Re: My First Posting - new and need advice

August 22, 2006

Hi Tammi

I have been present for all of my son's testing. All of it has involved

toys and picture books. He did have a hearing test and freaked out at the

end of that (it did have a Mission Impossible kind of feeling with the booth

and speakers everywhere). My son has had 3 rounds of testing, only the last

one came up with ASD. He will be restested when he turns 5 and my

pediatrician thinks he will get an AS diagnosis then.

It was hard facing the prospect that our son may have AS or ASD but once he

got into the right PreK setting we saw an immediate improvement in his

disposition and ability to comply with directions. He is much happier now

and will start mainstreaming into reg. preschool with an aid this year.

Good luck!

Zoe

mom to Henry - age 4 ASD, and Ella - age 1 crossing our fingers

On 8/22/06, Tammi <kianstam@...> wrote:

>

> First, let me start off by saying that my child has not been

> diagnosed with Aspergers or any form of autism - yet. The reason for

> my joining this group and for my post is that I have no clue where to

> start or what to do.

>

> My son will be five years old in October. He is supposed to start

> kindergarten next school term. He could've started Pre-K this year

> but I felt as if one more year at home would be better for him. Maybe

> I just wanted to 'hang onto' him a little longer here, I don't know.

>

> I noticed his development as far as speech was a bit behind what my

> other 2 boys had been by the time he was around 2. He crawled,

> walked, ate, played, interacted with others...etc. - on cue-but by

> the time he was three he only had about five 'real' words in his

> vocabulary.

>

> I either figured he was just a slow starter with language or that our

> family was simply making it easy for him until I took him to the

> doctor for his checkup. My mother went with me and thank goodness for

> that. He was fine in the waiting area but when they called us back to

> the office for his checkup, he went wild. He screamed the entire time

> we were there, he begged to go home (in his own language, of course)

> and it took my mom and 2 nurses to hold him down in order for him to

> receive his vaccination. I was in tears the entire time - I felt

> horrible. This was his first time seeing this particular

> pediatrician - all visits before had been fine - I had no clue where

> his fear of the doctor came from other than he seemed to think they

> were 'taking him away' from me when they took us back and tried to

> get him to stand on the scale. The doctor considered his

> behavoir 'normal' until my mom spoke up and told him about how few

> words were in his vocabulary and then he immediately said he needed

> to be tested and set up the appt.

>

> Several things happened within our family that year and I suppose

> part of my problem was sticking my head in the sand. Needless to say,

> he never got tested. Within six months his vocabulary had tripled.

>

> I changed pediatricians because of insurance changes and had to take

> him in to get checked for sickness - this was about a year ago. He

> had the very same reaction when we were called back for him to be

> seen. Again, it took myself and the doctor to hold him down just so

> he could look in his ears. He cried, screamed, begged, held the door

> against the doctor when he tried to get back in the room....and was

> fine when we left. This doctor told me he didn't think I was off in

> thinking he might have autistic traits - with how my son was acting

> THERE and with my explanation (over my son's screaming, of course) of

> his behavoirs. He set up for him to be tested and I went with my mom

> to the initial visit. I just didn't get a good gut feeling about the

> doctor he'd refered and I never took my son to see him.

>

> So to this day, he hasn't been tested and in less than a year, he

> will be ready for school to start.

>

> A bit about my son:

> He has certain things he becomes attached to and always has.

