Guest guest Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 On Dec 27, 7:55pm, " A. " wrote: } Can AS symptoms start at a time other than birth? Part of the criteria for an autism diagnosis is that symptoms have to have appeared before age 3. I *think* it's the same for AS. It seems very odd to me that your child would have appeared perfectly normal up to age 10... lots of kids are diagnosed late, but usually there are some signs of difference their parents or teachers notice. Are you sure there was nothing " quirky " about him? From what you write, the AS diagnosis seems an odd choice. But of course the label isn't really as important as getting the right kind of help. Bam's mom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 By coincidence, my son got bit by a tick tonight (agh!) and my husband has been doing a lot of research on lyme disease. Apparently kids who were " normal " and suddenly started behaving autistically may have an infection which responds to antibiotics. Just passing that on as another possibility. Bam's Mom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 In a message dated 5/1/2005 11:59:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, lausley@... writes: Yes, : There were a couple of quirky things about him, but no one but us would/did notice them. He taught himself to read at age 2-3, but we homeschool and everyone reads a lot at our house (no TV). But there is no discrepancy between his reading and his comprehension or his verbal skills. He is a very bright kid in all areas. For a while he was really " taken " with world history, but was not that specific about a time period or a nation. . . loved it all and reads a lot of historical fiction, of which there is a lot in children's literature. Before age 10, 3 times he had huge meltdowns and we were clueless as to the cause. After age 10, the meltdowns started coming weekly and sometimes daily. **, you are describing my 14 year old son diagnosed with Asperger's at age 4. It is very hard to detect his has Asperger's. He does not present classically. I'm wondering how one gets the right type of help, if the root problem is unknown? Does the psychologist just target various behaviors? AND, when he's on meds, he seems perfectly (almost) fine. When they're not right. . . he is a basket case! **That is a pretty good indication that the medications are warranted. What kind of doctors do Aspergers people use mostly? I'm assuming psychologists and psychiatrist, but I saw someone mention neurology. My sons' originally saw a psychologist (who specializes in Aspergers) were diagnosed and then saw a psychiatrist for medication. I'd like to read a book but don't even know which variety to get? Any recommendations? Any insights? _Asperger Syndrome_ (http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/) - I highly recommend this book. THE OASIS GUIDE TO ASPERGER SYNDROME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 On Dec 28, 4:49pm, " A. " wrote: } There were a couple of quirky things about him, but no one but us would/did } notice them. He taught himself to read at age 2-3, but we homeschool and } everyone reads a lot at our house (no TV). But there is no discrepancy Ah, homeschooling - that could explain it. Not to sound anti-homeschooling, I am very pro-homeschooling! But I think it's the expectations school puts on kids that often really bring out the differences in our kids. So yeah, I can see the diagnosis making sense now. Bam's mom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 , I used a psychologist that was (is) very conservative. Although I described AS / PDD-NOS symptoms to him and used the terms, he wanted to start out very slowly looking at individual issues. He started with hearing tests and a few other general physical health tests. He then added quite extensive neuro-psych tests looking at sensory factors. No real focus on emotional aspects. The official label , stuck in a chart to keep insurance company happy, was PDD-NOS although I see more specific AS symptoms. When dealing with the school system, the psychologist comes with us to IEP meetings, we have never revealed a diagnosis because we don't want them to start addressing the behaviors based on a general label. I would recommend a psychologist that has a similar philosophy, one that is very skeptical of labels and willing to be flexible in addressing the many deviations that AS or PDD diagnoses take. I think your son's early aged behavior sounds a lot like my son's. Mostly quirky stuff that only parents notice, everyone else viewed him as charming , bright and witty. At age 4 her could tell you all the continents and all about the Antarctic because he had read about it numerous times. Today at age 11 he has no clue about the Antarctic other than what " boring " stuff he needs to remember for school. The stuff he was " taken with " as a child (trains, reading, ) are now replaced by less educational things like video games, Internet discussion of video games, and figuring out which friends to invite over to play video games. Ask him if he wants to go outside on a beautiful day and he might say " yes " just because he knows it is polite, When outside he will be bored or be pre-occupied with what he is going to do when he gets back inside. Today he came outside to play a game with his younger sister, and openly said he was out just to be polite but would go back in afterwards because he could see no point in being outside. ( ) new on the block > Yes, : > > There were a couple of quirky things about him, but no one but us > would/did > notice them. He taught himself to read at age 2-3, but we homeschool and > everyone reads a lot at our house (no TV). But there is no discrepancy > between his reading and his comprehension or his verbal skills. He is a > very bright kid in all areas. For a while he was really " taken " with > world > history, but was not that specific