What do you use to help your Aspergers child?

[despratemommy]

My son is 9 and was just diagnosed with Aspergers. We knew he has had issues for years but never got a diagnosis as we are not using psychological medications.

Last year I had him tested for food allergies and he was positive on many.

Currently he is wheat, soy, peanut and almond free due to allergies and we have removed artificial flavors and colors as well. He takes Carlsons fish oil (1tsp), 2 attentive child, 2 B-12 and a GNC multi-vitamin each day and a melatonin to sleep at night.

He is still having some issues with concentration and using his words to describe his feelings. I am wanting to try some other things with him but I am not sure what is best. I am leaning towards Bright Spark but wanted opinions.

He does not eat fruits or veggies so the multi-vitamin is very important and the GNC brand is the only one I have found that is affordable and safe and that he likes but other than that I am willing to change everything else up.

He has a referal in for a neurologist and he is seeing an LCWS for counseling so we are hoping things continue to improve.

Thanks

[Linda on the move]

Have you guys done anything about his sensory diet? This is a big piece of the puzzle for my DD. Making sure that she gets the right kind of sensory input every day while trying to minimize her exposure to the wrong kinds of sensory input has a massive impact on her ability to think clearly and function, and be happy. The Out of Sync Child is the best book for getting started with this.

A social skills class was one of the best things we ever did for her.

Encouraging her special interest and helping keep life FUN for her.  Helping her find things she can be successful with. 

[FarmerBeth]

Big thumbs up to the above post.  The big picture matters so much, not just the stuff that is easy to medically pin down, like diet.

Wanted to add: Physical activity is great for everyone and very helpful for attention and any anxiety.  It is literally ordered as part of DS's (age 11) treatment plan.

About the talking about feelings: I find modelling has helped a lot (we still have a long way to go).  When we're together and I feel a certain way, I talk about it out loud.  Ex: "I'm pretty frustrated when your little brother's teacher doesn't answer the note I left in the communication book.  We're both supposed to read it every day.  When she signs it but doesn't answer, I can't tell what's going on.  I guess I need to make an appointment so that we can clear things up.  Then I won't be so worried about your brother.  Maybe she didn't realize I was so concerned, or she didn't know I expected an answer".  There's lots of examples.  I just use lots of daily possibilities to verbalize thoughts about feelings and dealing with people. We also discuss characters' feelings when we read or watch a show together.  Also, keep in mind that many 9 yo boys, even not on the spectrum, aren't that great about expressing feelings with words.  It takes a lot of work for an NT child, and a child on the spectrum can be expected to take a lot longer.

We had an awesome neuropediatrician this summer who broke things down in the nicest, simplest way.  He said the two most important things we could do as parents for our son was to show him we believed in him and help him feel joy.  I remind myself of this when I get caught up worrying about particulars.  I try to support him at the things he does well and loves.  I ask if a decision applies to who he wants to be.  It helps make things clear.

[LeifnMe]

DS is 6. We got a dx of PDD-NOS in Aug this year but have been working on things for past year or so. The thing that has helped us most is the GFCF diet (when followed strictly).  My son has been tested for allergies and celiac several times (the first time being when he was only 8mos old.) which have always come back negative. The only thing he has ever tested as sensitive to is egg whites.  I will tell you though for him GFCF is amazing.  He is bright and engaged and happy.  I know when he has been glutened by his behavior.  He almost immediately (10 mins to an hour later) will get really fussy and floppy.  He is suddenly easily overwhelmed again, he is super spacey and unable to follow more than one direction at a time and needs many prompts.  Basically he falls apart.  So for us following the diet is super important to his ability to function.  It took us a while to really see the connection between the diet and his improved behavior. It wasn't until we had been on the diet for over 4 months and his behavior was a total rollercoaster of good stretches and really rough raging stretches.  We figured out that DS was so sensitive to Gluten that the play dough they used at school and a few other environmental factors of cross-contamination were affecting him. As soon as we cut that out his behavior has leveled out and his cognitive skills have improved.  It has really been an amazing process. :)  That said I know that the diet doesn't work for everyone. 

We also have OT twice a week and do a sensory diet at home. As well as speech once a week. Also we have found that NO tv at all has help a lot too.  We were limiting screen time to 30mins a day and then twice a week for 30mins...in the end no screen is best.  So far we are med free and hoping to stay that way if we can manage the anxiety and behaviors on our own. 

Good luck.  It was good to read your post it reminds me that I have been intending to try supplements next when things settled down.  I guess it's time for that. :) 

[Krystal323]

Lurking.  My 12yo doesn't have a dX, but he's got the Asperger's "profile", if that makes sense?  He's unschooled, not in therapy or anything, but as he gets older I wonder if we're doing enough/doing the right things.  Going to track down The Out of Sync Child--thanks ;)

[Qestia]

Just also seconding the social skills class... My DS doesn't have any diagnosis and I'm not seeking one, but he gets OT and speech therapy through the public schools, and his OT recommended doing a social skills group over the summer. It's a group of three kids with similar challenges, meeting once a week with and OT and SLP. We liked it so much we're continuing it, it's expensive and a long drive but is really helping with his pragmatic speech ("using his words") and the place we found works in a sensory integration component as well. Sounds like your son could benefit from something similar.

[Rik-E]

Occupational therapy has helped my aspie a lot. He also has sensory issues which is why he got into OT before we got a DX for aspergers. BUt the aspect of having to work & communicate with his therapists, as well as other kids at the office, have been really helpful too.