> Sometimes it's coffee filters - he has to have them in the store or

> anything that looks like them (a jello mold I have, reeses peanut

> butter cup wrappers..etc) Once home, he will get them out from time

> to time but not all the time. He likes to line them up. He doesn't

> play with them for hours, he's not in his own little world excluding

> all others. He's been thru the same thing with hoses/tubes...lots of

> other things - he's that way about bandaids - getting them out of

> each and every box I have and putting them on every available surface

> AND hiding them in his own spot but going to get them when we ask for

> one. He's very into textures and notices right away when I wear

> something that's a bit different feeling such as satin,

> corduroy..etc. He has an amazing ability for recall/memory. It amazes

> me. We go somewhere once and it may be another six months before we

> go back - he remembers what he got there or what we did. Numbers - he

> memorizes numbers at times - garbage can serial numbers/license plate

> numbers - not something he's obsessed with, just enough that I notice

> how he can recall them. His speech, in my opinion, is about that of a

> three year old. He is just beginning to put together words into

> sentences...or began about six months ago and is steadily, slowly

> getting there. It's hard to carry on a conversation with him - to ask

> him a direct question. I noticed yesterday, for instance, that when

> my son's girlfriend asked him what he was drinking, he

> answered 'water' and that made me feel pretty good - just so you know

> it's not an everyday thing. I have taught words to him through flash

> cards and he remembers them. I watch him 'sound out' the beginnings

> of certain words he doesn't know to correctly 'get' the beginning

> sounds by comparing them with words he DOES know. He knows colors,

> shapes and numbers up to his twenties. He has a great sense of humor,

> plays well with other kids. He has this 'thing' he does where he will

> put his fingers in his ears and kind of 'skip' around at times. He

> loves music very much - it used to be one of the only things that

> soothed him when he was a few years younger. He has no 'stopping

> sense'. If he loves something - ice cream, fruit snacks, chips, gum -

> he'll eat it all in one felled swoop if I don't watch him and hide it

> PLUS he finds my hiding places pretty much every single time. Match

> box cars or toys - he knows exactly how many of each color he has

> when he is 'into' playing with them and will go ballistic if one goes

> missing.

>

> My worries are that he's not been away from me very much - as in

> being taken somewhere (daycare). I do work part time and he stays

> with my husband and my sons then so he's used to being away from ME

> and does fine. The main worry I have is how he'll react to a new

> place and his behavoir when he's corrected. HERE at home, he screams

> or he'll repeat the phrase we've used to correct him and scream out

> the last word - getting very agitated and angry. I've tried using

> time out and it's worked but I don't think we're very consistant on

> it. I noticed last week when I put him there a few times that later

> in the afternoon, he came up to me and pointed at the chair I'd sat

> him in and said to me 'no screaming' - so I know he got the concept.

>

> I just don't know where to start or what to do. I have plans to call

> the school system the first of Sept. - once they are settled into the

> new school year - to see if there are any classes I can take him to

> or if he can be tested there - anything to help him prepare for

> starting school.

>

> My question or ONE of them - how can he be correctly tested if he

> screams or cries the entire time I leave him (am assuming I'll have

> to be away from him when they test) either way - with me there or

> without, I feel he'd be at his worst in that situation. I KNOW these

> people know what they are doing - I just would like to know for my

> peace of mind HOW they do it when he exhibits this type of behavoir?

>

> I'd say I'm sorry for the length of this post..but I'm not. I have

> read books, joined lists, talked to others...and I'm not asking you

> to diagnose my child at all but just some advice on where to start,

> what you think....

>

> Thanks in advance for taking the time to read what I wrote.

>

> Tammi

>

August 22, 2006

Tammi I am sure you have already gotten some replies, but here is my

input...

First off,,,

Get him tested. Perhaps even through the school for a thorough

neuropsychological exam. I think sometimes if the school understands

you are having major problems, they will be helpful.

Unless someone else has ideas, but I think this is a good time to do

it.

Next, understand that a lot of us have started off with our heads in

the sand. It is warm and safe... When we venture outside,,, WATCH

OUT!

We grow and learn.

You definitely want to look at the Oasis Website for Asperger

Syndrome.

The best thing you can do, while waiting for testing is read and

educate your self. If he is an " Aspie " (A term I call myself as an

adult with Aspergers) Then you are going to need to be prepared to

advocate for him.

you say he probably just won't cooperate? GOOD!

