do kids with autism have mood cycling?

[Guest guest]

Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism? thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i think.

Clara

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[Guest guest]

I would say a giant YES to seeing mood cycling- I tend to think of my guy on a roller coaster and am interested in seeing some data that have been being taken on his behaviors over the last year and a half.  I know I am ready for an up swing….. these tantrums, obstinacy, anger and defiance has really got me at the end of my last nerve most days! : ) Rose President, The Safety Sleeperwww.thesafetysleeper.com The Safety Sleeper, a fully enclosed and portable bed system.  The easy to use zippered enclosure keeps your sleeper safe in his/her own bed and prevents them from unattended wandering. From: sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of ClaraSent: Friday, April 22, 2011 7:49 PMTo: sList Subject: do kids with autism have mood cycling? Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism? thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i think. Clara .

[Guest guest]

Interestingly enough, I always wonder if the ASD is a precursor for Bipolar… From: sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of ClaraSent: Friday, April 22, 2011 7:49 PMTo: sList Subject: do kids with autism have mood cycling? Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism? thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i think. Clara .No virus found in this message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.comVersion: 10.0.1209 / Virus Database: 1500/3591 - Release Date: 04/22/11

[Guest guest]

My child is autistic and he is the happiest person I know. He does however suffer from OCD and that sometimes drives him crazy (as well as anyone who is around him when he is having an episode). Bipolar disorder is linked to Autism and often members of the ASD person's family will suffer from Bipolar disorder.

do kids with autism have mood cycling?

Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism? thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i think.

Clara

..

[Guest guest]

Clara

bipolar is a common thing for autistic kids to have. Maybe about 25% of our

kids also make the criteria for bipolar.

>

> Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is

diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i

wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is

all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism?

thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i

think.

>

>

> Clara

>

>

>

> .

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

me too .

I really appreciate the responses. My son is 11 and I still feel like I am trying to still figure him out.

RE: do kids with autism have mood cycling?

Interestingly enough, I always wonder if the ASD is a precursor for Bipolar…

From: sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of ClaraSent: Friday, April 22, 2011 7:49 PMTo: sList Subject: do kids with autism have mood cycling?

Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism? thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i think.

Clara

..

No virus found in this message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.comVersion: 10.0.1209 / Virus Database: 1500/3591 - Release Date: 04/22/11

[Guest guest]

When jay was diagnosed at ASAC at age 5, dr. Beaumont did say that there is a good chance that once he hits puberty his Asperger's may very well morph into bipolar. Keep in mind that his father has bipolar so he has a variable that may different than your son. Keep in mind that nothing is predestined if you run defense and treat his symptoms rather than a diagnosis. Also, you are the most important therapist your child.has. Remember: you may not have a PhD, but your M.O.M. Degree is one you should always listen to.With respect and admiration for those putting the puzzle together one piece at a time, s MahlerSent from my iPhone

Interestingly enough, I always wonder if the ASD is a precursor for Bipolar… From: sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of ClaraSent: Friday, April 22, 2011 7:49 PMTo: sList Subject: do kids with autism have mood cycling? Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism? thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i think. Clara .No virus found in this message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.comVersion: 10.0.1209 / Virus Database: 1500/3591 - Release Date: 04/22/11

[Guest guest]

I don't think it is a precursor per se. Even just on statistics, if you roll

the dice, these would combine fairly frequently. Bipolar is way underdiagnosed.

I believe there is a normal but alternative ASD cognitive style built into some

brains. I also believe that that style of brain is more easily damaged by

environmental factors, or if not, shows the wear more easily, like a stainless

steel refrigerator shows fingerprints more easily than an enamel one. Neither

is a more normal fridge finish, all a matter of taste.