about a time period or a nation. . . > loved it all and reads a lot of historical fiction, of which there is a > lot > in children's literature. > > Before age 10, 3 times he had huge meltdowns and we were clueless as to > the cause. After age 10, the meltdowns started coming weekly and > sometimes > daily. > >> Part of the criteria for an autism diagnosis is that symptoms have to >> have appeared before age 3. I *think* it's the same for AS. It seems >> very odd to me that your child would have appeared perfectly normal up >> to age 10... lots of kids are diagnosed late, but usually there are >> some signs of difference their parents or teachers notice. Are you >> sure there was nothing " quirky " about him? >> >>>From what you write, the AS diagnosis seems an odd choice. But of >> course the label isn't really as important as getting the right kind of >> help. > > I'm wondering how one gets the right type of help, if the root problem is > unknown? Does the psychologist just target various behaviors? AND, when > he's on meds, he seems perfectly (almost) fine. When they're not right. . > . > he is a basket case! > > What kind of doctors do Aspergers people use mostly? I'm assuming > psychologists and psychiatrist, but I saw someone mention neurology. > > I'd like to read a book but don't even know which variety to get? Any > recommendations? Any insights? > > Also, one of the reasons I've taken the AS suggestion seriously is that > one > of my brothers is almost a classic AS. Of course, at age 50, he's never > been diagnosed. . . is a brilliant, successful lawyer, but eccentric > beyond > description! > > In the same light, I've had trouble all along with the OCD diagnosis b/c I > don't see any signs of it in family members (and we ruled out PANDAS). > > > > > --- > [This E-mail was scanned for viruses by Declude/F-Prot Virus] > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 , My 17 year old ds sees a psychiatrist for meds (he's on an antidepressant, an antiseizure medication, valium [for tics], and topamax [for tics]) and a WONDERFUL psychologist to help with mood and social issues. He goes to a special ed school, which has been excellent for him. There were some episodes of bullying recently, which, when brought to the attention of counseling and the principal, were dealt with quickly and fairly. says there haven't been any more episodes since. During elementary age years, had many meltdowns, too, but as he's gotten older, those have ceased completely. Now, if he's upset, he simply excuses himself and goes to his room. Welcome to the list. I think you'll find at least a few people in similar situations to yours here. Take care, Liz On May 1, 2005, at 5:58 AM, A. wrote: > Yes, : > > There were a couple of quirky things about him, but no one but us > would/did > notice them. He taught himself to read at age 2-3, but we homeschool > and > everyone reads a lot at our house (no TV). But there is no discrepancy > between his reading and his comprehension or his verbal skills. He is > a > very bright kid in all areas. For a while he was really " taken " with > world > history, but was not that specific about a time period or a nation. . . > loved it all and reads a lot of historical fiction, of which there is > a lot > in children's literature. > > Before age 10, 3 times he had huge meltdowns and we were clueless as > to > the cause. After age 10, the meltdowns started coming weekly and > sometimes > daily. > >> Part of the criteria for an autism diagnosis is that symptoms have to >> have appeared before age 3. I *think* it's the same for AS. It seems >> very odd to me that your child would have appeared perfectly normal up >> to age 10... lots of kids are diagnosed late, but usually there are >> some signs of difference their parents or teachers notice. Are you >> sure there was nothing " quirky " about him? >> >>> From what you write, the AS diagnosis seems an odd choice. But of >> course the label isn't really as important as getting the right kind >> of >> help. > > I'm wondering how one gets the right type of help, if the root problem > is > unknown? Does the psychologist just target various behaviors? AND, > when > he's on meds, he seems perfectly (almost) fine. When they're not > right. . . > he is a basket case! > > What kind of doctors do Aspergers people use mostly? I'm assuming > psychologists and psychiatrist, but I saw someone mention neurology. > > I'd like to read a book but don't even know which variety to get? Any > recommendations? Any insights? > > Also, one of the reasons I've taken the AS suggestion seriously is > that one > of my brothers is almost a classic AS. Of course, at age 50, he's > never > been diagnosed. . . is a brilliant, successful lawyer, but eccentric > beyond > description! > > In the same light, I've had trouble all along with the OCD diagnosis > b/c I > don't see any signs of it in family members (and we ruled out PANDAS). > > > > > --- > [This E-mail was scanned for viruses by Declude/F-Prot Virus] > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 On May 1, 2005, at 3:56 AM, wrote: > Part of the criteria for an autism diagnosis is that symptoms have to > have appeared before age 3. I *think* it's the same for AS. It seems > very odd to me that your child would have appeared perfectly normal up > to age 10... lots of kids are diagnosed late, but usually there are > some signs of difference their parents or teachers notice. Are you > sure there was nothing " quirky " about him? **Sometimes, you really don't see it until they get older. Perhaps hindsight would show symptoms that were missed, then again, maybe not. My son is 6.5. We really didn't think things were really " off " before the middle of Kindergarten, and then I wasn't sure. But still wanted him evaluated. Cute things that seemed out of place, frat-boyish , and fine, just slightly inappropriate for 3 or 4 (my son once mooned the