My son is a New Aspie

Ilene - posted on 04/11/2012

Honestly, looking at the diagnosis criteria, my son is Asperger's. He fits all the qualifications. He does have friends but very few. Talking with his regular psychologist tomorrow about it.

Family - posted on 04/07/2012

Hello. I'm Lynne. My middle child (will be 14 in May) has very recently been confirmed via testing that he has Aspergers. It has taken us 18 months this go around to get to a diagnosis. We have been seeking help on again and off again for years. He has been epileptic (absence seizures) since he was 4 which has muddied the waters as we've never been sure what might be an off shoot of the Epilepsy or a side effect of his seizure medication. Last year he was weaned off his epilepsy meds as the seizures have been controlled and it became more apparent that there was something else at play. I’m not convinced that Aspergers answers all of the questions; I believe that we might also be looking at ODD.

It is not easy to navigate the world of neurological and psychological medicine. It is a domain where there are so many different players: neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, special educators, teachers, therapists, the list is endless. We live in Quebec where a lot of health care is covered by the government but waiting lists are long and access to services is not always clear cut. There are so many books out there and web sites, many are good but just as many aren’t. I have been reading a lot and I try to take what bits and pieces I can from the different sources. The more I understand how his brain works the better I am at dealing with the various difficulties we face. It is hard, we often back slide and forget that what Pat needs from us is different than what the other two need.

We are not facing the bullying problem and Patrick does have friends. The biggest problem that we face is his inflexibility and his weak Theory of Mind. So far the meltdowns and rage attacks are limited to home. However school and homework are his biggest stressors. I’m also lucky that the school has been quick to offer support to him even though Pat is not ready to accept it. I’m learning that I cannot solve everything at once. I would suggest breaking it down to manageable pieces. I would start by getting his depression treated. All schools have an anti- bullying policy, try approaching the school about that problem without underlining how your child is different. Remember to keep your head up, you are your child’s advocate and you are right to insist that they make the school a safe place for all students, including your child.

Sharon - posted on 04/06/2012

I took my son to a Pediatric Psychiatrist for formal testing. He also sees a child psychologist for therapy for his OCD and Anxiety. The school wants to conduct their own testing to determine if he needs an IEP at school. This has taken 6 months to get approved. Meanwhile, school is almost out. I would go out and pursue testing with a professional.

Ilene - posted on 04/06/2012

I'm new here too. My son's school says he is aspergers. His pediatrician says if he can talk to you he isn't (which he can talk and carry on a conversation just fine, but chooses not to have many close friendships). He is hyper, overreactive to things when he doesn't understand or is unhappy about something) has sensory issues. His pediatrician doesn't think he is autistic. The school thinks otherwise. I'm not sure what to think anymore. He is very ADHD. I wish I knew how to help.