Doubts about diagnosis - Autism Spectrum Message Board

RingBR · 10-06-2004, 08:13 PM

Hi everyone

,

I'm looking for opinions....My 7 year old son was just diagnosed with Asperger's. My DH and I were very surprised by this! He definitely has some Asperger's-like traits, especially in the social arena. But he does not have most of the "classic" Asperger's traits. He's never become fixated on one topic, does not have a "flat" voice, has no problem with eye contact. He basically is a normal kid who has a few quirks and is socially awkward.

I will do everything I can to help him with whatever he needs, no matter what the label is (he's already carrying an ADD and Chronic Tic Disorder diagnosis, so we're not label-shy). But it's hard for me to see him as an Asperger's child. I've met other Asperger's children and there was no doubts about the differences. I think most people would see my son as being extremely bright and having strong preferences. I haven't even told my Mom about the ADD yet, and she has never noticed anything "wrong" with him (and she notices things wrong with everyone -- believe me!

).

Is it possible for a child to have Asperger's and appear really normal? I hope I haven't offended anyone. I'm still very shocked and really just trying to absorb this.

Thanks!

AutiSon · 10-06-2004, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RingBR

Hi everyone

,

I'm looking for opinions....My 7 year old son was just diagnosed with Asperger's. My DH and I were very surprised by this! He definitely has some Asperger's-like traits, especially in the social arena. But he does not have most of the "classic" Asperger's traits. He's never become fixated on one topic, does not have a "flat" voice, has no problem with eye contact. He basically is a normal kid who has a few quirks and is socially awkward.

I will do everything I can to help him with whatever he needs, no matter what the label is (he's already carrying an ADD and Chronic Tic Disorder diagnosis, so we're not label-shy). But it's hard for me to see him as an Asperger's child. I've met other Asperger's children and there was no doubts about the differences. I think most people would see my son as being extremely bright and having strong preferences. I haven't even told my Mom about the ADD yet, and she has never noticed anything "wrong" with him (and she notices things wrong with everyone -- believe me!

).

Is it possible for a child to have Asperger's and appear really normal? I hope I haven't offended anyone. I'm still very shocked and really just trying to absorb this.

Thanks!

AutiSon · 10-06-2004, 09:29 PM

RingBr;

I can understand your frustration. Your son sounds like he's going through the same thing my son is. My son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS. He has some hyperactivety. When he was first diagnosed I got no information about Autism. I went out and did my own research. Deep in my heart I knew something was wrong, but I did not believe that my son has true Autism. I never gave up asking questions or stop trying to find the answers. I volunteered at the schools just so that I could be around other autistic kids and to learn about their disability. My son continue to progress at a faster speed than most of these children. He is 6 years old. I finally found a really good neurologist after seeing a few of them. This last one really listen to me and requested for some testing to be done. He had an MRI and EEG, Fragile X testing done, placed him on Risperdone for his hyperactive disorder and he is improving in his skills by leaps and bounds. He finally was able to attend and absorb the informations that was given to him and his speech has improved. He is now reading at a 1 rst grade level, adding in math, counting money and telling time. He has a few friends that he plays with at school and around our home.

His test result came back and we found that he had night-time seizures. He also has Landau Kleffner Syndrome. It is sometimes misdiagnosed as Autism. I hope this will help you. Never give up looking for answers. Your son might not have this syndrome. It took me 4 years to finally get the answer. Go with your gut instinct. Good-luck and God Bless.

AutiSon

rastafairy · 10-07-2004, 01:02 AM

there's a fantastic book out written by a boy of 13 who's one of seven children, you may have heard of Luke Jackson? anyways it's called Freaks Geeks and asperger syndrome, a user guide to adolescence.it's available on Amazon Books.

2cutekids · 10-07-2004, 07:53 AM

Hi... I know how you feel... My son is 4 1/2 years old. He is dx with High Functioning Autism... HE IS NOT HFA!!! At the worst, he has Apserger's. Yes, yes I know that they are "the same thing", but I don't feel that way.. Asperger's kids appear "normal" to me. They may have some problems with eye contact, but they have "normal" language and speech.

My son does not have the ridged routine or the intense intrest in things. He does like trains, cars and robots, but they aren't "his life"... he has no intrest in phone books, maps ect... he does like numbers and letters, but after the treatment of the yeast problem, he doesn't spell everything out and "read" all of the #'s and letters like he had to do before.

My son is on the GF/CF diet. I feel that with this diet, he has come so far. When he turned 4 and a little before, he was really bad. His speech got really jumbled, he started to talk in mono tone, he had fits all of the time, only repeated TV and movies, (but he could talk and answer ?'s)... since the diet, this has all changed. His speech is "almost" normal... there are a few break downs every now and again. He can ask the "wh..." ?'s, and is starting to hold a conversation,,, (the deciding factor in the HFA as posed to Asperger's when he was dx).

My son in the happiest little boy you can meet. Everyone loves him and most ppl can't tell that there is a problem. No one has ever asked what is wrong with him... and we all know how mean ppl can be.

I'm getting pretty confident that he may some day even be taken off the spectrum. Keep in mind, all of this was reached with NO INTERVENTION AT ALL. He has had NO services... they are taking there good old time in starting them. lol... we all know how that is.

He is infact seeing a DAN! dr and he is wonderful. He was just as excited as me about the changes in my son since the yeast treatment has started.... To have someone (a professional) believe in the diet, I just can't tell you what that means.

My son still has some problems with "making friends" and he may always be a little "different", but he has come so far, that I wouldn't change him for the world. If it came to a chose of either my son having Asperger's/HFA and being a "normal" kid that wasn't as sweet as he his now, I would choose the Autims... he has all of the best quilities of it... he is special, God made him this way for a reason... maybe it is to help others by seeing the changes with the diet. Maybe it is to be a dr or someone that changes the world, but I can tell you this, he has changed mine. I no longer look at Autism as a disorder to fear. I don't see it as the lonely child in a room all by himself, hitting his head on the wall or floor. I see a child that is a little different, that is a little to himself, but able to love and care for those around him.