Guest guest Posted June 22, 2010 Report Share Posted June 22, 2010 Hello, I am new to this board. I am going through the process of having my 10 year old tested for Asperger's/HFA. I have had him evaluated several times in the past due to being a late talker and having a few very mild issues on the spectrum but the physicians did not agree. His speech therapist, however, thinks that he may be mild Aspergers. He definitely has some traits (strong math and science and poor social skills, lack of friends, talks too loud sometimes, relates better to younger children and adults, social anxiety). The docs feel he definitely has ADHD but doesn't need medication. He is a bright child. He gets teased at school for being different (misses social cues, socially awkward at times but not always) although the kids know he is very smart. He is in a regular classroom and only received speech therapy as a support (working on social pragmatics) but they are saying he tested out and no longer qualifies but with a diagnosis of autism, they could offer him more. He comes off as aloof and mostly interested in reading about science and physics. He is the top math student in his class for 2 years in a row at a distinguished school. Advanced test scores. He plays well with 2 neighborhood kids but at school he is in a shell. His dad does not want him tested and stigmatized. He is going to the 5th grade this year but I am starting to worry about middle school and him getting teased, bullied and being misunderstood in general as he tries to navigate the world. Is the stigma of a diagnosis hurtful in any way? Does the diagnosis help the child get better resources? Are teachers more understanding? What about other children? Thank you for any feedback. DJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2010 Report Share Posted June 22, 2010 Unfortunately regardless me a diagnosis or not he will get bullied. I understand your husbands concern, however he he needs the extra help, it will only hurt him in the long run not to be diagnosed. Also the other kids do not need to know his diagnosis, from the sound of it he will remain in mainstream class with some assistance, and since he has already been getting the help, it won't seem any different. I guess there is a downside to both situations but you have to to what's best for him. Good luck! Dawn J <dawnms@...> wrote: >Hello, > >I am new to this board. I am going through the process of having my 10 year old tested for Asperger's/HFA. I have had him evaluated several times in the past due to being a late talker and having a few very mild issues on the spectrum but the physicians did not agree. His speech therapist, however, thinks that he may be mild Aspergers. He definitely has some traits (strong math and science and poor social skills, lack of friends, talks too loud sometimes, relates better to younger children and adults, social anxiety). The docs feel he definitely has ADHD but doesn't need medication. He is a bright child. He gets teased at school for being different (misses social cues, socially awkward at times but not always) although the kids know he is very smart. He is in a regular classroom and only received speech therapy as a support (working on social pragmatics) but they are saying he tested out and no longer qualifies but with a diagnosis of autism, they could offer him more. He comes off as aloof and mostly interested in reading about science and physics. He is the top math student in his class for 2 years in a row at a distinguished school. Advanced test scores. He plays well with 2 neighborhood kids but at school he is in a shell. > >His dad does not want him tested and stigmatized. He is going to the 5th grade this year but I am starting to worry about middle school and him getting teased, bullied and being misunderstood in general as he tries to navigate the world. > >Is the stigma of a diagnosis hurtful in any way? Does the diagnosis help the child get better resources? Are teachers more understanding? What about other children? > >Thank you for any feedback. > >DJ > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 that is exactly how I feel, Dawn. To me a "label" is answers, and a source of help and information. My DD will still be herself, a label won't change her one bit. We will just know how to help her (we are in the middle of the eval process). From: julie1013@...Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:39:44 -0400Subject: Re: ( ) Getting a Diagnosis I find it interesting when people are afraid of “putting labels” on others. Very often, these same people talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. When there’s a label, everything starts to make more sense and then you know how to help the person from there. On 6/22/10 10:48 AM, "Dawn J" <dawnmssbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote: Hello, I am new to this board. I am going through the process of having my 10 year old tested for Asperger's/HFA. I have had him evaluated several times in the past due to being a late talker and having a few very mild issues on the spectrum but the physicians did not agree. His speech therapist, however, thinks that he may be mild Aspergers. He definitely has some traits (strong math and science and poor social skills, lack of friends, talks too loud sometimes, relates better to younger children and adults, social anxiety). The docs feel he definitely has ADHD but doesn't need medication. He is a bright child. He gets teased at school for being different (misses social cues, socially awkward at times but not always) although the kids know he is very smart. He is in a regular classroom and only received speech therapy as a support (working on social pragmatics) but they are saying he tested out and no longer qualifies but with a diagnosis of autism, they could offer him more. He comes off as aloof and mostly interested in reading about science and physics. He is the top math student in his class for 2 years in a row at a distinguished school. Advanced test scores. He plays well with 2 neighborhood kids but at school he is in a shell. His dad does not want him tested and stigmatized. He is going to the 5th grade this year but I am starting to worry about middle school and him getting teased, bullied and being misunderstood in general as he tries to navigate the world. Is the stigma of a diagnosis hurtful in any way? Does the diagnosis help the child get better resources? Are teachers more understanding? What about other children? Thank you for any feedback. DJ Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. See how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2010 Report Share Posted June 23, 2010 I have found that getting a label for my son is helping others be more understanding and supportive and is opening the appropriate doors on how to meet his needs. When he grows up, disclosure is up to him Miranda > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hello, > > > > I am new to this board. I am going through the process of having my 10 year old tested for Asperger's/HFA. I have had him evaluated several times in the past due to being a late talker and having a few very mild issues on the spectrum but the physicians did not agree. His speech therapist, however, thinks that he may be mild Aspergers. He definitely has some traits (strong math and science and poor social skills, lack of friends, talks too loud sometimes, relates better to younger children and adults, social anxiety). The docs feel he definitely has ADHD but doesn't need medication. He is a bright child. He gets teased at school for being different (misses social cues, socially awkward at times but not always) although the kids know he is very smart. He is in a regular classroom and only received speech therapy as a support (working on social pragmatics) but they are saying he tested out and no longer qualifies but with a diagnosis of autism, they could offer him more. He comes off as aloof and mostly interested in reading about science and physics. He is the top math student in his class for 2 years in a row at a distinguished school. Advanced test scores. He plays well with 2 neighborhood kids but at school he is in a shell. > > > > His dad does not want him tested and stigmatized. He is going to the 5th grade this year but I am starting to worry about middle school and him getting teased, bullied and being misunderstood in general as he tries to navigate the world. > > > > Is the stigma of a diagnosis hurtful in any way? Does the diagnosis help the child get better resources? Are teachers more understanding? What about other children? > > > > Thank you for any feedback. > > > > DJ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. > http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en\ -US:WM_HMP:042010_2 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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