Does your child know - Autism Spectrum Message Board

ohnotagain · 02-04-2005, 03:22 PM

My son, age 8 has returned to school after the 6 week Xmas holidays. He appears to be settling but most mornings and during the day he complains of being sick. He gets tummy upset and nausea. The teacher understands asperger very well and allows him time out, or gives him a job to do where he can go for a walk. We figure the sickness is nerves, as well as overheating at lunchtime.
Now, this hgetting sick all the time is getting very annoying as he spits. I tried to explain to him that it is all in his head. He didnt undertstand, so I told him not to think about being sick. He then responded with "I have no brain, and I cant think without a brain". I then told him he does have a brain as he is a very smart boy and he must have one.. He screamed at me then with "how many times I tell you, I have no brain, I cant think"
This had saddened me. He is not mature enough to be told he has asperger and I wouldnt know how to do it any way.
One thing I did come up with and i thought it was a nifty idea. I gave him a chewable Vitamin C tablet and told him it was a "sick" pill. I then gave him a chewable Multivitamin and told him it was a "Smart boy pill". It worked.

findingdx · 02-04-2005, 05:14 PM

You said something i had to resond too. Boring but here is our story be warned. I was always finding ways not to let my child know of her many medical condition and hiding it from her as i thought she was to young to handle. It was getting way out of control, I would bring another adult to dr. apt so we could talk without her their and doing all sorts of test on her to try to fing out what was wrong and taking to places to fix things. Well I was told by a dr. to just tell her about her conditions(not in detail) but give her a clue as what the conditions are called and what we are doing to help them. I have to tell you i was scared to death to tell her, she shocked me she was so good, about all her medical and behavior problems. She said okay is that all you wanted and i let her have her space then she started having questions later that day. It was the most relief i had in years to get that off my chest and not keep it a secret from her. She was seven when i told her and it's the best thing i ever did. Just a thought but it might relieve your stress level if you think about telling him(just a thought). gOOD LUCK

erly · 02-04-2005, 08:07 PM

I understand what you are saying.
My grandson, not quite five has a similar problem.
He is smart enough to know that he has a problem.
He often says, "I can't say it". meaning that he cannot properly articulate his thoughts.
At times like this he becomes very frustrated.
It is a similar thing.
We have one diagnosis of very high functioning autims 1percentile, and another of Aspergers.
The title doesn't matter.
The good thing is that you know that they are very aware.
When he is old enough to fully comprehend, we will explain his problem to him.
Your solution of the vitamins is brilliant!
I will try it the next time we go through a "I can't say it", or" I can't do it stage"
Many thanks

Ryan's mum · 02-05-2005, 04:11 AM

Hi ohnotagain,
I am assuming you are in Australia because we have just returned to school after our xmas holidays. I posted this same question on a board here in Australia recently and there was a huge response.

My son who is 7 1/2 is totally unaware there is anything wrong with him, he has never asked me questions or wondered why he is 'different'. I have tried to explain it to him anyway but he just doesn't get what I'm getting at. He his quite clever at school work but needs extra help in the classroom but as far as picking up on other peoples feelings or the way people interact that is something he is just oblivious to. He never feels he has to please anyone or he doesn't see people as being different, everyone to him is the same. For example the prinicipal at our school, all the kids are like , OHH here comes Mr ***** and all sit up straight or stopped running in case they get into trouble but to Ryan he is just like Joe Blow down the street. I'm sure if he met John Howard (Prime Minister of Australia) it wouldn't be any big deal to him he's just another man. What I am trying to say is if Ryan were aware I'd tell him without hesitation.

Asperger family · 02-05-2005, 03:51 PM

I have tried to tell both of my boys about autism and why my oldest does the things he does. My oldest is alike like Ryan(poster above) he could care less right now. Im sure he knows he is different because our other son has no behavioral problems, well he is totally opposite of his brother, so much more talkative and placid. I dont think he has ever hit another child in all his four years.I knew it was time to try to start explaining, when my youngest started to ask why his brother is crazy, I felt it was time to atleast give them an idea what it was and why his brother gets treated differently(special school and special therapy) and why it is not acceptable behavioral. I tell him his brother is special, then he says, I am special too mommy? I know they dont grasp it yet, or comphrehend it(autism is a hard disability to explain to a child) but now he doesnt ask why his brother is crazy, he says, my brother has autisus thats why he does that and he has learned how to deal better with his brother and not get mad at him so easily. I think with age and maturity, and awareness his brother will be able to learn about himself and autism, right now, its probably not much more than a word and a bunch of yaddi yaddi to him.