Guest guest Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Hello....Since you mentioned Aspergers, I wanted to ask a question...is it possible to have a " mild " case of Aspergers? My son has a lot of socialization issues according to the experts, and he gets so hurt (feelings) all the time. Part of the problem I am told, is he is exceptionally bright, so he is very aware he is different from other kids, and detects changes in attitudes easily. (He has a high average IQ, and his speech and vocabulary are at an 8 year old level, although he has just turned 5. I'm sure part of that is his older brother (10) talking all the time, and the fact I've never talked baby talk to either of them). He suffers from a low self esteem as well, which makes things more difficult. As far as the Asperger's, the neuro seems to think he has signs, but isn't sure. He doesn't look at people, seems very detached, and when he's done something bad, doesn't have any remorse. His feelings are hurt when I'm angry or upset with him though, and eventually, when he is comfortable with others, he will show eye contact and connect. I am just so confused! Antoniette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Hi Antoniette, Only have a moment now (at work) but will respond more fully later (if my computer at home will accommodate me! still freezing up a lot). But, yes, you can have a " mild " case. And with Aspergers or High- Functioning Autism a person can be very gifted or at the other end (gifted, above average, average, below). I included the HFA since, depending on who is doing the evaluating, some professionals see it as the same, others see it as separate....controversy there at times. Kids can even make such progress that they can outgrow the diagnosis also, it will no longer " fit. " PDD, NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified) is a common diagnosis when a child doesn't seem to quite fit on an exact spot of the autism spectrum but shows traits. Hope something above made sense (and is mostly correct!) as I've got to finish up here at work and go home to second shift. I hope I can respond better later tonight/tomorrow! > Hello....Since you mentioned Aspergers, I wanted to ask a > question...is it possible to have a " mild " case of Aspergers? My > son has a lot of socialization issues according to the experts, and > he gets so hurt (feelings) all the time. Part of the problem I am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 I hope this doesn't just add to the confusion, but there's a disability called nonverbal learning disorder in which kids have much higher verbal skills than performance skills. My ds sort of fits the profile but doesn't have the diagnosis. It has features similar to Aspergers. There's a book I found just generally excellent about raising kids with differences which is supposed to be to specifically address NVLD called _Bridging the Gap_ by Rondalyn Varney Whitney which is such a great book. (dare I post a really long link? If you spell her name correctly you can find her at Amazon.com, but remember no " h " in Rondalyn.) > (He has a high average IQ, and his speech and vocabulary are at an 8 > year old level, although he has just turned 5. I'm sure part of that > is his older brother (10) talking all the time, and the fact I've > never talked baby talk to either of them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Hi, Yeah, Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD or NVLD, I've seen both), was something I looked at for also since it is similar to Aspergers. I need to go back and read about it again. When trying to find out what diagnosis fits your child, it would be so nice if all professional were knowledgeable about all things! I took to a center that specializes in autism. I asked about NLD while I was there and they said that if it were NLD then they couldn't diagnose it (meaning I guess that they weren't familiar enough with it?) and I'd have to take him somewhere else for an NLD eval. But he fit the criteria and they diagnosed as HFA/Aspergers. In another yahoo group I'm in for HFA/Aspergers, some of the kids are diagnosed with both - AS and NLD. Confusing to me! Plus in yet another group I belong to in which there are a lot of parents of AS kids, the OCD subject came up - OCD as opposed to the same type behaviors in AS/autistic kids since they display obsessive type behaviors, etc. It's been an " interesting " discussion so far! Christie, do you know what might distinguish AS vs NLD - is it the verbal vs performance? > I hope this doesn't just add to the confusion, but there's a disability > called nonverbal learning disorder in which kids have much higher verbal > skills than performance skills. My ds sort of fits the profile but doesn't > have the diagnosis. It has features similar to Aspergers. There's a book I > found just generally excellent about raising kids with differences which is > supposed to be to specifically address NVLD called _Bridging the Gap_ by > Rondalyn Varney Whitney which is such a great book. (dare I post a really > long link? If you spell her name correctly you can find her at Amazon.com, > but remember no " h " in Rondalyn.) > > > (He has a high average IQ, and his speech and vocabulary are at an 8 > > year old level, although he has just turned 5. I'm sure part of that > > is his older brother (10) talking all the time, and the fact I've > > never talked baby talk to either of them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 A few weeks ago I snagged a copy of the DSM-IV on ebay for a great price. You could try the same or use the library for a copy and look up the various diagnosis you can think of and see if your child fits the criteria. Then also make copies of these so you can re check in six months or so. I know there are websites of organizations that post the actual criteria on their websites, so maybe a google search would work for finding them. I did that last year when I thought my son had Tourettes. I had no idea that PICA is listed there as well, so I brought it with me to court when I was fighting the ex over visitation with kids. Bonnie ============= wrote: Hi, Yeah, Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD or NVLD, I've seen both), was something I looked at for also since it is similar to Aspergers. I need to go back and read about it again. When trying to find out what diagnosis fits your child, it would be so nice if all professional were knowledgeable about all things! I took to a center that specializes in autism. I asked about NLD while I was there and they said that if it were NLD then they couldn't diagnose it (meaning I guess that they weren't familiar enough with it?) and I'd have to take him somewhere else for an NLD eval. But he fit the criteria and they diagnosed