line at Mcs!) by 5 were out of step with his peers. It became increasingly obvious that he was different from his peers. By first grade, he was eloping from class, engaging in echolalia, showing repetitive behaviors, refusing to comply, etc. The ONLY thing that I noticed at age 2 was lack of eye contact and some delayed speech. But he had a very verbal older sister, and I was busy with a 31 week old preemie, so I could have missed some signs. And I thought I was imagining it. My dh has Asperger's, I know what it is. And yet, I missed it in my own son until after age 5. I don't think it is too much a stretch to think it could be missed if you didn't know what to look for. Tina livin' in Alphabet Soup with: , 6, AS/HFA , anxiety Jordan 10, GAD, BP, OCD Jasmine as NT as it gets, for now dw to Jon- AS but fixated on computers= $$ " The three most important voices: the voice of your heart, the voice of your gut and the voice of your child. " -Heidi Lissauer -adult with autism who has autistic children, as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 On May 1, 2005, at 8:43 PM, wrote: >> What kind of doctors do Aspergers people use mostly? I'm assuming >> psychologists and psychiatrist, but I saw someone mention neurology. >> >> I'd like to read a book but don't even know which variety to get? Any >> recommendations? Any insights? **There are different paths to diagnosis, and you can use one or all. There is a developmental pediatrician, who is trained in developmental delays, so will pick up more than the average pediatrician will. (when I went to my ped and said I wanted an ASD evaluation referral, he said that my son was NOT autistic, he had lots of kids in the practice that were, and he wouldn't ever see mine as one. I insisted, and the joke was on him!) There is a neurologist, who studies the brain and can actually see what is going on that way. ASD shows that different parts of the brain don't work the way an NT brain does. There is a psychologist, and a neuropsychologist, they administer tests and interview the parent and go about diagnosis that way. We saw a therapist who is working on his doctorate, and was an expert in diagnosing autism. He used the ADOS and the Vineland, as well as observing my son at school and in the office. I think our next step will be a neurologist, because I want more information on possible processing problems, and dyslexia. Tina livin' in Alphabet Soup with: , 6, AS/HFA , anxiety Jordan 10, GAD, BP, OCD Jasmine as NT as it gets, for now dw to Jon- AS but fixated on computers= $$ " The three most important voices: the voice of your heart, the voice of your gut and the voice of your child. " -Heidi Lissauer -adult with autism who has autistic children, as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 Tina, Pete mentioned that an educational psychologist who specializes in autism would provide more assistance with diagnosing learning disabilities than a neurologist would. He hasn't recommended anyone specifically. I need to press him about this. Neither of the two neurologists we consulted in the past wanted to do a brain scan on Sasha, but at some point I might consider getting this done, particularly if we are ever headed toward due process. (Tina's son and my son see the same therapist, who diagnosed them both.) T. At 10:49 AM 5/3/2005 -0700, you wrote: >On May 1, 2005, at 8:43 PM, wrote: > > >> What kind of doctors do Aspergers people use mostly? I'm assuming > >> psychologists and psychiatrist, but I saw someone mention neurology. > >> > >> I'd like to read a book but don't even know which variety to get? Any > >> recommendations? Any insights? > >**There are different paths to diagnosis, and you can use one or all. >There is a developmental pediatrician, who is trained in developmental >delays, so will pick up more than the average pediatrician will. (when >I went to my ped and said I wanted an ASD evaluation referral, he said >that my son was NOT autistic, he had lots of kids in the practice that >were, and he wouldn't ever see mine as one. I insisted, and the joke >was on him!) There is a neurologist, who studies the brain and can >actually see what is going on that way. ASD shows that different parts >of the brain don't work the way an NT brain does. There is a >psychologist, and a neuropsychologist, they administer tests and >interview the parent and go about diagnosis that way. We saw a >therapist who is working on his doctorate, and was an expert in >diagnosing autism. He used the ADOS and the Vineland, as well as >observing my son at school and in the office. I think our next step >will be a neurologist, because I want more information on possible >processing problems, and dyslexia. > > > >Tina >livin' in Alphabet Soup with: >, 6, AS/HFA , anxiety >Jordan 10, GAD, BP, OCD >Jasmine as NT as it gets, for now >dw to Jon- AS but fixated on computers= $$ > > " The three most important voices: the voice of your heart, the voice of >your gut and the voice of your child. " -Heidi Lissauer -adult with >autism who has autistic children, as well > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Faye, Print these factsheets from www.hcvadvocate.org and take them with you. http://hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Questions%20to%20Ask_09.pdf http://hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/max_appoint_09.pdf > > i go to the dr. wed,to hopefully find out what's going on since i was just dianois two weeks ago i have no ideal whats what.i have been so depressed this pass week. i have not told my family yet because i dont want them to shun me at all. my husband of 20 years was tested and he was negitive.so that was a blessing.so i plan to tell two of my kids this week after my dr. appointment i know they will love and want to protect me ......so pray for me > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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