DS is having problems

[momto2monkey]

Just to give everyone a brief background on my DS. When he was small he didn't speak and we took him to his Dr he was showing some signs of Autism . Dr said he was fine and dismissed us so i tried to tell myself the Dr said hes fine and we went about our way. He finally started to talk around 4 -4.5 and it was very unclear. We did some ST and it began to help. DS turned 5 on Aug. 27 with school cut off on Sept 1 i didn't figure he was ready so i kept him home. He started K this year 2010-11 school year as a 6 year old and has struggled all school year. I finally have brought it to the teachers attention and she said yes i have noticed these issues as well just kept hoping he would get it. So we have a meeting set up with the school to have him tested. In the meantime i took him to our new Dr and took a list of examples that he does, a letter from his teacher and some samples of school work. He sat and talked with him and immediately said this is not ADD or ADHD. He said he is pretty sure it is Aspergers. Until we get all the testing done we won't know for sure but the more i read about it the more i feel like i have a window to my son. My only hold back is there is nothing he is really excelling at. Most kids i read or know that have Aspergers seem to thrive in one area or are completely obsessed with one thing. He just seems to wonder. As much as i hate it his one obsession that he has is the TV he gets lost in it. Sorry that i have lost myself to rambling i feel so lost since Thursday after leaving the Dr office. I guess my biggest thing is can anyone recommend any advice to me along the way or books i should read. Things to watch out for and not!

Thanks so much in advance :)

[Emmeline II]

Your ds has a significant language delay which is not indicative of Asperger's (unless there is a separate cause for the language delay, like chronic fluid in the ears that interfered with hearing). I wouldn't dismiss the possibility of ADD yet, particularly if ADD/Inattentive was not considered; there could be more than one applicable diagnosis.

I would recommended getting on the wait list for a developmental pediatrician (you could try asking to be called if there is a cancellation), and consider going to a psychologist/psychiatrist that is experienced in diagnosing ADD/Autism. I'd take a copy of the school testing results to anyone else you see.

http://www.newideas.net/add_types.htm

[Linda on the move]

I'm so sorry that you and your little guy are going through this.

DXing children is complex. It sounds like you are on the path to an evaluation. In the mean time, one of my favorite books is:

Quirky Kids by Klass.

It is about a whole range of dx's (including asperger's and PPD-NOS etc). It talks about the similarities and differences between the dx's, the kind of specialist and evaluations kids can see/have, the types of treatments and therapies available. It talks about the kind of issues that can arise at different stages of development. This book has a warm, friendly tone that feels to me like getting a hug from a friend who has BTDT and lived to tell the tale. Really wonderful book.

If you little guy has sensory issues, The Out of Sync Child is like the bible on sensory issues.

My biggest piece of advice is to enjoy your son. Just watch him, hug him, play with him. This is a difficult process, and it can take a long time to get answers. And sometimes the answers just lead to more questions. Sometimes I feel like being the parent of a SN child is a quest to make peace with the not knowing. I think that every moment that we can feel totally connected to our child and enjoy who they are is moment toward our own inner peace. Whatever he enjoys, enjoy it with him or enjoy watching him.  (While getting the evals and talking to the experts)

Peace.

[momto2monkey]

so  after re reading my first post i realized there was a lot of detail that i left out on DS. Like sleeping habits, food issues, Letter recognition, and social issues. I got so focused on one and then felt that i was rambling and ended my post. We went back to our ped. today for further talking and after two hours of being there and getting a refferel he was ready to say we are looking at mild autism. He said he was not going to label his chart that yet but has sent us on to our developmental ped for all the blood work and actual dx.

Now that it isn't just this is a possiblity this is what is i am even more numb. But i know i have to push and go at this full force to make sure that he gets the best possible chance at a "Normal" life.

Thanks everyone for the advice I am a new lost mom in this world of Autism.