My husband & I are in the process of getting our daughter diagnosed for learning disabilities. One condition she may have is Asberger's; however, they are also thinking it could be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to her having gone through some hard times in dealing with my husband's heart attack a few years ago. The only problem I have with the PTSD possibility is that she has been suffering with the inability to understand concepts, directions, and physical gestures her whole life.

Can anyone give me some comparisons between the two diagnoses, please?

Some things that she does:

She loves circular motion
She loves feather dusters and dusts everything
She is musically gifted and can generally only memorize things (or much easier anyway) in the form of a tune.
She doesn't understand gestures and reactions from peers or family members. If a peer goes up to her to give her a hug, my daughter thinks she hates her.
Concepts as far as "Don't talk to strangers" - she still can't get and she just turned 9-years-old.
Her vocabulary is missplaced within her sentences. She tries to say larger words, but uses them in the wrong syntax.
She has a low self-esteem and thinks she is stupid (I think because she was held back a year in first grade).

These are just some of the things.

Well, I'm no doctor but if I had to choose between the two, I would say Asperger's. My daughter has it and showed some of those same characteristics. It just doesn't seem like PTSD if she had these symptoms before the heart attack.

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"He that studieth revenge keepeth his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well." John Milton

PTSD causes some issues, and autism certainly does, and there is overlap of difficulties....the information on the web concerning PTSD and learning disabilties is interesting reading...

like to dust?? lol. how odd. my child does that as well. he will even use a paint brush, dusts for hours at a time. lately he tries to use the barbecue brush!! ugh http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif i figured that this was very likely a sensory thing, a way of grounding himself but this is the first i have heard of another child withthat same obsession. are there any other children out there that do this as well? just curious.

I agree with diva... sounds more like autstic like behavors... the round..circles... big sign for my son... the same routines...( the dusting) any prollems with her eating...?? sleeping?


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They saw a child "in a world of his own". I see the most the most brilliant star. They saw a child "who may never speak". I see a gift that didn't need words. They saw a child with "limited possibility". I see a child, my child, who can soar past the sky.

mommy to Ryan and countless foster children...

Sleeping issues? Oh, yeah! She's had sleeping issues since she was a tiny thing. When she was 3-years-old, she suffered from we think Night Terrors to the point where I actually think she suffered from Sleep Drunkiness as these fits would last in excess of an hour. She wouldn't know who we were for at least an hour though she was 'awake'. She would just be hysterical!

Now, she still suffers from seeing "ghosts". Since her eyesight and hearing is off the charts, the Pediatrician thinks this could be a sensory disorder. She doesn't rule out the fact that many children see and hear things which most adults cannot.

jktbre:lol i read your post about your child who likes to dust, my son is also a duster (giggles) he is 11 and he loves the feather type dusters also . he has some realy distinct sensory issues. he likes the feel of nylon silk fabric and rubs it on his face when ever i ware my a nighty made from it. and is deathly afraid of washing his hands because he's afraid of getting wrinkles on his hands from the water. the feeling of water running over his hands is also verry distressing to him .

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Hi auroras! Although I’m not a psychiatrist or psychologist, i think your daughter has Asperger's. Don't worry though! Many people with asperger's grow up with normal lives (heck, some even above normal), plus evidence shows that even Albert Einstein had Asperger's! I recommend getting a referral to a child psychologist/psychiatrist from your family doctor. A Psychologist/psychiatrist can help your daughter (she sounds wonderful BTW) become more balanced causeing the asperger's to become less noticeable.

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Here some info I got from WebMD:

What Are the Symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome?

The symptoms of Asperger's syndrome vary and can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include:

Problems with social skills: Children with Asperger's syndrome generally have difficulty interacting with others and often are awkward in social situations. They generally do not make friends easily.

Eccentric or repetitive behaviors: Children with this condition may develop odd, repetitive movements, such as hand wringing or finger twisting.

Unusual preoccupations or rituals: A child with Asperger's syndrome may develop rituals that he or she refuses to alter, such as getting dressed in a specific order.

Communication difficulties: People with Asperger's syndrome may not make eye contact when speaking with someone. They may have trouble using facial expressions and gestures, and understanding body language. They also tend to have problems understanding language in context.

Limited range of interests: A child with Asperger's syndrome may develop an intense, almost obsessive, interest in a few areas, such as sports schedules, weather or maps.

Coordination problems: The movements of children with Asperger's syndrome may seem clumsy or awkward.

Skilled or talented: Many children with Asperger's syndrome are exceptionally talented or skilled in a particular area, such as music or math.


What Causes Asperger's Syndrome?

The exact cause of Asperger's syndrome is not known. However, the fact that it tends to run in families suggests that a tendency to develop the disorder may be inherited (passed on from parent to child).


What Are the Symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome?