I hate to say it, but if he panics then hopefully they will see

exactly what he goes through, and as long as the person r eally

understands Aspergers or Autism and a number of other things, they

will hopefully get that the behaviors are a result of something

important and he will get the correct label.

It is so important for him but also for you. You need to know that

you are not this horrible parent and that there is a good reason for

him liking those coffee filters. Unfortunately, for me it is

the 'stinking' credit cards. From fake ones, to real ones, even

hotel cards (though I have been working on at least not collecting

those) I have them all. I get so mad when my husband has cut up his

card. But I realize that I am a little too over board (yes me, not

my kids) and so I am trying to slow down on my 'collection'

(Hoarding, whatever~!)

Ok, no purpose but I just like them.

anyway, keep strong, advocate (learn everything you can!) and make

sure he gets some testing done so you can start out early helping

him where he needs it~

Keep us updated on your progress. I usually need someone to be

accountable to get something done. If you do....

Consider yourself held accountable to us *Grin*

(just being silly!!!!)

*smiles*

lisa b

>>

> I'd say I'm sorry for the length of this post..but I'm not. I have

> read books, joined lists, talked to others...and I'm not asking

you

> to diagnose my child at all but just some advice on where to

start,

> what you think....

>

> Thanks in advance for taking the time to read what I wrote.

>

> Tammi

>

August 22, 2006

I'm not really sure how they test in The USA because I am in Australia. But my

son has never spoken or responded to any assessment stuff that has been done

with him. I would imagine that any body exeprienced in dx ASD would have dealt

with many many kids who acted just like your son or mine! The assessment we had

went for two hours and it took into account my sons behaviour and then we were

interview for an hour without our son present. Often the behviours that they

display in the assessment rooms give a great whole picture to what your son is

like.

Beck

( ) My First Posting - new and need advice

First, let me start off by saying that my child has not been

diagnosed with Aspergers or any form of autism - yet. The reason for

my joining this group and for my post is that I have no clue where to

start or what to do.

My son will be five years old in October. He is supposed to start

kindergarten next school term. He could've started Pre-K this year

but I felt as if one more year at home would be better for him. Maybe

I just wanted to 'hang onto' him a little longer here, I don't know.

I noticed his development as far as speech was a bit behind what my

other 2 boys had been by the time he was around 2. He crawled,

walked, ate, played, interacted with others...etc. - on cue-but by

the time he was three he only had about five 'real' words in his

vocabulary.

I either figured he was just a slow starter with language or that our

family was simply making it easy for him until I took him to the

doctor for his checkup. My mother went with me and thank goodness for

that. He was fine in the waiting area but when they called us back to

the office for his checkup, he went wild. He screamed the entire time

we were there, he begged to go home (in his own language, of course)

and it took my mom and 2 nurses to hold him down in order for him to

receive his vaccination. I was in tears the entire time - I felt

horrible. This was his first time seeing this particular

pediatrician - all visits before had been fine - I had no clue where

his fear of the doctor came from other than he seemed to think they

were 'taking him away' from me when they took us back and tried to

get him to stand on the scale. The doctor considered his

behavoir 'normal' until my mom spoke up and told him about how few

words were in his vocabulary and then he immediately said he needed

to be tested and set up the appt.

Several things happened within our family that year and I suppose

part of my problem was sticking my head in the sand. Needless to say,

he never got tested. Within six months his vocabulary had tripled.

I changed pediatricians because of insurance changes and had to take

him in to get checked for sickness - this was about a year ago. He

had the very same reaction when we were called back for him to be

seen. Again, it took myself and the doctor to hold him down just so

he could look in his ears. He cried, screamed, begged, held the door

against the doctor when he tried to get back in the room....and was

fine when we left. This doctor told me he didn't think I was off in

thinking he might have autistic traits - with how my son was acting

THERE and with my explanation (over my son's screaming, of course) of

his behavoirs. He set up for him to be tested and I went with my mom

to the initial visit. I just didn't get a good gut feeling about the

doctor he'd refered and I never took my son to see him.

