testing son with ADD for Asperger's???

My son was diagnoses with ADD primarily inattentive about 2 years ago. This is after many years of testing prior to rule out other medical problems. Since I have ADHD I knew the chances of it was highly likely. He is a very well behaved and quiet child so he lacks the “hyperactive” part of it. We tried many medications and though they helped a little he always has struggled in the classroom. We now have him on Strattera 25 mg since the other meds made him depressed.

We just bought a new house and transferred him to a new school district (his last one was a joke, at one point a teacher said his problem was the fact that I worked and he was in daycare 1 hour a day after school). At the new school the teacher noticed within days that he was struggling. It is getting worse and worse so she asked the school psychologist to come in and observe him. His writing skills now look that of a 4 year old and he is 9 and in 3rd grade. He words are all mirrored as well as he is very uncoordinated. He can give you a verbal answer but can’t write it down. Plus other problems. Which by the way the “ruled out dyslexia” 2 years ago and said his motor skills will catch up in a few years. Never did.

Well, now they are testing him for Asperger’s and a few learning disabilities. They said he is showing tell tail signs of high functioning autism not only by his ld but also by his behavior outside of the classroom. He is very “eccentric”. They aren’t saying that is what it is, just that it is one thing they are checking for. After the testing is done they may refer me to a neurologist and private psychologist for follow up. The schools dr was saying that a lot of children are misdiagnosed with ADD or ADHD when it is high functioning autism and sometimes they can have both along with learning disabilities. It doesn’t mean he wont survive in a normal world but his way of learning will be different and he’ll need help to learn in his own way. She said most people with it have normal to very high iq’s and tend to have careers that are more technical like engineers and such.

My family doctor thinks its all hocus pocus and doesn’t agree. He’ll give me a referral to a neurologist if needed but he doesn’t agree with the Asperger's but is very familiar with ADD since his own daughter has dealt with it and is now in school to be a doctor herself so I love him and really trust his opinions.

I’m am so torn on this. Has any one else dealt with it or know anything about it? Is it possible for a seemingly normal child with some social problems (extremely shy) who collects weird things and keeps to himself even when friends want to play to be autistic?

Sorry this is so long it’s just been so hard the past few years and now they are changing things on me and I don’t know my head from my but.

Sony

Sony

>Not sure a neurologist is the correct person to dx Asperger's (which may or may not be HFA by the by). Typically it is a developmental psychologist who would make the Aspie/autie call. There will be a competant professional on staff at all Children's Hospitals to dx autism/Asperger's, suggest you ask for that referal instead of a neurologist.

I agree on this. Not sure that there ALWAYS is someone competent to dx it at a Children's hospital though. But a developmental psyche or neuropsyche is your better choice here.

>What is it that makes the school think it is Asperger's? It is true that Aspies are often mistaken for ADD, and they typically do not have hyperactivity as such.

There is some overlap of characteristics. For example, hyperfocus is typical of both. However, Aspies generally have a topic (or more) which they "specialize" in and want to talk about all time. They can definitely be hyperactive. They might go from one thing to another like ADD kids, but not when they are on their subject. If your kid does not have a subject or two that he specializes in, knows everything about, etc. and he is about
10 or so then I don't think he is Aspergers. Another characteristic in common is social problems. Aspie kids are a bit more self-reliant as to not needing other kids though (often changes in adolescence) but ADD kids are more clumsy in social situations.

> One thing that is common with Aspies is hyperlexia, and it is primarily in verbal communication that they have trouble.

Not true! Aspies are not necessarily hyperlexic. Some are in fact dyslexic (not real many but it is not unheard of). They usually do NOT have trouble with verbal communication at least superficially. They often are quite verbal, the trouble is that they aren't reciprically verbal. Meaning that they will talk but not necessarily really listen to what anyone else says.

>Sounds like your boy is just the opposite. Quirky eccentricities is also common, but then again there are many conditions that have quirks, and not all are troublesome to the point of needing attention.

This is true. Just depends what the eccentricity is.

>Have you been to an audiologist to rule out CAPD?

It's a possibility. Not sure if it rules out Aspergers.

>A very good site to learn about autism is www.danasview.net

>A very good site to learn about Asperger's is www.udel.edu/bkirby/
asperger/

I don't know the first site but the second has been around for years and is excellent. Also has a list/links for similarish disabilities like NLD, etc etc.

BTW, you can ask me anything as I am a grownup (some might say) person with AS.
--des