zara33

Dummie i personally use the NAS website for my information regarding autism there are many websites on the net promising cures etc for autism, but autism is a lifelong disability.
http://www.nas.org.uk
From a parent with a child who has autism

parmaviolette

I don't have any direct experience of autism (although I have a few friends on the spectrum, and I suspect my partner has Asperger's).

I read George and Sam, by Charlotte Moore, about a year ago, and I think it would really help you. George and Sam are Charlotte's two autistic sons. She writes about everything - the scary stuff, the tiring stuff, the therapies she's explored, but she also writes a lot about the nice things, the cute things, the interesting things... It's a very positive book, but in a realistic way. It made me cry a few times, and made me laugh a lot more times. You can buy it from Tesco here http://www.tesco.com/books/product.aspx?R=0141014539 for £6.74 (you can get it a little cheaper, but from sellers I haven't heard of). Compared to a lot of information out there, this is by far the most easy to read.

Hope this helps!

Bogof_Babe

painted_lady wrote:

I am a special needs teacher with a post graduate degree in autism and communication, as well as having a nephew and sister in law with autism. I have done a lot of research and hands on work in the area. Please PM me any concerns or questions.
Autism is a very diverse problem, which is why it is referred to as a "spectrum." Autism is very difficult to diagnose and at this early age it could be an individual difference in development. Also note, there is nothing physically wrong with a person with autism, it is the way the environment is set up that they find difficult, by understanding it better, we can remove these environmental barriers and help them lead successfull lives.

I wish I'd known more about this syndrome while my dad was alive. He died last year aged 88, and had always seemed a bit "not like other people". It is becoming more and more apparent that he was somewhere on this spectrum, but of course it was hardly known about in his early life, let alone treated. The comment made by another poster about "not knowing why there was a need to make contact with people, as there was nothing to report" rings huge bells.

Despite this, he was a good man in the sense that he was hard-working, honest, loyal and meticulous. In fact he kept such detailed diaries and records of everything that happened in the house, everything he bought, everywhere he travelled, that he could have accounted for every day of his life if he'd had to.

Sadly it didn't help him to form emotional bonds with people, including his children. He chose a very self-centred wife (not in a bad way, just through her upbringing) and they got along well enough for several decades, but we never really felt we knew him. He didn't "do" social life, and was very protective of his environment, disliking any changes of routine.

With hindsight I wish I'd known about this condition, because what bewildered me about my dad would have been explained, and I would have made more effort to understand him. Anyway he had his long life and got what he wanted from it, so I hope the OP doesn't feel that all is lost.

Edit: I came back in to delete this post as I decided it wasn't particularly helpful, but as the thread has moved on, I'll leave it and just add that despite the above, my dad obtained a good degree at Uni and was well thought of and respected throughout his long career (I've seen the file he kept his references in).

Kelinik

I really don't have much to add to this thread other than a little boy at work has suspected autism and despite being 'different' from the other children he is a lovely child and very bright in many ways. Our problem is that is Mother doesn't want to acknowledge there is a 'problem' (used loosely as as suppose it depends on your viewpoint) so we can't get him properly assessed.