So to this day, he hasn't been tested and in less than a year, he

will be ready for school to start.

A bit about my son:

He has certain things he becomes attached to and always has.

Sometimes it's coffee filters - he has to have them in the store or

anything that looks like them (a jello mold I have, reeses peanut

butter cup wrappers..etc) Once home, he will get them out from time

to time but not all the time. He likes to line them up. He doesn't

play with them for hours, he's not in his own little world excluding

all others. He's been thru the same thing with hoses/tubes...lots of

other things - he's that way about bandaids - getting them out of

each and every box I have and putting them on every available surface

AND hiding them in his own spot but going to get them when we ask for

one. He's very into textures and notices right away when I wear

something that's a bit different feeling such as satin,

corduroy..etc. He has an amazing ability for recall/memory. It amazes

me. We go somewhere once and it may be another six months before we

go back - he remembers what he got there or what we did. Numbers - he

memorizes numbers at times - garbage can serial numbers/license plate

numbers - not something he's obsessed with, just enough that I notice

how he can recall them. His speech, in my opinion, is about that of a

three year old. He is just beginning to put together words into

sentences...or began about six months ago and is steadily, slowly

getting there. It's hard to carry on a conversation with him - to ask

him a direct question. I noticed yesterday, for instance, that when

my son's girlfriend asked him what he was drinking, he

answered 'water' and that made me feel pretty good - just so you know

it's not an everyday thing. I have taught words to him through flash

cards and he remembers them. I watch him 'sound out' the beginnings

of certain words he doesn't know to correctly 'get' the beginning

sounds by comparing them with words he DOES know. He knows colors,

shapes and numbers up to his twenties. He has a great sense of humor,

plays well with other kids. He has this 'thing' he does where he will

put his fingers in his ears and kind of 'skip' around at times. He

loves music very much - it used to be one of the only things that

soothed him when he was a few years younger. He has no 'stopping

sense'. If he loves something - ice cream, fruit snacks, chips, gum -

he'll eat it all in one felled swoop if I don't watch him and hide it

PLUS he finds my hiding places pretty much every single time. Match

box cars or toys - he knows exactly how many of each color he has

when he is 'into' playing with them and will go ballistic if one goes

missing.

My worries are that he's not been away from me very much - as in

being taken somewhere (daycare). I do work part time and he stays

with my husband and my sons then so he's used to being away from ME

and does fine. The main worry I have is how he'll react to a new

place and his behavoir when he's corrected. HERE at home, he screams

or he'll repeat the phrase we've used to correct him and scream out

the last word - getting very agitated and angry. I've tried using

time out and it's worked but I don't think we're very consistant on

it. I noticed last week when I put him there a few times that later

in the afternoon, he came up to me and pointed at the chair I'd sat

him in and said to me 'no screaming' - so I know he got the concept.

I just don't know where to start or what to do. I have plans to call

the school system the first of Sept. - once they are settled into the

new school year - to see if there are any classes I can take him to

or if he can be tested there - anything to help him prepare for

starting school.

My question or ONE of them - how can he be correctly tested if he

screams or cries the entire time I leave him (am assuming I'll have

to be away from him when they test) either way - with me there or

without, I feel he'd be at his worst in that situation. I KNOW these

people know what they are doing - I just would like to know for my

peace of mind HOW they do it when he exhibits this type of behavoir?

I'd say I'm sorry for the length of this post..but I'm not. I have

read books, joined lists, talked to others...and I'm not asking you

to diagnose my child at all but just some advice on where to start,

what you think....

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read what I wrote.

Tammi

August 22, 2006

Hi Tammi,

I don't know about your insurance, but if you could possibly find a

neuro-phsyc that would be willing to come into your home, maybe that

would be a good option. I would imagine that from what info you have

given, a big school or Dr.'s office might be pretty intimidating.

