Re: question...

January 11, 2004

No, HFA is the same as Kanners but with higher ability of functioning level

than that of the truest form of Autism as described by Leo Kanner. Kanners

people usually test poorly and havelow IQ scores, HFA is sort of a blending

of both Kanners version and Aspergers version of autism. This is the areas

some test with low normal to average ranges of IQ level. People with HFA

often have much more pronounced language and sensory issues and relating

issues than typically seen in Asperger's syndrome alone.

Aspergers is usually of average to above average of intelligence, they

appear typical to most but can be very rigid, have lots of anxiety, speak

monotone or robotic to some degree or sing song thems words. They obsesses

often on a topic of interest, academics is usually their strengths(but not

always) especially in areas of math and science , geography, and have

exceptional ability to rote memorize large chunks of material so they can

appear to be little professors , they have sensory issues but not always as

severe as Kanners version, they are often awkward in gait and motorisms.

They usually have issues with fine motor such as writing.

PDD is the actual label given for the Pervasive disorders and under that

umbrella is Autism , and Aspergers and a few other labels, but actually PDD

is not a disorder in the sense of dx , but many doctors will give it as a

label meaning they do not know which disorder the child really fits best in

but they are aware the child has a pervasive developmental disorder, these

children with this label usually are the ones who are mildly affected and

the doctors are saying they dont quite fit the criteria for Autism label or

that for Aspergers yet , but they know the child has enough traits under the

PDD's to qualify so they often label PDD or PDDNOS.

Also there is no set given for any one subgroup as in the kanners you might

be to have a child who appears low functioning and is non verbal but who can

demonstrate much advanced skills and you might have a child of Aspergers

where academics is usually their strength and the child is struggling

greatly in retaining the information they have been taught.

And while HFA is not a documented dx code yet it is often used incorrectly

to some as being asperger's when in true it is not. Many professionals are

using HFA to clearly indicate the level of functioning of one who is of

Kanners.

Meaning they appear more autistic just by observation of them and they will

be noticed as being one with differences immediately to even the untrained

eye of others.

Such as self I to still have very ritualistic patterns to self in life, I to

still have full complex body movements, I to finger flick, I to stare at

hands , have need for repetitive tapping of chin, can be of self abuse when

much frustrated or feared, my language is to be of issues still, struggle

with syntax and verb tenses. have monotone voice and can speak rapid and

monotone if in scripts of my knowings as if reading it from my brain. Have

little to no eye contact, I to be of face blind too. Have intense fear and

anxiety if I to lack understanding things tend to get stuck there mentally.

I to be very literal and easily distracted. I to panic if slight change in

my environment and or routine is to happen. I to prefer aloneness and enjoy

much private personal space. I to have much sensory issues to lights, sounds

, touches, smells. I to still tend to like to sort and organize things and

to line them up into a pattern.

Yet can be to create poetry, write of articles , drive of car (took me much

years to learn but learned it) can order food at restaurant and pay for it,

can do grocery shop (even though hate this chore most in life) can do of

laundry and can be of parent to my 4 children's. I can be to speak and say

words verbally too. Good at imitating and acting normal for brief amounts of

time but is much hard work to do. Hope this helps some.

Sondra adult with HFA in Ohio

January 12, 2004

HFA is High Functioning Autism, ASD is Autism Spectrum Disorder and

PDD-nos is Pervasisve Developmental Disorder, not otherwise Specified.

And from what 's Ped & Counselor tell me, their basically all the same.

>

>Reply-To: Autism_in_Girls

>To: Autism_in_Girls

>Subject: Re: Question...

>Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2004 23:08:39 -0600

>

>I have always wondered what all the letters mean. so I was wondering

>too. What is HFA?

>

> > Is HFA, ASD and/or PDD-NOS, all relatively the same dx?

> >

> > Autism_in_Girls-subscribe

> > ------------------------

> > Autism_in_Girls-unsubscribe

> >

January 12, 2004

--- Wow, thanks for the education Sondra, YOU ARE SUCH AN

INSPIRATION TO ME!!

In Autism_in_Girls , " Sondra " <hfa2@c...>

wrote:

> No, HFA is the same as Kanners but with higher ability of

functioning level

> than that of the truest form of Autism as described by Leo Kanner.

