Newly Diagnosed

[Guest guest]

Hey everyone! My son who is 6.5 is newly diagnosed. I ALWAYS knew that something

was " off " . My son had a pretty severe head injury at 6weeks old, so most doctors

were looking for the connection there. I have spent the last three years

bringing him to doctors and psychologist. Some told me it was my parenting

skills, that I was spoiling him and letting him walk all over me. One doctor

even recommended that I read a book on how to train a dog! (I never went

back!!!) After all the years of getting no where I felt crazy some days. Like I

had been imagining it.

A few doctors considered Autism, but never Asperger's until this past fall. His

new therapist was the one that suspected it and as soon as she told me more

about it all started to click for me. I spent the following month having him

tested and He was diagnosed with being on the spectrum, ADHD, anxiety, ODD and

fine motor delays. FINALLY I wasn't crazy! LOL! He makes me crazy some days, but

I can now see him in a new light, and it's not a bad one.

I spent the day yesterday looking for a support group and reading the post that

y'all have posted. It has been so comforting to see that the problems my son

(and our family) are going through is normal for a child on the spectrum.

We have stuggled with bed time for a few years and have tried a ton of things

with no luck...until this summer. My two boys used to share a room and I

realized that my young son was just too much stimulation for AS child. I move

him into his own room, just his bed and teddies. When he wants to play he can

play in his brothers room which we still consider both their rooms. He listens

to a CD that I found on Amazon called Indigo Dreams (for ages 4-9). They offer

other cd's for older kids also. It's a meditation/hypnotic CD. It helps decrease

stress and anxiety, and increase self-esteem and self-awareness. It had worked

wonders since the first day we tried it. He now goes to bed at 8-8:30 instead of

10-midnight and mostly no more tantrums! His teacher noticed that he was much

happier at school.

I'm still working hard to get the school situation under control. He hates

school so that makes everything worse! He is mostly good Like other post I've

read, at home is whole different story. It's truly like when I pick him up he

can finally " breathe " . He no longer feels the extreme pressure to " maintain

control " at all seconds of the day. Luckily his teacher rarely sees his bad side

and since she doesn't see his bad side I'm having a hard time getting any help

or cooperation from her. She " doesn't see " what I see. This is his second year

in a (public) regular ed kindergarten class. He needs occupational therapy,

which I'd like him to get at school, but that's like pulling teeth. I'm scared

of his future in a regular ed class with out any modifications. The motor

skills, combined with ADHD and sensory issues on top of Asperger's just

terrifies me for next year. I'm going to continue to stay on top of his teacher

until I get him all the help he deserves. I've had moments when I've thought

about homeschooling, but that seems even more overwhelming for now. I'll never

rule it out...

I just feel so overwhelmed some days. I'm glad that I found this support group

and I hope to get some good advice, info, and just have a place to vent and be

an ear for others who need to vent after a bad day!