Just a thought. Good luck to you.

Theresa

>

> First, let me start off by saying that my child has not been

> diagnosed with Aspergers or any form of autism - yet. The reason

for

> my joining this group and for my post is that I have no clue where

to

> start or what to do.

>

> My son will be five years old in October. He is supposed to start

> kindergarten next school term. He could've started Pre-K this year

> but I felt as if one more year at home would be better for him.

Maybe

> I just wanted to 'hang onto' him a little longer here, I don't

know.

>

> I noticed his development as far as speech was a bit behind what my

> other 2 boys had been by the time he was around 2. He crawled,

> walked, ate, played, interacted with others...etc. - on cue-but by

> the time he was three he only had about five 'real' words in his

> vocabulary.

>

> I either figured he was just a slow starter with language or that

our

> family was simply making it easy for him until I took him to the

> doctor for his checkup. My mother went with me and thank goodness

for

> that. He was fine in the waiting area but when they called us back

to

> the office for his checkup, he went wild. He screamed the entire

time

> we were there, he begged to go home (in his own language, of

course)

> and it took my mom and 2 nurses to hold him down in order for him

to

> receive his vaccination. I was in tears the entire time - I felt

> horrible. This was his first time seeing this particular

> pediatrician - all visits before had been fine - I had no clue

where

> his fear of the doctor came from other than he seemed to think they

> were 'taking him away' from me when they took us back and tried to

> get him to stand on the scale. The doctor considered his

> behavoir 'normal' until my mom spoke up and told him about how few

> words were in his vocabulary and then he immediately said he needed

> to be tested and set up the appt.

>

> Several things happened within our family that year and I suppose

> part of my problem was sticking my head in the sand. Needless to

say,

> he never got tested. Within six months his vocabulary had tripled.

>

> I changed pediatricians because of insurance changes and had to

take

> him in to get checked for sickness - this was about a year ago. He

> had the very same reaction when we were called back for him to be

> seen. Again, it took myself and the doctor to hold him down just so

> he could look in his ears. He cried, screamed, begged, held the

door

> against the doctor when he tried to get back in the room....and was

> fine when we left. This doctor told me he didn't think I was off in

> thinking he might have autistic traits - with how my son was acting

> THERE and with my explanation (over my son's screaming, of course)

of

> his behavoirs. He set up for him to be tested and I went with my

mom

> to the initial visit. I just didn't get a good gut feeling about

the

> doctor he'd refered and I never took my son to see him.

>

> So to this day, he hasn't been tested and in less than a year, he

> will be ready for school to start.

>

> A bit about my son:

> He has certain things he becomes attached to and always has.

