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nikkiARNGwife

New member
I haven't talked about this much in the forum but now we have a definite diagnosis.

After a very rough year in first grade with certain issues, I had Avery evaluated last month and as I had long suspected he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. (I just got the results this morning) This really wasn't news to me...I had known for a while that Avery's "quirkyness" was more than just being a little socially immature for his age. So honestly I'm relieved with this diagnosis..at least it lets us have firm documentation now to go to his school with.

He's crazy smart, but he has a hard time relating to his peers. He hyper-focuses on things and that's ALL he wants to talk about. (right now it's Sonic the Hedgehog). He has some OCD tendencies and has a hard time coping when things don't go as expected or if his routine is disrupted - that's where the school issues came in last year. He doesn't act out or have ADHD..he just has a hard time focusing, following directions and staying on task and if he gets frustrated by any of this he melts down b/c he doesn't know any other way to deal with it.

At home..he does wonderful..b/c it's his comfort zone..it's when he's out of that zone that we start to have trouble. He has sensory issues..hates loud noises, crowds, rooms with very tall ceilings freak him out..stuff like that.

But like I said, I'm actually relieved...I know my my kiddo and he's going to do great things..he just will have a round about way of getting there :)
 
Glad you guys have a diagnosis. Like you said now you have the concrete evidence to take to the school and hopefully they can also help make him feel more comfortable.
 
Nikki, Karsten is the EXACT SAME. I could've written that word for word, he even hyper focuses on Sonic too (and Pokemon, gah!) I was thinking about having him evaluated soon :(
 
Nikki, when we got Rachael's autism diagnosis last January, we felt the same. Sad, but relieved. She has grown so much with a program at school, and at home therapy. You will find a world of difference, because once you have a diagnosis, the school will be able to do more.

Sending you lots of hugs! He sounds SO much like Rachael in so many ways, Rachael is obsessed with the Chipettes LOL
 
We also just got this diagnosis. I knew back when he was in 1st grade but no one would listen to me. We finally got a diagnosis this May at 10 yrs old.
 
so happy that you finally have a diagnosis and now there is a direction to go... hugs!
 
So glad you got it figured out! Now you can use it to help him. :) My nephew was diagnosed with the same two years ago.
 
Glad that you got him evaluated early...My cousin's son was diagnosed with Asperger's about 2 years ago when he was in the 4th/5th grade...I think denial kept her from having him evaulated sooner...
 
I should add that the school had evaluated him twice between 2nd grade and 3rd grade but never diagnosed the Asperger's or even told me to get an outside evaluation. We had asked a pediatrician about some of his differences at a well check and he said it may need to be looked at, but that there wasn't anyone local. At the time I didn't have insurance so he was afraid to refer us in case it would mean it would be a pre-existing condition.

After Braxton was born we had to switch ped's and the new doctor wrote a referral right away. It still took from November till May to get an appointment and we did have to travel to Phoenix. But I was relieved to have the diagnosis that I always knew. Sometimes that piece of paper does matter.

I am getting ready to prepare everything I was on his IEP for next year and have called the school to arrange for an IEP review before school even begins. His routine/schedule to help him stay on task is one area I am really focusing right now. I luckily have the help of a friend at church that just finished her classes on special education (she is in the student teaching part right now) and she has given me lots of ideas and tools to help Anthony. Lots of it is visual reminders with a visible goal/reward. Part of it is also training ME (and my husband).

Hopefully we will also get him into a play therapy group this year too.
 
