16 year old (not) ADD (not) depression (maybe) Asperger's?

March 28, 2010

Hi, I just discovered this group in trying to figure out what is happening with

my son. I'd appreciate any and all suggestions.

He is 16 and not easily categorized. Roughly once each year since middle school

he just " shuts down " academically and stops submitting homework, paying

attention, etc. He can't explain this, other than " just lacking energy. "

Even in his best times, he is disorganized and totally unaware of practical

details (where the post office is, how old his parents are, how to take notes.)

On the good side, he is very smart, extremely creative, a talented writer.

This year is the worst ever. For a few months now, it's like he's in a fog. A

personal coach friend of mine who met him said, " He literally has no conception

of past, present and future, and how the three are connected. " He says he wants

to go to a great college and study TV production, but has no interest in

studying for SATs or improving his grades. He says he will do whatever it takes,

but has zero passion or follow-through.

His recent meltdown coincided with a psychiatrist prescribing Vyvanse for him,

in the belief he might have ADD (an assessment was borderline.) He reported

felling better than ever in his life (clearer, able to focus on one thing at a

time, and less anxious), but everything fell apart academically.

He is always tired and eager to sleep, although at night he has trouble settling

down and will stay up to midnight or 1 am.

Three years ago, a comprehensive assessment said he had depression/anxiety and

should be medicated, but when we took him to the psychiatrist the evaluator

recommended, he disagreed. He said my son was probably anxious because of the

disparity in his abilities (superb working memory, strong intelligence, but very

bad executive functions and visual processing.)

He lies to psychiatrists/psychologists, or just clams up. He is terrified of

having something actual be wrong with him, and now says he's just " distracted

and lazy, " but I know he really doesn't believe this.

We started investigating Asperger's because some of the things I've been

describing seem right on the border. He WON'T ever go ask a teacher for help, is

horrible communicating about school, and will sit there for hours wordless when

you try to help him with school or other issues.

Any ideas? I'd be grateful.

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