The symptoms of Asperger's syndrome vary and can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include:

Problems with social skills: Children with Asperger's syndrome generally have difficulty interacting with others and often are awkward in social situations. They generally do not make friends easily.
Eccentric or repetitive behaviors: Children with this condition may develop odd, repetitive movements, such as hand wringing or finger twisting.
Unusual preoccupations or rituals: A child with Asperger's syndrome may develop rituals that he or she refuses to alter, such as getting dressed in a specific order.
Communication difficulties: People with Asperger's syndrome may not make eye contact when speaking with someone. They may have trouble using facial expressions and gestures, and understanding body language. They also tend to have problems understanding language in context.
Limited range of interests: A child with Asperger's syndrome may develop an intense, almost obsessive, interest in a few areas, such as sports schedules, weather or maps.
Coordination problems: The movements of children with Asperger's syndrome may seem clumsy or awkward.
Skilled or talented: Many children with Asperger's syndrome are exceptionally talented or skilled in a particular area, such as music or math.
What Causes Asperger's Syndrome?

The exact cause of Asperger's syndrome is not known. However, the fact that it tends to run in families suggests that a tendency to develop the disorder may be inherited (passed on from parent to child).

How Common Is Asperger's Syndrome?

Asperger's syndrome has only recently been recognized as a unique disorder. For that reason, the exact number of people with the disorder is unknown, although it is more common than autism. Estimates suggest Asperger's syndrome affects from 0.024% to 0.36% of children. It is more common in males than in females, and usually is first diagnosed in children between the ages of 2 and 6 years.

How Is Asperger's Syndrome Diagnosed?

If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical examination. Although there are no tests for Asperger's syndrome, the doctor may use various tests -- such as X-rays and blood tests -- to determine if there is a physical disorder causing the symptoms.

If no physical disorder is found, the child may be referred to a specialist in childhood development disorders, such as a child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist, pediatric neurologist, developmental pediatrician, or another health professional who is specially trained to diagnose and treat Asperger's syndrome. The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on the child's level of development, and the doctor's observation of the child's speech and behavior, including his or her play and ability to socialize with others. The doctor often seeks input from the child's parents, teachers and other adults who are familiar with the child's symptoms.

How Is Asperger's Syndrome Treated?

There currently is no cure for Asperger's syndrome, but treatment may improve functioning and reduce undesirable behaviors. Treatment may include a combination of the following:

Special education: Education that is structured to meet the child's unique educational needs.
Behavior modification: This includes strategies for supporting positive behavior and decreasing problem behavior by the child.
Speech, physical or occupational therapy: These therapies are designed to increase the child's functional abilities.
Medication: There are no medications to treat Asperger's syndrome itself, but medications may be used to treat specific symptoms, such as anxiety (nervousness), depression, hyperactivity and obsessive-compulsive behavior.
What Is the Outlook for People With Asperger's Syndrome?

Children with Asperger's syndrome are at risk for developing other mental illnesses, such as depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. But, there are various treatment options available for these conditions.

Because the level of intelligence often is average or higher than average, many people with Asperger's syndrome are able to function very well. They may, however, continue to have problems socializing with others through adulthood.

Can Asperger's Syndrome Be Prevented?

Asperger's syndrome cannot be prevented or cured. However, early diagnosis and treatment can improve function and quality of life.



[This message has been edited by Gamma Ray (edited 06-24-2003).]

If your daughter suffers from PTSD she'd be having flashbacks..she'd avoid any situation that may bring up memory of the trauma (such as talking about it, being in the area in which it occurred, etc.). She may appear to be numb from emotion with periods of intense anxiety. These are the symptoms of PTSD...not even similiar to the ones you listed. The only way to know for sure if to have her evaluated. If you pick up the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual 4 by the American Psychological Assoc. you will be able to determine if her symptoms match the criteria for either disorders...just to have a better idea.

Hello everyone. I have read through your messages and would like to ask some questions about Aspergers. My 11 year old nephew, was taken away by the authorities from his mother, sister and twin brother because he was "traumatised" by home life. The school was very worried about him and when we found out all of this had happened, he had been labelled with "aspergers" even though he has not been properly assessed.
He tells us everyone hates him, or treats him like a baby at school, and often has fits of rage, where he tries to hurt himself (hitting). He has been placed in a special unit at school, and because of his behaviour, is only allowed to be at school for 3 hours / day.
My mother is currently caring for him, but I am concerned that she is not strong enough to cope with his rages / tantrems.
I have never met or been involved with anyone who has this syndrome, so I do not know what to look for, what triggers him off, or how to help him.
It appears that he "trys it on" mostly with women. My husband has not seen my nephews "other side", as he only appears to have these rages when women are present.
He has not very socially educated, and says things to people that other 11 year olds would know would be the wrong thing. He appears to speak without thinking of the consiquences of what he is saying.
Does this all sound like Aspergers Syndrome?
If you have any comments about what I have stated, please reply. Because he is only in the care of my mother, and is really a "ward of the state" we don't know if we can get him fully assessed to find out if he has aspergers or if there are other underlying issues with his behaviour.
PLease help if you can.
Thanks
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Them4

Hi everyone- I read your posts with great interest. My 27 year old son has Aspergers but as a child they really did not know much about the condition and for years he was misdiagnosed and on heavy psychotropic drugs. What a time we had!

He did go through public school with special accommodations and even got a 2 yr associate degree, He is not able to work and is on disability which makes him frustrated and depressed and angry

He is extremely intelligent but has no friends. He also has ocd and some physical disabilities. He does, however, continue to work on his conditions and really hopes to return to school and to do some kind of satisfying work in the future.

Through personal experience I can tell you that Aspergers kids are really special with a lot of potential. If yours has Aspergers encourage him constantly to grow and learn.