Aspergers/ASD support thread

Sarahsaver

Thanks, yes it is amazing how little support there is.Its especially hard for Aspergers kids as they have high verbal IQ and I know my DS is so clever that many people cannot see beyond that, he's into nature, art, cooking, and after not wanting to read anything has thrown himself into reading the Lemony snicket books and the Spiderwick chronicles, albeit struggling. He would rather struggle through something he sees as interesting than be demeaned by having to read 'little kids books'.
His school hasnt even referred him to ADHD solutions (?) which is something there is in our city. But its complicated by the fact its hard to see where the Aspergers ends and the ADHD begins.

he could really do with the social stories. he goes into meltdown at the start of a new year because of having a new teacher and new clasmates

mandy.h_2

Sarahsaver wrote: »

Thanks, yes it is amazing how little support there is.Its especially hard for Aspergers kids as they have high verbal IQ and I know my DS is so clever that many people cannot see beyond that, he's into nature, art, cooking, and after not wanting to read anything has thrown himself into reading the Lemony snicket books and the Spiderwick chronicles, albeit struggling. He would rather struggle through something he sees as interesting than be demeaned by having to read 'little kids books'.
His school hasnt even referred him to ADHD solutions (?) which is something there is in our city. But its complicated by the fact its hard to see where the Aspergers ends and the ADHD begins.

he could really do with the social stories. he goes into meltdown at the start of a new year because of having a new teacher and new clasmates

yes ive done the social stories training daythe thing i found was it was aimed at kids with a lower level I q and so it seemed very childish for my ds he was embarressed when i used it. but ive heard if it works for your child then they are a god send. i think all aspie kids have the meltdown at start of new year mine usually settles by christmas. although it helps that at his school they have rhe same form teacher every year so it is more of a stable enviroment, and it is some times a advantage the subject teachers change some are horrible to ds

dont get me wrong he is no angel but certain ones target him to

Sarahsaver

Been to see the consultant today.
DS has unusual brain waves, and a great discrepancy between right and left brain function, and is too complex to give a 'cut and dried' diagnosis of one thing or the other, so whilst he 'fits most of the criteria' for aspergers there are other things which make him a mystery, and same with ADHD.

mousytrap

Has anyone tried cranial osteopathy in the hope of improving their behaviour?

I was reading about the damage during birth thing and it seemed to sound like my son - difficult birth (failure to advance/ventouse), colic, huge difficulties winding, difficulty getting to sleep, glue ear, clumsiness/poor balance (getting better now) and bad/violent behaviour.

His Dad is still against trying it, but I'm thinking that we need to try *anything* half-plausible pretty much, and it has the benefit of being able to be done reasonably quickly. Is it still regarded as quack medicine? OH seems to think there's no scientific evidence for it.

mousy

Js_Other_Half

mousytrap wrote: »

His Dad is still against trying it, but I'm thinking that we need to try *anything* half-plausible pretty much, and it has the benefit of being able to be done reasonably quickly. Is it still regarded as quack medicine? OH seems to think there's no scientific evidence for it.

mousy

I can't comment on its use on older children, but I had it done with DS when he was tiny. He fed and slept much better after having it done?

Sarahsaver

mousytrap wrote: »

Has anyone tried cranial osteopathy in the hope of improving their behaviour?

I was reading about the damage during birth thing and it seemed to sound like my son - difficult birth (failure to advance/ventouse), colic, huge difficulties winding, difficulty getting to sleep, glue ear, clumsiness/poor balance (getting better now) and bad/violent behaviour.

His Dad is still against trying it, but I'm thinking that we need to try *anything* half-plausible pretty much, and it has the benefit of being able to be done reasonably quickly. Is it still regarded as quack medicine? OH seems to think there's no scientific evidence for it.

mousy

I think you need to look at underlying causes of any problems, until there is professional diagnosis/investigation a lot of this may be hunches.
Following on from what i was told about my DS yesterday i now realise why so many things just have not worked with him. There is a physical difference with his brain. Even sleeping medication did not work for him!

mousytrap

Sarahsaver wrote: »

I think you need to look at underlying causes of any problems, until there is professional diagnosis/investigation a lot of this may be hunches.
Following on from what i was told about my DS yesterday i now realise why so many things just have not worked with him. There is a physical difference with his brain. Even sleeping medication did not work for him!

True, but then he's only just gone on the autism assessment queue and we're told that there is well over a year's wait before they look at him...

He's nearly 6. We've had years of this. We're desperate...

mousy

Snaggles

Sarahsaver wrote: »

Even sleeping medication did not work for him!

Really????

Aaaarrggghhhh, that's what we are seeing a doctor about on Friday.....I was hoping it would really help.

Poor thing can't get to sleep until sooo late, and then he's exhausted and cranky in a morning.

Was it melatonin you tried?

Carrera74

After umming and arring we finally decided on a time to tell DS about his diagnosis. He is back at short stay and they thought it a good idea to say something before the end of term so that they could broach the subject with him as well before he goes to high school.

We had our CAMHS catch up yesterday and we were lent a book called 'all cats have aspergers syndrome'. I sat him down and he read it to me and then we read it back seeing if any of the comments about the gorgeous little cats reminded him of anyone and if he could see any of these traits in himself. It went quite smoothly, a bit too smoothly in fact! At the end of our chat he said 'is that it, can i go on the computer now! lol

He did seem to take it in so at least he is now aware that he has a few little traits that make him a little bit different from his peers at mainstream but these little traits make him the very special little man that he is

In the process of making visits to special schools in the area too. What a week so far!

Sarahsaver

mousytrap wrote: »

True, but then he's only just gone on the autism assessment queue and we're told that there is well over a year's wait before they look at him...

He's nearly 6. We've had years of this. We're desperate...

mousy

my DS is 8, i have been seeking help for him since he was 3.
please do not see a diagnosis as final, it should be an ongoing process open to review.
never knew there was a queue. My son is just being assessed, not for particular things they deal with whatever comes up when it shows itself. So far we have 'highly likely to have Aspergers and ADHD' and unusual brain waves, poor hand eye coordination, developmental delay in one side of the brain. Very high IQ verbally but very low organisational ability. And probably more that i cannot recall.He has had hours and hours of written, spoken and physical tests, and an EEG and will be sent for another EEG.

The sleeping meds were not melatonin, it was a drug used also as an anti psychotic drug, :eek:but dont worry, it may be that as he is wired up differently as it were, the drug just wouldn't work in his system. it worked on me! I tried it in case it were a duff batch!

have you tried blackout linings for your curtains?