Re: Hello, I've just joined this list. Need help.

[Guest guest]

My nine-year-old daughter, adopted from Russia age 4.5 has just been

diagnosed with AS by a neuropsychologist. My daughter spent her

first three years in a hospital crib and then one year in an

orphanage.

Another big question I have-should I take her to some expert in AS to

be absolutely sure she has it? Who is Mr or Mrs AS diagnostic

specialist in the US?

Sorry for so many questions. I appreciate any advice. Geraldine

Geraldine; welcome to the group. My gosh, your daughter has had one

rough start in this world. The Neuropsy. testing she has had is usually

pretty clear in picking up dirrerences. I think it is good you have done

that. I personally like the work of Dr. Gutstein and his

'Relationship Development Intervention' program...do a search on his

name and Connections Center. He does a number of conferences and may be

in your area. Otherwise you could purchase a video of his $100.00+. If

you join your state Autism society, they may have this available to loan

out, as they usually have an extensive list of books to loan. They would

probably have some of his books as well. His work is different from ABA,

which I don't think he recommends, but don't quote me on that. You could

join his E-mail group and ask him questions as he has a certain day and

time that he answers folks. Also, Tony Atwood's site has a diagnostic

test you could do yourself. www.tonyatwood.com I believe when it is

all 'said and done', how you work with your child, slowly, patiently,

step by step will make the difference in your child's life. Obviously

you want the best for her, she is lucky to have you...Gail

[Guest guest]

My nine-year-old daughter, adopted from Russia age 4.5 has just been

diagnosed with AS by a neuropsychologist. My daughter spent her

first three years in a hospital crib and then one year in an

orphanage.

Another big question I have-should I take her to some expert in AS to

be absolutely sure she has it? Who is Mr or Mrs AS diagnostic

specialist in the US?

Sorry for so many questions. I appreciate any advice. Geraldine

Geraldine; welcome to the group. My gosh, your daughter has had one

rough start in this world. The Neuropsy. testing she has had is usually

pretty clear in picking up dirrerences. I think it is good you have done

that. I personally like the work of Dr. Gutstein and his

'Relationship Development Intervention' program...do a search on his

name and Connections Center. He does a number of conferences and may be

in your area. Otherwise you could purchase a video of his $100.00+. If

you join your state Autism society, they may have this available to loan

out, as they usually have an extensive list of books to loan. They would

probably have some of his books as well. His work is different from ABA,

which I don't think he recommends, but don't quote me on that. You could

join his E-mail group and ask him questions as he has a certain day and

time that he answers folks. Also, Tony Atwood's site has a diagnostic

test you could do yourself. www.tonyatwood.com I believe when it is

all 'said and done', how you work with your child, slowly, patiently,

step by step will make the difference in your child's life. Obviously

you want the best for her, she is lucky to have you...Gail

[Guest guest]

Don't feel bad about it taking long to find out.. nobody in my

entire family had even heard of AS until a little over a year ago my

youth pastor's wife told my parents she thought I had it. Their

response was 'what's that?'. The only reason my youth pastor's wife

knew what it was is because she did some kind of group for autistic

kids.

Also I saw a psychiatrist(psychologist? I never can remember the

difference) when I was in 5th-6th grade I think, my parents called

him recently and he told them that *now* he knows what AS is, but

back when I saw him he'd never heard of it. It just hasn't been

widely known about until recently, so there's nothing to feel bad

about.

> Hello,

> My nine-year-old daughter, adopted from Russia age 4.5 has just

been

> diagnosed with AS by a neuropsychologist. My daughter spent her

> first three years in a hospital crib and then one year in an

> orphanage.

> I am finding it hard to believe that she has an inherited

condition

> when she has such terrible deprivation in her background.

> Yet she seems to fit what I read about AS very well. She can't

make

> friends, reads about Egyptian mummies and other dead bog people

etc

> all the time and is always saying and doing the wrong thing in

public

> situations. I had to place her in an EIP third grade class

because

> she couldn't handle a regular classroom. Not for academics, which

> are OK, but for her weird behavior which led to such bad teasing

that

> she was miserable.

> Does anyone have any insight into this? Have you heard of other

post-

> institutionalised kids developing AS? If she does have AS I feel

> terrible that it has taken me so long to find out. I have been

> impatient with her at times because she seemed so unmotivated to

> learn basic normal behavior. I have been reading about the ABA

> approach. Should I be looking into that for her?

> Another big question I have-should I take her to some expert in AS

to

> be absolutely sure she has it? Who is Mr or Mrs AS diagnostic

> specialist in the US?

> Sorry for so many questions. I appreciate any advice. Geraldine