as HFA/Aspergers. In another yahoo group I'm in for HFA/Aspergers, some of the kids are diagnosed with both - AS and NLD. Confusing to me! Plus in yet another group I belong to in which there are a lot of parents of AS kids, the OCD subject came up - OCD as opposed to the same type behaviors in AS/autistic kids since they display obsessive type behaviors, etc. It's been an " interesting " discussion so far! Christie, do you know what might distinguish AS vs NLD - is it the verbal vs performance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 I forgot I had a window open at some new site I found and turns out they have the criteria for several disorders on their site! http://www.firstsigns.org/pages/physician_resources/tools_criteria_asperger.html http://www.firstsigns.org/pages/physician_resources/tools_dsmIV.html#autism http://www.firstsigns.org/pages/physician_resources/tools_dsmIV.html Bonnie ================== wrote: Hi, Yeah, Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD or NVLD, I've seen both), was something I looked at for also since it is similar to Aspergers. I need to go back and read about it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Hi again, Antoniette! Where you wrote: He doesn't look at people, seems very detached, and when he's done something bad, doesn't have any remorse. His feelings are hurt when I'm angry or upset with him though, and eventually, when he is comfortable with others, he will show eye contact and connect. That certainly does seem to be some Aspergers traits. Socialization is a problem with . The pragmatic give-and-take of conversation. He's fine (well almost) with family but awkward socially. And it's not just not knowing what to say, it's what is actually " said. " Just doesn't fit. also is bad about eye contact but there are AS kids who aren't. I have worked with some on looking " at " a person or at least towards their face. is a remorseful type (so doesn't fit there!) but, yes, not showing remorse has been written as a trait. However, your son does detect the changes in attitudes so that is a plus! So it does get confusing - fits here, doesn't fit there.... But as one parent wrote me and I repeat it now: when you've met one person with AS, you've met ONE person with AS. They're not all the same. I feel like saying that about OCD at times since has had a lot of very weird compulsions with OCD that certainly weren't in any book I could find or heard of here! Not on the typical list. A diagnosis is usually needed to get the proper interventions, therapy, etc. But so long as you know/learn what will work best for him (as in if he needs a routine, needs to be warned in advance about schedule changes or time to leave for example) then you can go ahead and implement them at home, see what you can do about the school/classroom (advise the teacher what works best and hopefully have a helpful teacher), then you'll see improvement. I know of a child who did great at school (autistic child). At home it was terrible. But at school he was fine because he had his structure and routine to each day. School knew what was needed for him. He listened and behaved better to the teachers & aides than to mom. It was sad because there was a plan for mom to follow at home too, she just wouldn't implement it; or if she did try, she probably didn't try long enough to make it work since change doesn't happen overnight! Anyway, as I said in an earlier note, yes you can be " mild. " And you can just show traits but not " have it. " And some kids can make such progress that they no longer fit the diagnosis in later years. Not that they've necessarily overcome " all " but that they don't fit all the criteria. I think with a true AS person, there will always be a difference from the " norm " but with language skills and social skills, etc., there can be a lot of progress made too. Did I confuse you even more?? I know I rambled back & forth a bit! Feel free to email me privately if you like! > Hello....Since you mentioned Aspergers, I wanted to ask a > question...is it possible to have a " mild " case of Aspergers? My > son has a lot of socialization issues according to the experts, and > he gets so hurt (feelings) all the time. Part of the problem I am > told, is he is exceptionally bright, so he is very aware he is > different from other kids, and detects changes in attitudes easily. > (He has a high average IQ, and his speech and vocabulary are at an 8 > year old level, although he has just turned 5. I'm sure part of that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Thanks Bonnie, I put them in my favorites folder! Nice site. > I forgot I had a window open at some new site I found and turns out they have the criteria for several disorders on their site! > > http://www.firstsigns.org/pages/physician_resources/tools_criteria_asp erger.html > > http://www.firstsigns.org/pages/physician_resources/tools_dsmIV.html#a utism > > http://www.firstsigns.org/pages/physician_resources/tools_dsmIV.html > > Bonnie > > ================== > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 > > When trying to find out what diagnosis fits your child, it would be > so nice if all professional were knowledgeable about all things! I'm not absolutely sure, but I don't think NLD is in the DSM-IV. I think it's more of an educational diagnosis. > I took to a center that specializes in autism. I asked about > NLD while I was there and they said that if it were NLD then they > couldn't diagnose it (meaning I guess that they weren't familiar > enough with it?) and I'd have to take him somewhere else for an NLD > eval. But he fit the criteria and they diagnosed as > HFA/Aspergers. In another yahoo group I'm in for HFA/Aspergers, some > of the kids are diagnosed with both - AS and NLD. Confusing to me! > > Plus in yet another group I belong to in which there are a lot of > parents of AS kids, the OCD subject came up - OCD as opposed to the > same type behaviors in AS/autistic kids since they display obsessive > type behaviors, etc. It's been an " interesting " discussion so far! Well, and Tourette's is closely related to OCD, but a lot of the parents of kids I " talk " to online with TS have the big verbal/nonverbal split and some Aspie behaviors ... > > Christie, do you know what might distinguish AS vs NLD - is it the > verbal vs performance? > > I think you're right -- Here's a link about NLD from Packer's site. http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/foss.htm I seem to remember Rondalyn Varney saying nonverbal skills are a relative strength for AS kids. Reading this description of NLD it sounds like my ds, but I've read others that sound nothing like him. Christie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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