Asperger's Syndrom Questions

M.,
Check out my non-profit.... the website is www.theaspergershop.com

I'm building the site (so it's not great yet) but I'm setting it up for parents and Aspies to talk to each other and share info.

I've been to a few conferences lately on autism and your daughter could have Aspergers or she could be on the spectrum, which is even milder than Aspergers. One psychologist at the Adventures in Autsim conference was using the term Broad Spectrum Autism. So if you had a most severe to least severe scale it'd go like this...

Classic autism (which means their IQ tests below normal, though some may have super abilities in one area).

Aspergers autism (which means their IQ tests all in the normal range but again they may have really high IQ in some areas, or they may be perfectly average).

PDD-NOS (which means normal IQ and not all the symptoms of the others, but some of the symptoms)

And then this new term I mentioned...

Broad Spectrum Autism - which the psychologist used at the conference. He used it mostly for siblings of those with an autism diagnosis and they themself have one or two symptoms that are autistic like.

Anyway, I have a link (I think) on my site to an Aspie college student I met and there are other things on there too that may be helpful.

Also, SEPTSA (special ed ptsa in Lewisville) has social groups). I'm the high-school coordinator.

http://lisdseptsa/txpta.org

Like the other poster suggested, make use of the school district for free testing... it doesn't matter that you home school.

Good luck and feel free to PM me anytime.

Our son has Asperger's Syndrome.

1.) Asperger's children unlike typical autism counter parts typically crave social activity. The problem is they have no clue how to be have socially and must be taught- they will not learn this by observation.
2.) Let your gut tell you when to tell. My son was relieved to finally understand that he was in fact different-not crazy.
3.) Somedays it helps knowing and others yes I still have to go "Australia" for a mommy time out.
4.) We were diagnosed at three, but have family who didn't get the diagnosis until 12.
5.) start with your pediatrcian and ask for a referral to a qualfied developmental pediatrician. If you are in Amarillo you will have to go to Lubbock.
6.) If your child does have this try to eliminate as much arificial junk in the diet as possible- it really helps don't get the science behind only know I swear it helps-not solves. Also allergy shots.
7.) If your child has this odds are good sensory issues are a problem. Take your child to an Occupational Therapist who is trained is Sensory Integration. We can now wear more than three pairs of socks, and as a bonus helps with the social issues.
8) Speech therapists- are your friend, but you will not qualify through the school district. I bet you are about to say she speaks fluently- Joshua spoke in sentances at 9 months. A good speech therapist can help your child navigate the world of body langauge, idioms, sarcasm, and socially appropriate conversation which if she has Aspergers she struggles with at least one of these and you may or may not even notice it.
9.) This is a qulaifying disabiltiy to receive disbaility from the government. The money will help, but the medicaid you will receive to pay for therapies that private insuarance wont will be the biggest blessing!
I have an entire packet on Asperger's if you would like me to e-mail it to you. It starts out kind of soft and then gets meaty.

Actually, it is not being uncomfortable in social settings as much as it is not being good in social settings. My son loves to socialize. It just is not always appropriate, or he does not know when to stop, or everything is always funny, etc. If she has any problems with social skills then she might have it.

As for my opinion on your questions:
1. For a mild case of AS, it will not stand out until 2nd grade, before that many kids blend in together as goofing off or not wanting to do things for other reasons. That summer, kids tend to mature and in 2nd grade the AS kids stand out more. My child has other issues so we had been watching him closer due to other delays since he was one.
2. The school system tested him and diagnosed him with AS. You need to get the diagnosis because it will help get needed services in school. Most importantly, when state testing comes around. Also, kids are more understanding of kids that are a little different if there is a reason. The ones that do things different for no reason get made fun of more, and as they get older have more social problems. Not that your child has it, but worth looking into.
3. yes
4. School and the pediatrician agreed with it. Actually a neurologist previously said it, but no official diagnosis.
5. no, but with girls they are more concerned with looking different, so I might would.

I just noticed you are a homeschooler. You are still allowed to use any services the school system offers, in the school district where you pay taxes, for no charge. I guess with your homeschooling it makes my anwsers less helpful. I would start with getting a neurologist and/or calling the diagnostition in your local school district. Good luck.

I've actually read somewhere that Asperger's doesn't always mean they are uncomfortable, just that they don't understand social cues. I can't remember where I read it, but it said they want to have friends (unlike autistic children) they just don't know how to do it.

My oldest son exhibits many of the behaviors, but we could never get a diagnosis b/c he doesn't fit the criteria. He has MANY of the symptoms, but doesn't fit them all.

You should probably get a professional diagnosis. My son's teacher said that UT Southwestern Medical center has a great department for spectrum disorders and said they may be able to give us a better idea of what is going on. I haven't gone to them yet, but plan to in the near future.

Good luck!!

Honestly, if she doesn't have the social issue in terms of being uncomfortable, I would doubt it's Asperger's. There is TREMENDOUS overlap between these various supposed "psychological" disorders that you really need to have her professional evaluated and SERIOUSLY consider if you want her labeled. Personally, until you've talked professionally to at least two or more professionals, including those through the school system that can evaluate her, I don't think you should say a thing other than trying to work with her on social skills. That may be ALL she needs - she's just less sensitive to social cues and given she's your oldest, she just may be a bit too aggressive in this area. Also, have you considered the personalities of the kids that she's just too much for - they may be introverted, which is why she finds them approachable - there's no intimidation factor.

Also, given her age, she really just arriving at the point where she should be able to read social cues - so I think you might be expecting too much. Per you question, yes, please do ask your pediatrician about this first.

Also, you mention you are homeschooling - just my opinion (I do respect you all that make that choice), BUT it seems to me as well that she just may not have had as many opportunties as other kids her ages in terms of social interactions. Please don't be upset by this comment - my older sister has homeschooled her ten kids and even though they interact with one another - they are ultra-introverted and have their own issues with social interactions.

Also, even though you don't seem to have your daughter enrolled in public school, you can request the testing through your school district.

Also, I'm not sure what book you've read, but if you want the ultimate reference, many libraries have a DSM-IV, which contains descriptions of all the currently recognized disorders - this is where you can read how very similar they all are.