So happy that you finally have a diagnosis. My sons was evaluated for autism a few months ago and showed no signs of it ( i think there wasn't enough evidence for them to see it) i think he has a form of autism/aspergers. Hayden is obsessed with anything angry birds my mother got him these two plush angry birds (red and blue one) he carries them every where takes them when ever he leave the house and he sleeps with them. He has sensory difficulties (very sensitive to sound) he loves kids loves playing with them( not usually a sign of autism from what i heard) but he doesn't notice the ques of the other kids he play with. My son is a hugger he loves hugging kids (heard that wasn't a sign either) Hayden is super smart it scares me (happy scare) he went from not knowing how to read when he started school in September 2011 ( reading level 0) to now hes at a level 8 ( they want kids to be at a level 4 by end of kinder. His math skills are 2nd grade level. He can use a computer almost like an adult can surf the web and everything. Also he didnt start talking in full sentences till he was 4 years old. They did diagnose him with ADD. He also sees a speech therapist and Occupational Therapist 1 time a week each.
 
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So great that you guys got a diagnosis early on and that you can work with him and the school to make things better for him. :) Hugs Nikki!
 
Hailey my son also is social but prefers younger children and doesn't see their social cues at all. He will also hug, although he does turn his head. He doesn't like to be kissed or give a kiss. So in that way the sensory issues are inconsistent.
 
Glad that you got a diagnosis and you seem to be in a really good place with it.

My son, who just turned 18, probably would have been diagnosed with Asperger's at 6 or 7... if the diagnosis was as well known back then as it is now. He's going to college next year -- living at home to make the adjustment a little easier, but going to college. He's just different, but we love him and support him as much as we can... and try to teach him the skills he needs to be successful when we can't be there.
 
So glad that you know now how to better advocate for Avery. He sounds like such a sweet boy and I know he's going to go far in life!
 
You're such a good mama and it's so obvious that he's an awesome kid!! SO happy you got a diagnosis!! (((hugs)))
 
Amber1279 said:
Hailey my son also is social but prefers younger children and doesn't see their social cues at all. He will also hug, although he does turn his head. He doesn't like to be kissed or give a kiss. So in that way the sensory issues are inconsistent.
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Hayden loves playing with all kids doesn't matter of the age. I haven't noticed him turning his head when he hugs, also has no problems giving kisses or being kissed. ( loves giving rasberries). He goes in for his last evaul ( doctor does the same two tests every three months to see if there is any changes to the diagnosis. (if that makes any sense)
 
Thanks everyone!

It's like his doctor was telling me...even with a diagnosis of Aspergers..every kid is going to be different and have different issues. Avery is super affectionate and his sensory issues are mostly involving sounds and weird lighting etc. Like when we were on vacation a couple of weeks ago we took him and his cousins to a kid museum that totally freaked him out b/c it had really loud music and flashing lights and stuff. We eventually had to just leave he hated it so much..whereas the other kids were having a blast.

The worst part of this for me is seeing how other kids react to him. Like on the playground when all the other boys are wanting to play football or something..he wants to pretend he's Super Mario and he doesn't understand why they think that's weird. And then of course they'll pick on him..which really upsets me..b/c he doesn't understand why they'll pick on him.

This is kind of funny but I've been watching The Big Bang Theory on tbs this summer..I'd never seen it before and it's hilarious and all that but I kept thinking that Sheldon Cooper reminded me of someone and couldn't ever place it..and then one night it just hit me that he makes me think of Avery...the way he's SO literal in his thinking..the social awkwardness and stuff. So maybe he'll grow up to be a physicist lol
 
nikkiARNGwife said:
This is kind of funny but I've been watching The Big Bang Theory on tbs this summer..I'd never seen it before and it's hilarious and all that but I kept thinking that Sheldon Cooper reminded me of someone and couldn't ever place it..and then one night it just hit me that he makes me think of Avery...the way he's SO literal in his thinking..the social awkwardness and stuff. So maybe he'll grow up to be a physicist lol
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Nikki - this is the FIRST thing I thought of! :) And now that you know and understand why he has some difficulties, you'll be great at dealing with him and his issues.
 
Nikki! So glad that you now have an answer, and a direction to go. I think sometimes with things like this, as long as you have an answer instead of the not knowing and questioning all the time, that you can do it. You are amazing Nikki! I hope that things next year will be better for Avery.
 