Kanners

> people usually test poorly and havelow IQ scores, HFA is sort of a

blending

> of both Kanners version and Aspergers version of autism. This is

the areas

> some test with low normal to average ranges of IQ level. People

with HFA

> often have much more pronounced language and sensory issues and

relating

> issues than typically seen in Asperger's syndrome alone.

>

> Aspergers is usually of average to above average of intelligence,

they

> appear typical to most but can be very rigid, have lots of

anxiety, speak

> monotone or robotic to some degree or sing song thems words. They

obsesses

> often on a topic of interest, academics is usually their strengths

(but not

> always) especially in areas of math and science , geography, and

have

> exceptional ability to rote memorize large chunks of material so

they can

> appear to be little professors , they have sensory issues but not

always as

> severe as Kanners version, they are often awkward in gait and

motorisms.

> They usually have issues with fine motor such as writing.

>

> PDD is the actual label given for the Pervasive disorders and

under that

> umbrella is Autism , and Aspergers and a few other labels, but

actually PDD

> is not a disorder in the sense of dx , but many doctors will give

it as a

> label meaning they do not know which disorder the child really

fits best in

> but they are aware the child has a pervasive developmental

disorder, these

> children with this label usually are the ones who are mildly

affected and

> the doctors are saying they dont quite fit the criteria for Autism

label or

> that for Aspergers yet , but they know the child has enough traits

under the

> PDD's to qualify so they often label PDD or PDDNOS.

>

> Also there is no set given for any one subgroup as in the kanners

you might

> be to have a child who appears low functioning and is non verbal

but who can

> demonstrate much advanced skills and you might have a child of

Aspergers

> where academics is usually their strength and the child is

struggling

> greatly in retaining the information they have been taught.

>

> And while HFA is not a documented dx code yet it is often used

incorrectly

> to some as being asperger's when in true it is not. Many

professionals are

> using HFA to clearly indicate the level of functioning of one who

is of

> Kanners.

> Meaning they appear more autistic just by observation of them and

they will

> be noticed as being one with differences immediately to even the

untrained

> eye of others.

>

> Such as self I to still have very ritualistic patterns to self in

life, I to

> still have full complex body movements, I to finger flick, I to

stare at

> hands , have need for repetitive tapping of chin, can be of self

abuse when

> much frustrated or feared, my language is to be of issues still,

struggle

> with syntax and verb tenses. have monotone voice and can speak

rapid and

> monotone if in scripts of my knowings as if reading it from my

brain. Have

> little to no eye contact, I to be of face blind too. Have intense

fear and

> anxiety if I to lack understanding things tend to get stuck there

mentally.

> I to be very literal and easily distracted. I to panic if slight

change in

> my environment and or routine is to happen. I to prefer aloneness

and enjoy

> much private personal space. I to have much sensory issues to

lights, sounds

> , touches, smells. I to still tend to like to sort and organize

things and

> to line them up into a pattern.

>

> Yet can be to create poetry, write of articles , drive of car

(took me much

> years to learn but learned it) can order food at restaurant and

pay for it,

> can do grocery shop (even though hate this chore most in life) can

do of

> laundry and can be of parent to my 4 children's. I can be to speak

and say

> words verbally too. Good at imitating and acting normal for brief

amounts of

> time but is much hard work to do. Hope this helps some.

> Sondra adult with HFA in Ohio

January 12, 2004

Diane actually have been working on this deferential terms of the PDD's.

some was shared here. I to be of happy my words to be of helpful. Had to

look up the meaning of inspirations ( I to keep my Garfield dictionary on my

desk ) and so inspirations to mean mover of emotion , So you are to be

saying I to be of a mover of emotions to you. This is nice words to say.

Thanks.

Sondra

October 12, 2008

Hi Sonija,

Glad to hear that you've found some steps to help you out!