> Sometimes it's coffee filters - he has to have them in the store or

> anything that looks like them (a jello mold I have, reeses peanut

> butter cup wrappers..etc) Once home, he will get them out from time

> to time but not all the time. He likes to line them up. He doesn't

> play with them for hours, he's not in his own little world

excluding

> all others. He's been thru the same thing with hoses/tubes...lots

of

> other things - he's that way about bandaids - getting them out of

> each and every box I have and putting them on every available

surface

> AND hiding them in his own spot but going to get them when we ask

for

> one. He's very into textures and notices right away when I wear

> something that's a bit different feeling such as satin,

> corduroy..etc. He has an amazing ability for recall/memory. It

amazes

> me. We go somewhere once and it may be another six months before we

> go back - he remembers what he got there or what we did. Numbers -

he

> memorizes numbers at times - garbage can serial numbers/license

plate

> numbers - not something he's obsessed with, just enough that I

notice

> how he can recall them. His speech, in my opinion, is about that of

a

> three year old. He is just beginning to put together words into

> sentences...or began about six months ago and is steadily, slowly

> getting there. It's hard to carry on a conversation with him - to

ask

> him a direct question. I noticed yesterday, for instance, that when

> my son's girlfriend asked him what he was drinking, he

> answered 'water' and that made me feel pretty good - just so you

know

> it's not an everyday thing. I have taught words to him through

flash

> cards and he remembers them. I watch him 'sound out' the beginnings

> of certain words he doesn't know to correctly 'get' the beginning

> sounds by comparing them with words he DOES know. He knows colors,

> shapes and numbers up to his twenties. He has a great sense of

humor,

> plays well with other kids. He has this 'thing' he does where he

will

> put his fingers in his ears and kind of 'skip' around at times. He

> loves music very much - it used to be one of the only things that

> soothed him when he was a few years younger. He has no 'stopping

> sense'. If he loves something - ice cream, fruit snacks, chips,

gum -

> he'll eat it all in one felled swoop if I don't watch him and hide

it

> PLUS he finds my hiding places pretty much every single time. Match

> box cars or toys - he knows exactly how many of each color he has

> when he is 'into' playing with them and will go ballistic if one

goes

> missing.

>

> My worries are that he's not been away from me very much - as in

> being taken somewhere (daycare). I do work part time and he stays

> with my husband and my sons then so he's used to being away from ME

> and does fine. The main worry I have is how he'll react to a new

> place and his behavoir when he's corrected. HERE at home, he

screams

> or he'll repeat the phrase we've used to correct him and scream out

> the last word - getting very agitated and angry. I've tried using

> time out and it's worked but I don't think we're very consistant on

> it. I noticed last week when I put him there a few times that later

> in the afternoon, he came up to me and pointed at the chair I'd sat

> him in and said to me 'no screaming' - so I know he got the

concept.

>

> I just don't know where to start or what to do. I have plans to

call

> the school system the first of Sept. - once they are settled into

the

> new school year - to see if there are any classes I can take him to

> or if he can be tested there - anything to help him prepare for

> starting school.

>

> My question or ONE of them - how can he be correctly tested if he

> screams or cries the entire time I leave him (am assuming I'll have

> to be away from him when they test) either way - with me there or

> without, I feel he'd be at his worst in that situation. I KNOW

these

> people know what they are doing - I just would like to know for my

> peace of mind HOW they do it when he exhibits this type of

behavoir?

>

> I'd say I'm sorry for the length of this post..but I'm not. I have

> read books, joined lists, talked to others...and I'm not asking you

> to diagnose my child at all but just some advice on where to start,

> what you think....

>

> Thanks in advance for taking the time to read what I wrote.

>

> Tammi

>

August 22, 2006

When Seth had his IQ test as part of his dx process (also five by the

way) they had me leave the room so I stood outside the door listening.

I knew that if I wasn't there he might or might not have a melt down

but he would most certainly act out, which he did. He refused to

answer most of the questions and the doctor told me that he felt

distinctly that not only did Seth know the answer he was getting some

kind of enjoyment out of not giving it. I could hear him in there

giving his maniacal laughter. So needless to say he scored like an 82

and the doctor said he thought it was indicitive of nothing because he

thought that Seth had refused to answer about 70% of the questions.

He said it really stood in the way of getting a diagnosis. So I don't

know. I guess if he acts nuts during the test you might just have to

keep trying that's what we plan to do.

Amber

My question or ONE of them - how can he be correctly tested if he

> screams or cries the entire time I leave him (am assuming I'll have

> to be away from him when they test) either way - with me there or

> without, I feel he'd be at his worst in that situation.

August 23, 2006

First off ((HUGS))to you. The testing process is hard, because you

have to wait for the results for what seems like forever. But so

well worth it. When you call the school to find out about testing,

ask who you should send the written request to. That's what really

starts the process. They have 60 instructional days to complete the

testing.

Part of the testing should include a lengthy parent questionaire.

