New to the group

May 28, 2009

Hi!

My name is and I'm new to this group. My son, , is 6 years old

and was diagnosed with AS last week. Since he was 3 we knew that there was

something now quite right. He begain having sensory issues and received

occupational therapy for a year. Since then we have dealt with the sensory

integration, OCD behaviors, anxiety, depression, terrible violent mood

swings/outbursts, and ADHD behaviors. We have been through so many different

agencies and evaluations and we were told he had ADHD, bipolar, oppositional

defiant disorder, disruptive behavior disorder and the list goes on and on.

What was frustrating was that he was given an AS eval. when he was 3 1/2 and

scored high for the probability for AS, but the doctor refused to diagnose him

as having that. So consequently, we didn't have a leg to stand on with our

school district to try to get some OT once he started elementary school.

Now he's finishing 1st grade and is really struggling with OCD, anxiety and his

sensory stuff again as well as socially. We were told by his therapist (who we

take him to privately) to have him reevaluated for AS. She sensed that many of

his issues were actually symptoms of something bigger - AS. We did and he got

the diagnosis of AS. Interestingly, he scored exactly the same on the GADS at 6

years old as he did at 3 years. I feel so angry that we missed out on getting

him the proper help instead we bounced around to various agencies when they said

they could no longer help him when he didn't fit into a cookie cutter diagnosis

of one of the above.

That said, we are now again approaching the school district about getting some

help for for 2nd grade in September now that we have a formal AS

diagnosis. We are asking for some OT for him. He will continue to see his

therapist privately to work on some of his OCD symptoms and his anxiety. Is

there any other services that would be beneficial for a child with AS that the

school could help us out with? I was trying to get the counselor to work with

him with social skills this year, but without an IEP, they didn't follow through

with him. Again, frustrating!!

Also, understands that he is " different " than other kids in his class and

it contributes to his lack of self esteem and periods of depression. How does

one go about explaining AS to their child?

Lastly, is there any books that you would recommend reading for my husband and I

as well as for our son?

Thanks in advance for any info you can share!!

~Jenn Lindsey

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