I'm wondering, though, and tell me if I'm completely off-base here - but

it is possible that the Coca-Cola is a factor in him crashing mid-day? I

know that with my ds (and yes, they'll *all* different! :-) ), I have to

really be careful of the sugar and caffeine (and Coke has tons of both),

because it destabilizes him. He gets the sugar high, then the sugar

crash, and when the caffeine wears off, that goes double for him. He's

16, and has asked to try the sugar-free five-hour energy drink,which

doesn't have caffeine, either, but I have to try it myself first.

Just a thought - does he like orange juice or white grape juice? Those

sugars are more complex than the simple refined sugar in Coke, and don't

have that steep let-down that Coke does.

thanks, and good luck!

best,

Cory

Sonija wrote:

>

> HI all. I emailed last week to give an update and ask a questions but

> I think the question got missed as my email said it was just an update.

> My little Robbie is going to be put on Methyline 2.5mg 3x daily. That

> is if we can find someone to fill the script. So far no luck on the

> chewables or the liquid so I am trying for the pill to swallow. Has

> anyone used this for their child and if so how was it?

>

> Since we are having such a hard time filling it, I called the doc to

> see if there was something else we could try and Dr. said she

> would like to get him on this med as she felt this would be best. It

> is mild according to her and would give us a good base line to start with.

>

> She also thought it wont bother the other issues he has with his

> pandas. So far all of the OCD seems to be in remission,. She was right

> it went away like overnight just like when it came but the adhd is

> intense and soemtimes he looks like he is on speed as his eyes seem to

> be tweaked if that makes any sense.

>

> We start our day with a liter of coke a cola to calm him down for

> awhile but by the end of the school day (1:30) he is rollingon the

> floor on his head in circles.

>

> Any advice on meds and what I can expect when he starts them is much

> appreciated,.

>

> THanks

> Sonija

>

October 12, 2008

My room at work is next to the school nurse's so I often chat with the kids as

they come in to take their meds. Â I was interested to see how one little boy

easily swallowed whatever pill he had to take by swallowing it on a spoon in

applesauce. Â

question...

HI all. I emailed last week to give an update and ask a questions but I think

the question got missed as my email said it was just an update.

My little Robbie is going to be put on Methyline 2.5mg 3x daily. That is if

we can find someone to fill the script. So far no luck on the chewables or the

liquid so I am trying for the pill to swallow. Has anyone used this for their

child and if so how was it?

Since we are having such a hard time filling it, I called the doc to see if

there was something else we could try and Dr. said she would like to get

him on this med as she felt this would be best. It is mild according to her and

would give us a good base line to start with.

She also thought it wont bother the other issues he has with his pandas. So far

all of the OCD seems to be in remission,. She was right it went away like

overnight just like when it came but the adhd is intense a

nd soemtimes he looks like he is on speed as his eyes seem to be tweaked if that

makes any sense.

We start our day with a liter of coke a cola to calm him down for awhile but by

the end of the school day (1:30) he is rollingon the floor on his head in

circles.

Any advice on meds and what I can expect when he starts them is much

appreciated,.

THanks

Sonija

October 12, 2008

Hi Sonija, I do remember your post, I replied but must have got

missed too! However, no help in my reply. I had to look up

methyline, wasn't familiar with it, and believe I asked you why

she/doc chose that particular med (which you just answered).

So far as the pills for it, have you talked to a " compounding

pharmacy " ? Supposedly they can make liquids for any medication plus

make it taste good. Our small city has at least 2 compounding ones

so would think you would have one nearby.

>

> HI all. I emailed last week to give an update and ask a

questions but I think the question got missed as my email said it was

just an update.

> My little Robbie is going to be put on Methyline 2.5mg 3x daily.

That is if we can find someone to fill the script. So far no luck on

the chewables or the liquid so I am trying for the pill to swallow.

Has anyone used this for their child and if so how was it?

>

October 12, 2008

hey Cory, wow that was very insiteful! I loved your post about the cola. I am

at my wits end with his moods and I feel bad for self medicating him but without

the cola he is boucing off the walls. Ur right he does have the mid day crash

and gets upset easily that could be from the comming down. I will try the juice

and see how that goes. he is only 7 so I didnt want to try energy drinks but I

know some of them are all vitamins with little caffene. Hopefully I will get

him on something prescription tomorrow.

I will kep you posted and if ytou cna think of anything that might be better

then the soda please let me know