[Solved] Aspergers

Hi Crocs

That's good to hear! I know how hard it's been for you so it's great to have these times of togetherness that are so precious.

I would think that an educational psychologist would be able to pick up on any problems like Aspergers/ASD, will you have an opportunity to speak to him before the assessment and make him aware of your concerns?

I think 1626 has some knowledge of the services available, she may be able to give you some advice and point you in the right direction.

Good luck and keep your chin up.

It's a 26 weeks assessment so I'll get chance I should think. I didn't mean aspergers, I meant the autism spectrum or something along them lines. School think it's possible ADHD but I disagree, I think it's more being left to his own devices, it's got out of hand and then when the reins are tightened he's like "why this now?" If you get what I mean. Something definitely isn't right though.

... He must be a very confused and unhappy boy, his father has been allowed to manipulate him and use him as a weapon to hurt you with.

Children respond to structure and routine and this becomes more important as the child gets older. Your son is constantly being given mixed messages, it's little wonder he doesn't know which way is up, he doesn't have the maturity to see what is happening, poor lad.

Lets hope that some good can come out of the assessment and he will get the help he needs.

It is hard to give a description of this since it is difficult to diagnose. It is pretty much a type of autism. The person will likely be very socially awkward, even anxious. People with Asperger syndrome are frequently brilliant in their own right, but you will find that most of their attention is focused on a single topic. A lot of the time they use odd language and can be physically clumsy. Depending on the severity of the disorder, the person may come off as "cocky" Because of their difficulty with social interaction and their extreme knowledge on a specific topic, it can seem that they are being rude or assuming, when in fact they cannot help the way they are reacting. That is, in a very general sense, Aspergers. However, the symptoms of this syndrome do vary.

Thanks all.

I've just had to complete a surgery for ADHD for CAMHs, whilst I ticked most boxes with regards to his behaviour I still feel it's down to lack of love, attention, time and being left to his own devices.

Hey Crocs

The contact sounds like a step in the right direction. Very pleased about that.

My knowledge is very basic on these issues, we do have another member who has more knowledge, I've asked him to pop along and have a look at your post later.

My son had difficulties for a long time. He had an Ed Psych referral and they sent on to CAMHS for Autism Spectrum Disorder screening with suspected Aspergers (which I believe is an ASD). This was negative and he now has a diagnosis of OCD/Anxiety and is being screened for ADD (as opposed to ADHD).

NHS Choices has a good basic outline of all the conditions mentioned and will give you a rough idea.

The Ed Psych should listen to any parental concerns and make note of any significant events that have impacted on your child which will be incorporated in any report.

To the best of my knowledge (being in a different area from you) CAMHS will only accept referrals from GP or Ed Psych.

Feel free to get in touch with me privately if you need to chat more.

Hopefully someone will be along with other advice too.

Take care and hope things continue to improve for you all.

Hello crocs...

I'm a little confused are you asking if he had aspergers or are you saying he does?

First question though, do certain events trigger it, the simple answer is no. It's a developmental disorder and it's in him or it isn't, it's a spectrum of course but I mean it's not caused by anything known other than potential for early brain injury and certain genetic disorders - short arm of chromosome 16(number might be wrong here).

There are no medial treatments - medical treatments target the symptoms only.

You ran a tight ship? Can you expand as this may have helped him if diagnosable but also may be the reason he doesn't cope well, I mean noone likes change especially when stressed we tolerate it or override it.

If he is, aspergers is mainly referred to in other modern literature as HFA high functioning autism and probably explains it better. There's a world of info from autism.organic. The best advice to give parents is to remember it's all.underpinned with ANXIETY. An almost pathological fear of change, you may find your son cam cope better when well informed, particularly when can return to whst he wants or can use whatever calms him. There's much more to fixed routines and obsessive behaviour than this but it's largely anxiety management, it helps distract, to lose themselves.

An ED psych can suggest it may or may not be but can't diagnose. It's essentially a pathway unless you've a brave (read dangerous) paediatrician or psychiatrist.

At the end of the pathway you can usually refer to a service such as banardos asc pathway in wigan than do a 12 week in home course on parenting autism as remember you're not parenting someone with normal cognitions therefore 'normal' parenting will not suffice.

In the pathway you usually see combination of;

Education psychology
Paediatrics
CAMHS
Speech and language (semantic pragmatic disorders)
And usually complete some form of questionnaire
Alongside an ADOS an autism diagnostic observation schedule.

That all goes to a panel usually made up of members of the above who rubber stamp or not. That said approaching things like he has may help anyway.

Thank you.
That's some great info.