Find out what the testing entails for your son & ask if you can be

present. Then explain it to him ahead of time & talk to him about

how important it is that he do as the tester asks. We found things

go so much smoother with my son if we can explain as much to him as

possible about what is going to happen ahead of time. Much of his

anxiety stems from not being able to predict what will happen next

in a situation. You might have to take breaks in the testing if you

can see he's starting to get overwhelmed.

>

> First, let me start off by saying that my child has not been

> diagnosed with Aspergers or any form of autism - yet. The reason

for

> my joining this group and for my post is that I have no clue where

to

> start or what to do.

>

> My son will be five years old in October. He is supposed to start

> kindergarten next school term. He could've started Pre-K this year

> but I felt as if one more year at home would be better for him.

Maybe

> I just wanted to 'hang onto' him a little longer here, I don't

know.

>

> I noticed his development as far as speech was a bit behind what

my

> other 2 boys had been by the time he was around 2. He crawled,

> walked, ate, played, interacted with others...etc. - on cue-but by

> the time he was three he only had about five 'real' words in his

> vocabulary.

>

> I either figured he was just a slow starter with language or that

our

> family was simply making it easy for him until I took him to the

> doctor for his checkup. My mother went with me and thank goodness

for

> that. He was fine in the waiting area but when they called us back

to

> the office for his checkup, he went wild. He screamed the entire

time

> we were there, he begged to go home (in his own language, of

course)

> and it took my mom and 2 nurses to hold him down in order for him

to

> receive his vaccination. I was in tears the entire time - I felt

> horrible. This was his first time seeing this particular

> pediatrician - all visits before had been fine - I had no clue

where

> his fear of the doctor came from other than he seemed to think

they

> were 'taking him away' from me when they took us back and tried to

> get him to stand on the scale. The doctor considered his

> behavoir 'normal' until my mom spoke up and told him about how few

> words were in his vocabulary and then he immediately said he

needed

> to be tested and set up the appt.

>

> Several things happened within our family that year and I suppose

> part of my problem was sticking my head in the sand. Needless to

say,

> he never got tested. Within six months his vocabulary had tripled.

>

> I changed pediatricians because of insurance changes and had to

take

> him in to get checked for sickness - this was about a year ago. He

> had the very same reaction when we were called back for him to be

> seen. Again, it took myself and the doctor to hold him down just

so

> he could look in his ears. He cried, screamed, begged, held the

door

> against the doctor when he tried to get back in the room....and

was

> fine when we left. This doctor told me he didn't think I was off

in

> thinking he might have autistic traits - with how my son was

acting

> THERE and with my explanation (over my son's screaming, of course)

of

> his behavoirs. He set up for him to be tested and I went with my

mom

> to the initial visit. I just didn't get a good gut feeling about

the

> doctor he'd refered and I never took my son to see him.

>

> So to this day, he hasn't been tested and in less than a year, he

> will be ready for school to start.

>

> A bit about my son:

> He has certain things he becomes attached to and always has.