So, I have a question... and I hope you'll forgive me for hijacking the thread to ask it. I've been thinking that I'd ask you all for advice, and since you posted this Nikki, now I'm curious.

Aside from what it will mean for your son at school, is there any reason to have a child evaluated? We are pretty darn sure that our son (Joshua--6) has Asperger's. He's classic. Ha! But since we homeschool, I haven't bothered to talk to a doctor about it. Knowing my family, I really don't want him to have a "label" (they just won't handle it well--they will talk about it all the time and make it so awkward for everyone). I figure right now, my husband and I are just doing good to know our son's strengths and weaknesses and help others understand how to be loving and kind towards him (like when he goes out with my mom, or when he's at swimming lessons). So, for someone in my situation... would you recommend I have him evaluated? I just don't see a need for it, since we teach him at home and can make adjustments for all his needs...

Thanks! :wub:
 
You've got a great attitude Nikki. It's huge just to know what you're dealing with. Ainsley has an auditory processing disorder, my gut told me something might be off and I had to request testing etc. I'm so glad I did because her diagnosis and treatment (and the fact that we got early intervention) it made such a huge difference, night and day, for her and all of us. Hugs!
 
webseitler said:
So, I have a question... and I hope you'll forgive me for hijacking the thread to ask it. I've been thinking that I'd ask you all for advice, and since you posted this Nikki, now I'm curious.

Aside from what it will mean for your son at school, is there any reason to have a child evaluated? We are pretty darn sure that our son (Joshua--6) has Asperger's. He's classic. Ha! But since we homeschool, I haven't bothered to talk to a doctor about it. Knowing my family, I really don't want him to have a "label" (they just won't handle it well--they will talk about it all the time and make it so awkward for everyone). I figure right now, my husband and I are just doing good to know our son's strengths and weaknesses and help others understand how to be loving and kind towards him (like when he goes out with my mom, or when he's at swimming lessons). So, for someone in my situation... would you recommend I have him evaluated? I just don't see a need for it, since we teach him at home and can make adjustments for all his needs...

Thanks! :wub:
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As a special ed teacher, I don't think there's any reason to put a label on a child's issues unless you need that label in order to get services, etc. As I mentioned, my adult son probably has it, but once we got through his issues in 1st grade he managed school just fine. I didn't need any services for him, so no point in putting a name on it. I'm fine with that for our family. Each family may have different feelings on the subject.

Nikki, you mentioned your son's issues on the playground. I have a daughter who is less than 2 years younger than my son. I think the reason some of his social issues weren't so obvious was that they did everything together and she was young enough to go along with his play schemes. Looking back, they were pretty strange, but he never really had to go outside our family for playmates so it didn't seem as strange at the time. He does tend to attract younger children to him without even trying... kids just love him. He wants to teach kindergarten and I think that's a great choice for him... using his strengths.
 
MissKim said:
Each family may have different feelings on the subject..
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Absolutely! Because each kid with ADHD or an ASD is different. And there may be times during their lives where they need a lot of support and then others where they don't. Everyone has different coping skills. Some kids sail right through elementary school and then hit a brick wall with their ability to cope when they get to middle school. Some families have great support networks and others don't. It all comes down to what you think your child can handle and can benefit from. But if they're not handling things well that their peers are, then I would think that it might be time to consider it. I don't mean just school, but also sports teams, Sunday School, scouts, other extracurriculars, etc. Because it's one thing if they're doing okay in school, but are isolated in the rest of their lives.
 
You do have an excellent attitude Nikki, which is going to make a world of difference in your lives. Avery is lucky to have a mama like you. :)

My son has sensory depth perception issues, but they have never held him back in any significant way. He does well in social situations, but is physically awkward because he can not judge exactly where he is. And he can't draw a straight line. Literally. It frustrates him, but does not limit him. He is so resilient and strong like so many other kids who are challenged in some way.
 
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