I didn't mean aspergers as such I actually the autism spectrum.

So far we have the ed psych on board and CAHMS are doing the assessment.

Fingers crossed we may be getting somewhere.

It is hard to give a description of this since it is difficult to diagnose. It is pretty much a type of autism. The person will likely be very socially awkward, even anxious. People with Asperger syndrome are frequently brilliant in their own right, but you will find that most of their attention is focused on a single topic. A lot of the time they use odd language and can be physically clumsy. Depending on the severity of the disorder, the person may come off as "cocky" Because of their difficulty with social interaction and their extreme knowledge on a specific topic, it can seem that they are being rude or assuming, when in fact they cannot help the way they are reacting. That is, in a very general sense, Aspergers. However, the symptoms of this syndrome do vary.

Thank you for cutting and pasting from this answer 6 years ago - https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090323031701AA1xv4W

If you do this in future, can you please quote your source so there are no copyright issues.

Thank you.
That's some great info.

I didn't mean aspergers as such I actually the autism spectrum.

So far we have the ed psych on board and CAHMS are doing the assessment.

Fingers crossed we may be getting somewhere.

Autism, ASC, aspergers is much of a muchness tbh and is almost irrelevant it's determined by scores which always has the danger of losing the people. There was some advice thst symptoms vary, I wanted to expand on that. To get a diagnosis of anything you must have a spine of symptomatology but people still vary in their strengths and weaknesses.

Ed psych won't do a great deal but indicate best learning environment ir suggest further assessments. It's not a therapist. You'll get a report abd be lucky to see them again.

Most health professionals can refer to camhs, or could and some still accept but largely gp is always best as it's how it's commissioned.

A lot of children will be assessed for adhd as the symptoms overlap and with complicated children they collect labels. Complex trauma in early years can mimic symptoms but let me assure you neither you or your wife have caused autism. Leaving to own devices isn't always s bad thing. He's a child but he is an independent entity and being ruled isn't good, we learn from mistakes and parents stop us crashing from them.society has s terrible view we do and should control children then make them independently responsible at aged 10. If he has autism a tight ship may have helped and a loose ship upset him. But remember the wasn't conquer fears is to experience them. Even with autism however more difficult it may be you.want someone to.experience life and happiness as best as is possible and they still need to ve stopped from allowing fears to cripple them as best we can.

Camhs will.probably send connors out and diagnose other departments use the continuous performance test or the new one with a tracker ball on his head...

Tge first line in adhd us supposed to be parenting adaptation but is usually medication such as methylphenidate a stimulant. But when it wears off its back, it doesn't treat it masks but it's fast acting.

Hey Crocs

The contact sounds like a step in the right direction. Very pleased about that.

My knowledge is very basic on these issues, we do have another member who has more knowledge, I've asked him to pop along and have a look at your post later.

My son had difficulties for a long time. He had an Ed Psych referral and they sent on to CAMHS for Autism Spectrum Disorder screening with suspected Aspergers (which I believe is an ASD). This was negative and he now has a diagnosis of OCD/Anxiety and is being screened for ADD (as opposed to ADHD).

NHS Choices has a good basic outline of all the conditions mentioned and will give you a rough idea.

The Ed Psych should listen to any parental concerns and make note of any significant events that have impacted on your child which will be incorporated in any report.

To the best of my knowledge (being in a different area from you) CAMHS will only accept referrals from GP or Ed Psych.

Feel free to get in touch with me privately if you need to chat more.

Hopefully someone will be along with other advice too.

Take care and hope things continue to improve for you all.

hey 1626

It tends to be described as ASC or autism now they barely make the aspergers distinction anymore, largely due to the differences in people, ASC would mainly mean higher functioning, or less debilitation. When someone says 'negative' it makes me cringe but Im sure its only semantics.

ADD/ADHD - there isnt really a difference per se, I think the NICE guidance even goes as far as to say ADHD - non hyperactivity subtype to stop the confusion between ADD/ADHD because thats all it is, its about the lack of attention, concentration, impulsivity and what not. Id be interested if the psychiatrist/psychologist is accounting for diagnoses of OCD etc as theycould drive behaviours or indicate a powerful interchange (chicken or the egg) that would 'mirror' others. Ive heard one CAMHS department say that a child did nt have autism because they didnt display sensory issues (I think mum described it as - he didnt rub the [censored] chair) yet scored through the roof elsewhere. Its prbbaly done that young man a massive diservice throughout his education.

That said, if ASC has been significantly suspected, ADHD is highly co-morbid, trying to some parenting interventions that are for those with diagnoses will NOT hurt them.

http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism.aspx