5 yr old daughter just found out possibly AS

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

My 5yr old daughter possibly has AS, very high functioning. We just found out it

was a possibility last wk and went to a neuro yesterday. In a few weeks we'll

get neuro's opinion after she reviews lots of reports I brought and a video tape

of a playdate. However, the doc said it was likely AS.

My daughter is a total sweethart, a very charming little girl. She has an

incredible imagination and talks nonstop about imaginary things, Dora,

Princesses, etc.. She almost never holds an on going conversation about real

life, school/activities. When I say nonstop, I mean from the minute she wakes up

in the am she is talking to herself in her room, when she's eating she is

talking, until the minute she falls asleep at night.

From what I've read so far about AS she has some of the attributes, school is

concerned about her socially (which is what lead to this concern), eye contact

very poor with others, bouncingtype walk, her intonation doesn't vary much, she

has sensory issues, sensory seeking.

Sometimes I feel like this isn't really a huge deal b/c she is so sweet and kind

and very HF. But this unusual behavior of hers isn't that odd for her age right

now. I'm terrified that she'll get made fun of at school. When I really feel

very depressed about this is when I wonder what she'll be like in 2,5,10 yrs

from now, when this rambling one sided talking isn't cute anymore. Will she

always do this? Will she ever be able to have close relationship with her little

sister (3yrs), with me and her dad? It makes me so sad to think about it. None

of my friends who I talk to understand, they try to say the right things. But

telling me, " it'll be fine " isn't helpful.

I know no one can tell what the future holds, but if anyone has been through

this and has an older child can you tell me how it's been for you?

thanks so much.

Regina

[Guest guest]

Regina, hi! I have been there. My son is 12 now, but we knew since he was 5.

He didn't actually get a dx until age 9, though. There have been many times

I've been so sad about it. And, I know the worry about them being made fun of.

A mother cannot help but worry about that.

My best advice?

1) Love her! Love her like she's your precious, perfect, little girl.

2) Know that she is the same child the day she is diagnosed as she was the day

before that.

3) Read - There is a great book about Girls and Asperger's. I think I have it

in my room (where I am not right now), so I'll try to note the title and get

back to you. Feel free to email me off list for the title.

My son is also very high functioning. There are times when we say, " Are we

absolutely sure he has AS? He seems so " normal. " Then there are times when we

KNOW this is AS and it is so frustrating, and even heartbreaking. More often

than not, though, we've learned to enjoy just who he is. It's tricky trying to

sort out what part of what he does is because of the AS or because of who is he

is (his personality). But, in the end, we don't sort it out. We just enjoy him

for who he is. Just as of late, he wore all the hats he could find in his room

(all at once) and said, " I'm a man of many hats! " It was just so " him. " And,

at the same time, it was so " Aspie. "

Blessings.

Leah

>

> Hi everyone,

> My 5yr old daughter possibly has AS, very high functioning. We just found out

it was a possibility last wk and went to a neuro yesterday. In a few weeks

we'll get neuro's opinion after she reviews lots of reports I brought and a

video tape of a playdate. However, the doc said it was likely AS.

>

> My daughter is a total sweethart, a very charming little girl. She has an

incredible imagination and talks nonstop about imaginary things, Dora,

Princesses, etc.. She almost never holds an on going conversation about real

life, school/activities. When I say nonstop, I mean from the minute she wakes up

in the am she is talking to herself in her room, when she's eating she is

talking, until the minute she falls asleep at night.

>

> From what I've read so far about AS she has some of the attributes, school is

concerned about her socially (which is what lead to this concern), eye contact

very poor with others, bouncingtype walk, her intonation doesn't vary much, she

has sensory issues, sensory seeking.

>

> Sometimes I feel like this isn't really a huge deal b/c she is so sweet and

kind and very HF. But this unusual behavior of hers isn't that odd for her age

right now. I'm terrified that she'll get made fun of at school. When I really

feel very depressed about this is when I wonder what she'll be like in 2,5,10

yrs from now, when this rambling one sided talking isn't cute anymore. Will she

always do this? Will she ever be able to have close relationship with her little

sister (3yrs), with me and her dad? It makes me so sad to think about it. None

of my friends who I talk to understand, they try to say the right things. But

telling me, " it'll be fine " isn't helpful.

>

> I know no one can tell what the future holds, but if anyone has been through

this and has an older child can you tell me how it's been for you?

>

> thanks so much.

> Regina

>