Aspergers/ASD support thread

PasturesNew

blue_monkey wrote: »

... you just can't resist poking your nose in and having a look and giving your own opinion. It just would not be acceptable in day to day life would it, listening to people talking at the bus stop and butting in with your own opinion.

Unfortunately for me, I can't help it. I do speak out. The whole rubbish social skills/getting it wrong/saying things I shouldn't part of my behaviours.

I've seen the look on people's faces... I've even been told to butt out on a lot of occasions. Never really understood why. I always thought I'd been trying to talk/get to know people - and not being able to do it normally, randomly answering/butting in/solving some stranger's problem at a bus stop to ME seemed to be "trying to make friends".

I guess it's not though ... is it..

Snaggles

Pastures New, for the record, if you joined in my conversation at the bus stop, I would welcome you (and I would have done so before I had ever heard of AS too I think).

penguin83

Hi all - havent posted on this thread. Head still a bit messed up etc but I am starting to think practically again! I have ordered a book from Amazon for my daughter who is 4 called 'My Brother is Different'. Has anyone used this with siblings? If so was it any good? I am having difficulty explaining her brother Autism to her in a way that she will understand. Any ideas welcome! x x

Snaggles

Hi Penguin. I have got a book called 'Can I tell you about Aspergers Syndrome'. It's aimed at anyone over the age of 8 I think (although my son is 7 and he understood it perfectly). It's a very simple explanation of the basics of AS, written in a way that is very positive and easy to follow. It might be slightly too old for a 4 year old though, but you can read an exerpt from it on the Amazon website so you can see what you think.

I read it to Ryan without any explanation as to WHY I was reading it to him. At the end he said 'that boy is just like me, isn't he?'. Bless him.

I felt i had to do something as although we don't have a diagnosis for him yet, he is starting to worry that he might be really sick because he is seeing lots of doctors etc. He's much happier now he knows there are other people in the world who feel how he feels.

It's also great to pass around the in-laws, grandparents etc, so they can get a bit of an understanding too. It only took us about 30 minutes to read it (and an adult reading alone could probably read it more quickly), so it's not like you are asking people to make their way through a lengthy and complicated medical textbook.

I'm pretty new to this though, so there may be other books that are better. Has anyone else found any books to be particularly helpful?

Savvy_Sue

The Blue Bottle Mystery is good for primary age children, I'd say, and she's written some other titles too which would be worth a look. For older children, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome are both possibilities.

Snaggles

I might order The Blue Bottle Mystery one, it sounds quite good for someone of Ryan's age, thanks. We've got 'The Curious Incident.....', I bought it a few years ago, before we had even heard of Asperger Syndrome, but I really must dig it out and re-read it.

penguin83

Morning all - just in case anyone is interested "After Thomas" is on ITV this afternoon at 4. I watched it when it was on last year before we knew A had Autism and it was really good. It is about an Autistic boy and is supposed to be quite realistic. x x

nikkilou_maz

Hi there and its really interesting to read all this!! My son, now 9, was diagnosed as Aspergers syndrome when he was 4-early for most. What was interesting was that he too had a difficult birth. I was induced but it took three goes to work and even then they had to break my waters. I was watched carefully as I had 6 miscarriages because of Lupus and a thing called antiphospholipid syndrome which causes the body to attack babies as if they are a foreign body.......ANYWAY, after having scans all through my pregnancy they decided at 36 weeks he had to come out. During the induction stages I had one midwife with me who was useless. Luckily my hubby was around and when she started screaming because she didnt find a heartbeat it was my husband who calmly got us up to theatre for an intended emergency c. But DS had other ideas and I went from 4cms to fully dilated in 4 minutes. Ouch! I "died" technically and they pulled my boy out as he was suddenly just there. He had an extra long cord and it was wrapped around him 7 times and he wasnt breathing. Apgar 4 4 9 I think. But no one told me what happened and why and I seriously think there was a bit of negligence on the hospitals side, and feel my son suffers because of it. Knowing my medical history they should have been a bit more prepared. Still asking questions now but have been told to "let it lie" by docs. But I wouldnt change my son for anything. he is funny, bright, very beautiful and a joy to have. We have tough times with him but then so do all parents. Im lucky to have him. :A Sorry such a long post but wanted to add my bit!! xxx

elaine373

nikkilou_maz wrote: »

Hi there and its really interesting to read all this!! My son, now 9, was diagnosed as Aspergers syndrome when he was 4-early for most.

Can i ask what his behaviour was like that led to him being diagnosed at this age? Thanks.

samf1971

penguin83 wrote: »

Morning all - just in case anyone is interested "After Thomas" is on ITV this afternoon at 4. I watched it when it was on last year before we knew A had Autism and it was really good. It is about an Autistic boy and is supposed to be quite realistic. x x

Thanks very much for letting us know. I've never seen it and have been looking for it coming back on but didn't get a TV guide this week.

On another point it's our paed appointment tomorrow so I'll update you all on how we get on. It's our first so I'm not sure what will happen but I've been writing things down in preparation. I've been advised by others who've had theirs that they will cover from my pregnancy up until now (gosh get the memory banks working! - even though it's only just over 2 years!)