I think that what people are speaking of curing are the accumulated effects of

that damage superimposed on that brain. I also think there is a functional

bipolar brain (the mad scientist, brilliant artist type)--same deal. But they

both use the same organ and the same functions and things that break the brain

will cause the wiring to go bad in the same way. If it is in the part of the

brain for social interaction, we call it autism, if it is in the part of the

brain that governs mood, we call it bipolar. Unfortunately, we cannot isolate

effects that way. The whole brain shares the genetics and the results of the

damage. so there is a lot of crossover between ASD and bipolar, and ADHD and

OCD and ...

Same individual, same organ, same total accumulated stuff comes out and we just

gotta compartmentalize it so we can make some sense.

Many brain diagnoses have mood or behavior changes as a component.

It is estimated that worldwide, 25-30% of the population will have a major

depressive episode in their life. Many of these are misdiagnosed bipolars,

because no one ever goes to the doctor and complains about feeling on top of the

world. They complain when they are on the depressive side of the crash.

>

> Interestingly enough, I always wonder if the ASD is a precursor for Bipolar…

>

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> From: sList [mailto:sList ] On

Behalf Of Clara

> Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 7:49 PM

> To: sList

> Subject: do kids with autism have mood cycling?

>

>

>

>

>

> Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is

diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i

wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is

all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism?

thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i

think.

>

>

>

>

>

> Clara

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> .

>

>

>

>

> No virus found in this message.

> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> Version: 10.0.1209 / Virus Database: 1500/3591 - Release Date: 04/22/11

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

susan:

This is an awesome explanation and one I agree with in terms of the holistic view of the brain. I guess I am caught up in trying to know my son better, and not seeing clear delineations like other parents seem to or like I see in other kids. I have met lots of ASD kids who I can SEE have autism clearly. I have BP kids who fit right in there. Mine, not so much. some say oh he is ASD and the mood disorder is a part of HFA. Others say no autism only means you have social impairments, the mood and emotional cycling is BP.

thank you.

do kids with autism have mood cycling?> > > > > > Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism? thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i think.> > > > > > Clara> > > > > > > > .> > > > > No virus found in this message.> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com> Version: 10.0.1209 / Virus Database: 1500/3591 - Release Date: 04/22/11> > > ------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

.. If it is in the part of the brain for social interaction, we call it autism, if it is in the part of the brain that governs mood, we call it bipolar. Unfortunately, we cannot isolate effects that way. The whole brain shares the genetics and the results of the damage. so there is a lot of crossover between ASD and bipolar, and ADHD and OCD and ... This makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks. From: sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of CisloSent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 6:30 PMTo: sList Subject: Re: do kids with autism have mood cycling? I don't think it is a precursor per se. Even just on statistics, if you roll the dice, these would combine fairly frequently. Bipolar is way underdiagnosed. I believe there is a normal but alternative ASD cognitive style built into some brains. I also believe that that style of brain is more easily damaged by environmental factors, or if not, shows the wear more easily, like a stainless steel refrigerator shows fingerprints more easily than an enamel one. Neither is a more normal fridge finish, all a matter of taste.I think that what people are speaking of curing are the accumulated effects of that damage superimposed on that brain. I also think there is a functional bipolar brain (the mad scientist, brilliant artist type)--same deal. But they both use the same organ and the same functions and things that break the brain will cause the wiring to go bad in the same way. If it is in the part of the brain for social interaction, we call it autism, if it is in the part of the brain that governs mood, we call it bipolar. Unfortunately, we cannot isolate effects that way. The whole brain shares the genetics and the results of the damage. so there is a lot of crossover between ASD and bipolar, and ADHD and OCD and ...Same individual, same organ, same total accumulated stuff comes out and we just gotta compartmentalize it so we can make some sense.Many brain diagnoses have mood or behavior changes as a component. It is estimated that worldwide, 25-30% of the population will have a major depressive episode in their life. Many of these are misdiagnosed bipolars, because no one ever goes to the doctor and complains about feeling on top of the world. They complain when they are on the depressive side of the crash.>> Interestingly enough, I always wonder if the ASD is a precursor for Bipolar…>> >> >> From: sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of Clara> Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 7:49 PM> To: sList > Subject: do kids with autism have mood cycling?>> >> >> Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism? thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i think.>> >> >> Clara>> >> >> >> .>>>>> No virus found in this message.> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com> Version: 10.0.1209 / Virus Database: 1500/3591 - Release Date: 04/22/11>>>------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

My experience has been that there are many symptoms our kids demonstrate that

could meet criteria for other diagnoses but it is irresponsible to do this

because most symptomology is still better accounted for under the autism

diagnosis. If the child receives an additional or comorbid or secondary

diagnosis, it is usually for insurance or other billing purposes. Because

autism is not billable and the child is being placed on medication. Secondly,

if the child qualifies for an additional diagnosis, the symptoms must be

significantly interfering with the child's functioning.

Often, when we see what appears to be mood cycling in our kids, it is problems

with self regulation/modulation. Our kids have difficulty identifying emotions

in themselves and others, difficulty holding and recognizing more than one

emotion at a time and difficulty expressing emotions. They also have delays in

processing.

For those of us with a background in mental health, or coming from a mental

health perspective, it's common and easy for us to see those qualities as being

bipolar-like. Or, at other times, OCD-like, etc. I've also seen professionals

say the child has schizophrenia and other disorders when they do not understand

autism. That's scary for the child being diagnosed.

Unfortunately, because of these preconceived beliefs about mental health, many

of our kid's are often diagnosed, when they don't need to be, and are often

placed on medication...again when they don't need to be.

Just my opinion...

Sent from my iPhone

> Clara

> bipolar is a common thing for autistic kids to have. Maybe about 25% of our

kids also make the criteria for bipolar.

>

>

>>

>> Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is

diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i

wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is

all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism?

thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i

think.

>>

>>

>> Clara

>>

>>

>>

>> .

>>

>>

>>

>

>

>

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

>

>

[Guest guest]

As usual, I seem to connect with what you share. This is a question I often ask myself…is the hyperactivity/impulsivity an actual separate ADHD diagnosis or is it just a part of the many symptoms of ASD. Because I have three children experiencing these symptoms but experiencing them differently, I am getting a much clearer understanding and beginning to believe exactly what you say. I do come from a mental health background but never had exposure to this area – ASD, until my own came along (probably why so many are misdiagnosed). I do really see the difference between my eldest daughter who is the most effected and my younger two. After an evaluation with a psychologist (provided to me by APD), she was diagnosed with both Autism and ADHD as was my son. But it feels to me that he she really is only ASD with the impulsivity and hyperactivity as a result of the autism and my son seems to be more ADHD with features of ASD. I don’t know if this makes sense but for me, it really seems to defines your point. From: sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of austintandt@...Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 8:12 AMTo: sList Subject: Re: do kids with autism have mood cycling? My experience has been that there are many symptoms our kids demonstrate that could meet criteria for other diagnoses but it is irresponsible to do this because most symptomology is still better accounted for under the autism diagnosis. If the child receives an additional or comorbid or secondary diagnosis, it is usually for insurance or other billing purposes. Because autism is not billable and the child is being placed on medication. Secondly, if the child qualifies for an additional diagnosis, the symptoms must be significantly interfering with the child's functioning.Often, when we see what appears to be mood cycling in our kids, it is problems with self regulation/modulation. Our kids have difficulty identifying emotions in themselves and others, difficulty holding and recognizing more than one emotion at a time and difficulty expressing emotions. They also have delays in processing.For those of us with a background in mental health, or coming from a mental health perspective, it's common and easy for us to see those qualities as being bipolar-like. Or, at other times, OCD-like, etc. I've also seen professionals say the child has schizophrenia and other disorders when they do not understand autism. That's scary for the child being diagnosed.Unfortunately, because of these preconceived beliefs about mental health, many of our kid's are often diagnosed, when they don't need to be, and are often placed on medication...again when they don't need to be. Just my opinion...Sent from my iPhone> Clara> bipolar is a common thing for autistic kids to have. Maybe about 25% of our kids also make the criteria for bipolar.> > >> >> Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism? thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i think.>> >> >> Clara>> >> >> >> .>> >> >> > > > > ------------------------------------> >

[Guest guest]

Thank you!I continue to let my son teach me and have observed other professionals (not all but some) who don't get this gift of exposure. Even in a classroom setting or in a treatment setting, the exposure I get from my son gives me a broader prospective and keeps me from applying the preconceived notions I learned in school, from the research I read and what my beliefs were prior to having him. It has been a challenge, to say the least, to try to link the 2 worlds. It's also improtant to note that disturbances in how our kids neurotransmitters are working also affect mood. We've been having discussions about GABA, L-Carnosine, Glutamate, etc.; all of which can be implicated in mood. If these are out of whack, of course the pharmaceutical companies can provide a psychotropic to address this but supplementation and diet can also address this. I guess it's personal preference at some point. Sent from my iPhone

As usual, I seem to connect with what you share. This is a question I often ask myself…is the hyperactivity/impulsivity an actual separate ADHD diagnosis or is it just a part of the many symptoms of ASD. Because I have three children experiencing these symptoms but experiencing them differently, I am getting a much clearer understanding and beginning to believe exactly what you say. I do come from a mental health background but never had exposure to this area – ASD, until my own came along (probably why so many are misdiagnosed). I do really see the difference between my eldest daughter who is the most effected and my younger two. After an evaluation with a psychologist (provided to me by APD), she was diagnosed with both Autism and ADHD as was my son. But it feels to me that he she really is only ASD with the impulsivity and hyperactivity as a result of the autism and my son seems to be more ADHD with features of ASD. I don’t know if this makes sense but for me, it really seems to defines your point. From: sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of austintandt@...Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 8:12 AMTo: sList Subject: Re: do kids with autism have mood cycling? My experience has been that there are many symptoms our kids demonstrate that could meet criteria for other diagnoses but it is irresponsible to do this because most symptomology is still better accounted for under the autism diagnosis. If the child receives an additional or comorbid or secondary diagnosis, it is usually for insurance or other billing purposes. Because autism is not billable and the child is being placed on medication. Secondly, if the child qualifies for an additional diagnosis, the symptoms must be significantly interfering with the child's functioning.Often, when we see what appears to be mood cycling in our kids, it is problems with self regulation/modulation. Our kids have difficulty identifying emotions in themselves and others, difficulty holding and recognizing more than one emotion at a time and difficulty expressing emotions. They also have delays in processing.For those of us with a background in mental health, or coming from a mental health perspective, it's common and easy for us to see those qualities as being bipolar-like. Or, at other times, OCD-like, etc. I've also seen professionals say the child has schizophrenia and other disorders when they do not understand autism. That's scary for the child being diagnosed.Unfortunately, because of these preconceived beliefs about mental health, many of our kid's are often diagnosed, when they don't need to be, and are often placed on medication...again when they don't need to be. Just my opinion...Sent from my iPhone> Clara> bipolar is a common thing for autistic kids to have. Maybe about 25% of our kids also make the criteria for bipolar.> > >> >> Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism? thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i think.>> >> >> Clara>> >> >> >> .>> >> >> > > > > ------------------------------------> >

[Guest guest]

Austin, you are right, diagnoses are overused and abused. But they are also

informative. no child should be diagnosed with anything, including ASD, unless

it is significant enough to interfere with functioning. that is what

differentiates a cognitive or learning style from a disorder. So any child who

is diagnosed with a co-morbidity needs to make the criteria. Most of the

criteria for a mental health diagnoses include a phrase about significant enough

symptoms to interfere with function. Once that criteria is met, it is

irresponsible not to diagnose.

A non-neurologic example: I have seen kids put at significant risk because no

one wanted to " label the kid " .

For instance, a parent who knows their child has asthma behaves differntly than

one who thinks their child gets croup two or three times a year. Croup you

" catch " and is the whim of who you sat next to. Asthma is a problem with the

airways, and needs to have prevention and maintenance. Yet I would see kids

whose parents believe that their kid gets multiple repeated bouts of croup

(which doesn't happen) because the pediatrician was too cowardly to say the " A "

word that would require a program of prevention and maintenance. Meanwhile, the

kid's airways are scarring for life with every exacerbation. The lack of a

label did not change how the body responded. It did alter how that response was

handled.

A diagnosis of ASD does not automatically require mood stabilization, especially

with meds. A diagnosis of bipolar probably does. Again, I am not talking about

bipolar tendencies, I am talking about a kid who makes the actual criteria. It

also means that the doc must be aware of mood stability when prescribing, not

only psych meds, but other meds as well.

For instance, someone with ASD and OCD may benefit from buspar, but that could

be more risky in a child with ASD and OCD and bipolar who may be destabilized

with an antidepressant.

And self regulation/modulation and identifying emotions is not unique to ASD.

Bipolar kids when young cannot tell what this storm is inside either, nor can

ADHD and OCD kids. Schizophrenic kids cannot tell what is internally vs

externally driven, so ditto.

Our society is pathologic in its distinctions between physical and mental. I

saw a convention flyer for a meeting of neurologists and psychiatrists and one

lecture title was " where neurology and psychiatry overlap "

They are idiots. Where, in fact, *don't* they overlap? How can you separate

the structure of an organ from the function???? If you have an electrical

problem with the heart, or if you have a piece of dead heart muscle, you go see

the same doc. They are not seen as " different " . there is not a

gastroenterologist for the behavior of the gut and one for the structure of the

gut. Why, then, is it so with the brain? You see a neurologist if your mood

disorder is caused by a stroke, but a psychiatrist if it is caused by ASD, or

diabetes, heart attack, cancer or any other disease. This is not right. But it

is the way things are.

I also agree that kids with tendencies or features are overdiagnosed for

insurance purposes. Again, not right, but that doesn't mean they are put on

meds for it. A kid could be diagnosed with ADHD to qualify for services and

accomodations, but could have the symptoms managed with behavioral mods. Only

kids whose symptoms interfere with their function should be put on meds. the

side effects and risks are just too great, especially with polypharmacy.

> My experience has been that there are many symptoms our kids demonstrate that

could meet criteria for other diagnoses but it is irresponsible to do this

because most symptomology is still better accounted for under the autism

diagnosis. If the child receives an additional or comorbid or secondary

diagnosis, it is usually for insurance or other billing purposes. Because autism

is not billable and the child is being placed on medication. Secondly, if the

child qualifies for an additional diagnosis, the symptoms must be significantly

interfering with the child's functioning.

>

> Often, when we see what appears to be mood cycling in our kids, it is problems

with self regulation/modulation. Our kids have difficulty identifying emotions

in themselves and others, difficulty holding and recognizing more than one

emotion at a time and difficulty expressing emotions. They also have delays in

processing.

>

> For those of us with a background in mental health, or coming from a mental

health perspective, it's common and easy for us to see those qualities as being

bipolar-like. Or, at other times, OCD-like, etc. I've also seen professionals

say the child has schizophrenia and other disorders when they do not understand

autism. That's scary for the child being diagnosed.

>

> Unfortunately, because of these preconceived beliefs about mental health, many

of our kid's are often diagnosed, when they don't need to be, and are often

placed on medication...again when they don't need to be.

>

> Just my opinion...