> Sometimes it's coffee filters - he has to have them in the store

or

> anything that looks like them (a jello mold I have, reeses peanut

> butter cup wrappers..etc) Once home, he will get them out from

time

> to time but not all the time. He likes to line them up. He doesn't

> play with them for hours, he's not in his own little world

excluding

> all others. He's been thru the same thing with hoses/tubes...lots

of

> other things - he's that way about bandaids - getting them out of

> each and every box I have and putting them on every available

surface

> AND hiding them in his own spot but going to get them when we ask

for

> one. He's very into textures and notices right away when I wear

> something that's a bit different feeling such as satin,

> corduroy..etc. He has an amazing ability for recall/memory. It

amazes

> me. We go somewhere once and it may be another six months before

we

> go back - he remembers what he got there or what we did. Numbers -

he

> memorizes numbers at times - garbage can serial numbers/license

plate

> numbers - not something he's obsessed with, just enough that I

notice

> how he can recall them. His speech, in my opinion, is about that

of a

> three year old. He is just beginning to put together words into

> sentences...or began about six months ago and is steadily, slowly

> getting there. It's hard to carry on a conversation with him - to

ask

> him a direct question. I noticed yesterday, for instance, that

when

> my son's girlfriend asked him what he was drinking, he

> answered 'water' and that made me feel pretty good - just so you

know

> it's not an everyday thing. I have taught words to him through

flash

> cards and he remembers them. I watch him 'sound out' the

beginnings

> of certain words he doesn't know to correctly 'get' the beginning

> sounds by comparing them with words he DOES know. He knows colors,

> shapes and numbers up to his twenties. He has a great sense of

humor,

> plays well with other kids. He has this 'thing' he does where he

will

> put his fingers in his ears and kind of 'skip' around at times. He

> loves music very much - it used to be one of the only things that

> soothed him when he was a few years younger. He has no 'stopping

> sense'. If he loves something - ice cream, fruit snacks, chips,

gum -

> he'll eat it all in one felled swoop if I don't watch him and hide

it

> PLUS he finds my hiding places pretty much every single time.

Match

> box cars or toys - he knows exactly how many of each color he has

> when he is 'into' playing with them and will go ballistic if one

goes

> missing.

>

> My worries are that he's not been away from me very much - as in

> being taken somewhere (daycare). I do work part time and he stays

> with my husband and my sons then so he's used to being away from

ME

> and does fine. The main worry I have is how he'll react to a new

> place and his behavoir when he's corrected. HERE at home, he

screams

> or he'll repeat the phrase we've used to correct him and scream

out

> the last word - getting very agitated and angry. I've tried using

> time out and it's worked but I don't think we're very consistant

on

> it. I noticed last week when I put him there a few times that

later

> in the afternoon, he came up to me and pointed at the chair I'd

sat

> him in and said to me 'no screaming' - so I know he got the

concept.

>

> I just don't know where to start or what to do. I have plans to

call

> the school system the first of Sept. - once they are settled into

the

> new school year - to see if there are any classes I can take him

to

> or if he can be tested there - anything to help him prepare for

> starting school.

>

> My question or ONE of them - how can he be correctly tested if he

> screams or cries the entire time I leave him (am assuming I'll

have

> to be away from him when they test) either way - with me there or

> without, I feel he'd be at his worst in that situation. I KNOW

these

> people know what they are doing - I just would like to know for my

> peace of mind HOW they do it when he exhibits this type of

behavoir?

>

> I'd say I'm sorry for the length of this post..but I'm not. I have

> read books, joined lists, talked to others...and I'm not asking

you

> to diagnose my child at all but just some advice on where to

start,

> what you think....

>

> Thanks in advance for taking the time to read what I wrote.

>

> Tammi

>

August 23, 2006

He sounds exactly like my son who is 5 and going into kindergarden,

I have had him " tested " I guess you could call it that, he has seen a

child psychiatrist who simply said after 15 mins, " oh he is definitely adhd

and you need to get him tested at the Childrens Hospital " . It takes months to

get into the

Developmental Dr, but finally we did and we had an hour appt. where he asked

me many questions and he gave a few tests. The ones he would answer he

scored a year above his age. This Dr. also dx with adhd and dysgraphia, but

only

possible AS or ASD...he wants him to go to regualr school and to see the OT

and

ST....which also took forever to get appts.....this isn't meant to scare you,

but I am

now frustrated because I have come to terms with his AS and it seems others

won't

dx so he can get the help he needs...I am totally scared to death about him

starting

regular school......he goes to an in home daycare now and one of the kids

asked me why he acts so weird (not wanting to hug or play and sometimes makes

funny noises)....i hope this isn't a prelude to school...and to answer your

questions

the Dr. i went to had me in there the whole time...and I had to bite my tongue

not

to help him answer the Dr.

I hope this helps (you are not alone) keep us posted..

Kim

Tammi <kianstam@...> wrote: