Re: I need help on how to help my nine year old son...

[Guest guest]

>

> Thank You, most of those fit but not all. Like my son doesn't flap his arms or

anything like that. However, I'm just concerned about the social cues he can't

pick up on. The school says he is high functioning, but kids make fun of him all

the time and he doesn't realize it. Not until someone tells him they are making

fun of him does he get upset. And even then it's not a normal reaction.

Well, social skills problems can be lots of things. I still say put him in a

social skills group while you are figuring out the diagnosis. It can't hurt and

will probably help. And if he really doesn't need it--they will let you know.

Ruth

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My son, 11, was recently diagnosed with Asperger's and he doesn't fit the DSM

very well at first look, but when you look at how the behaviors manifest

themselves he is comepletely textbook. He is high function Asperger's and he

was previously diagnosed with ADHD which is why I think that he has been dx so

late.

About a year ago I began to seriously suspect there was something else going on

with him. I had to instruct him and remind him like a child who was younger. I

just kept expecting him to get it and everything would be OK, but he didn't and

now I understand. I'd encourage you to read up about it particularly from a

parent's perspective. And be very careful when you pick books out about when

they were originally published. Asperger's is relatively new (as far as the APA

including it) and there is still a lot of development. I have gotten several

books and I fond the ones written ten years ago tend to be less than accurate.

the kid's therapist says that the DSM V will have a much more accurate

description of Asperger's. I think a lot of kids who used to be classified as

AHDH could really be Apsies.

BTW- Five or six years ago I had a booth at the local farmer's market. A lady

who was next to me a few times stopped me and told me my son had Asperger's like

her son. Her son was a teenager and was rather low functioning so when I

compared them I couldn't see it. i so wish I had followed up on it then.

Wow that got long. I hope I didn't bore you too much.

Becky

>

> My nine year old son has always been a little different. This year is the year

that I have really noticed it. He has always really just enjoyed hanging out

with just one person at a time and even that can be difficult. Any time he meets

a new person it takes him months to make eye contact with them and once he does

that person is his " Best Friend " no matter what age that person is. He was also

dignased with ADHD and a Mood Disorder when he was 6 years old. He gets VERY

focused on one thing and it is very hard to change that focus. I spoke with his

doctor today and she has said that he has some Asperges symptoms, but I don't

know what to do with that? I have noticed that since he was two or so he has had

issues with eye contact and he HATES any type of change. He has really big melt

downs over anything and he takes everything we so literally. We have a 5 year

old little girl and we have noticed that they are both on the same maturity

level. I'm not saying that this is what he has I just want to do everything I

can do to help him. Any advice?

>

[Guest guest]

What I think is significant about having Asperger in the child's

diagnosis is in the therapuetic approaches.

I wonder what other's have to say about this in our group. Tony Attwood writes

that insight talk therapy does not work with Asperger

kids.

My daughter has some OC traits with contamination fears and I found

working with OCD therapists not too helpful.

And my daughter does not make much if any progress in cognitve therapy. She

wants to think about a special interest

to calm down and the therapist can't bunge her too much from

her fixed thinking style. But we try to get her at least to

talk maybe there is some insight developed.

I agree with the others on social skills are important.

There is a book by Dr. S. Greenspan called Bipolar Pathways

in Children, he says that emotions are regulated thru

two way communication. Isn't that amazing. He gives

ideas on (floortime) ways to draw children out and regulate

there emotions. I am no expect. I read this stuff and

it makes sense and I try stuff.

There is a book called the Asperger Plus child by Lynn

(AS and OCD, AS and BP, AS and NLD, AS and strong willed)

I thought the book was helpful when there are other conditions.

My view is you treat with medication the other symptoms (anxiety, depression,

BP) and in therapy you have to treat the Asperger child first (social skills,

behavior methods and changing the lifestyle to be more comfortable).

I would be interested to hear if others have had luck with cognitive therapy.

And why it was effective.

Pam

[Guest guest]

>

> What I think is significant about having Asperger in the child's

> diagnosis is in the therapuetic approaches.

>

> I wonder what other's have to say about this in our group. Tony Attwood writes

that insight talk therapy does not work with Asperger

> kids.

Doesn't work with mine! He makes much better progress with social skills

group therapy and also just the good old everyday give the kid some space

therapy from mom and dad, teachers, etc. Not feeling professional enough to try

to put my finger on it and put it into words, but it is the way it is.

Ruth

[Guest guest]

I can relate. My son is 9 and has been recently diagnosed with Aspergers.

Everyone who sees him doesn't suspect anything when they see him because he

appears " normal " . It isn't until you spend some time with him that it is

apparent that something is wrong. His 6-year old sister is much more mature.

He is insistent in his ways - usually video games or any electronics. Extended

family does not enjoy being around him because of his behavior. He whines and

screams when he can't get his electronics. We've tried a number of things, and

we can't seem to break this habit.

He was also diagnosed with ADHD and ODD when he was 6.

Jodi

>

> Hi,

> My son, 11, was recently diagnosed with Asperger's and he doesn't fit the

DSM very well at first look, but when you look at how the behaviors manifest

themselves he is comepletely textbook. He is high function Asperger's and he

was previously diagnosed with ADHD which is why I think that he has been dx so

late.

>

> About a year ago I began to seriously suspect there was something else going

on with him. I had to instruct him and remind him like a child who was younger.

I just kept expecting him to get it and everything would be OK, but he didn't

and now I understand. I'd encourage you to read up about it particularly from a

parent's perspective. And be very careful when you pick books out about when

they were originally published. Asperger's is relatively new (as far as the APA

including it) and there is still a lot of development. I have gotten several

books and I fond the ones written ten years ago tend to be less than accurate.

the kid's therapist says that the DSM V will have a much more accurate

description of Asperger's. I think a lot of kids who used to be classified as

AHDH could really be Apsies.

>

> BTW- Five or six years ago I had a booth at the local farmer's market. A lady

who was next to me a few times stopped me and told me my son had Asperger's like

her son. Her son was a teenager and was rather low functioning so when I

compared them I couldn't see it. i so wish I had followed up on it then.

>

>

> Wow that got long. I hope I didn't bore you too much.

>

> Becky

>

>

>

>

> >

> > My nine year old son has always been a little different. This year is the

year that I have really noticed it. He has always really just enjoyed hanging

out with just one person at a time and even that can be difficult. Any time he

meets a new person it takes him months to make eye contact with them and once he

does that person is his " Best Friend " no matter what age that person is. He was

also dignased with ADHD and a Mood Disorder when he was 6 years old. He gets

VERY focused on one thing and it is very hard to change that focus. I spoke with

his doctor today and she has said that he has some Asperges symptoms, but I

don't know what to do with that? I have noticed that since he was two or so he

has had issues with eye contact and he HATES any type of change. He has really

big melt downs over anything and he takes everything we so literally. We have a

5 year old little girl and we have noticed that they are both on the same

maturity level. I'm not saying that this is what he has I just want to do

everything I can do to help him. Any advice?

> >

>