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have been recently considering the GABA and L-Carnosine.  I even went to Whole foods and had them in my hand but chickened out.  I ended up starting again with the fish oil and probioticcs first.  We have been off them for a while and I thought I would start again there to see if we had any improvements.  I know they can only do good and no harm could come from those supplements.   I get nervous playing with mood/brain meds – supplements or not- the stuff could be potent and I am almost afraid to do something that is not monitored by a doctor or regulated by an agency.  Not sure real meds are better but the whole thing makes be a bit uneasy.   Ill have to ponder it for a while and see how we do in the next few months with what they are on now.   From: sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of austintandt@...Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 11:40 AMTo: sList Subject: Re: do kids with autism have mood cycling? Thank you! I continue to let my son teach me and have observed other professionals (not all but some) who don't get this gift of exposure. Even in a classroom setting or in a treatment setting, the exposure I get from my son gives me a broader prospective and keeps me from applying the preconceived notions I learned in school, from the research I read and what my beliefs were prior to having him. It has been a challenge, to say the least, to try to link the 2 worlds. It's also improtant to note that disturbances in how our kids neurotransmitters are working also affect mood. We've been having discussions about GABA, L-Carnosine, Glutamate, etc.; all of which can be implicated in mood. If these are out of whack, of course the pharmaceutical companies can provide a psychotropic to address this but supplementation and diet can also address this. I guess it's personal preference at some point. Sent from my iPhone As usual, I seem to connect with what you share. This is a question I often ask myself…is the hyperactivity/impulsivity an actual separate ADHD diagnosis or is it just a part of the many symptoms of ASD. Because I have three children experiencing these symptoms but experiencing them differently, I am getting a much clearer understanding and beginning to believe exactly what you say. I do come from a mental health background but never had exposure to this area – ASD, until my own came along (probably why so many are misdiagnosed). I do really see the difference between my eldest daughter who is the most effected and my younger two. After an evaluation with a psychologist (provided to me by APD), she was diagnosed with both Autism and ADHD as was my son. But it feels to me that he she really is only ASD with the impulsivity and hyperactivity as a result of the autism and my son seems to be more ADHD with features of ASD. I don’t know if this makes sense but for me, it really seems to defines your point. From: sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of austintandt@...Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 8:12 AMTo: sList Subject: Re: do kids with autism have mood cycling? My experience has been that there are many symptoms our kids demonstrate that could meet criteria for other diagnoses but it is irresponsible to do this because most symptomology is still better accounted for under the autism diagnosis. If the child receives an additional or comorbid or secondary diagnosis, it is usually for insurance or other billing purposes. Because autism is not billable and the child is being placed on medication. Secondly, if the child qualifies for an additional diagnosis, the symptoms must be significantly interfering with the child's functioning.Often, when we see what appears to be mood cycling in our kids, it is problems with self regulation/modulation. Our kids have difficulty identifying emotions in themselves and others, difficulty holding and recognizing more than one emotion at a time and difficulty expressing emotions. They also have delays in processing.For those of us with a background in mental health, or coming from a mental health perspective, it's common and easy for us to see those qualities as being bipolar-like. Or, at other times, OCD-like, etc. I've also seen professionals say the child has schizophrenia and other disorders when they do not understand autism. That's scary for the child being diagnosed.Unfortunately, because of these preconceived beliefs about mental health, many of our kid's are often diagnosed, when they don't need to be, and are often placed on medication...again when they don't need to be. Just my opinion...Sent from my iPhone> Clara> bipolar is a common thing for autistic kids to have. Maybe about 25% of our kids also make the criteria for bipolar.> > >> >> Parents, do you see mood cycling in your child with autism? my son is diagnosed with many things, among them ASD (pdd nos) and bipolar. Sometimes i wonder if its not bipolar and the extreme mood cycling (mania, depression) is all autism? Anyone see this is their kids who are just diagnosed with autism? thanks for your opinions, these are hard disorders to differentiate between i think.>> >> >> Clara>> >> >> >> .>> >> >> > > > > ------------------------------------> >

[Guest guest]

My personal opinion, it is all one banana. My son could be living proof. Sometimes you don’t see where one ends or one begins. But as a who diagnosis, I think they are all part of the symptoms or side effects of Autism. Since each child is unique, perhaps that is why they manifest so differently.