Do you have an Asperger's child without major social skills deficits?

[Anonymous]

Not to break your bank, OT, but others might disagree w/this: I'd try to save $ and get in w/Dr. Greenspan himself. We are by no means wealthy, and it was a struggle to put aside 1800, but Dr. Greenspan (which includes Jake Greenspan's visit) might get you some answers.

[Anonymous]

If you think an evaluation is necessary, by all means go for it. However, I think it just sounds like you've got an intense little kid who is socially dissimilar from his parents.

Not all of us are meant to be round pegs.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP who said scrape up your money and go see Dr. Greenspan. As far as I know he's the ONLY one who can clearly distinguish ASD from non ASD disorders. He's been studying and seeing ASD patients longer than anyone in this country.

Your DC sounds like my DC. He had all those obsessions too. But he was not diagnosed as having ASD. He was dx as having a sensory regulatory disorder by Greenspan himself. Big difference. And the difference isn't JUST social skills deficits. It's far deeper than that. The autistic child has an compromised ability to share intimacy and deep relationships, even with his caregivers. Sensory kids, however, are very loving with their parents. They may not like hugs or kisses sometimes because they may be sensory avoiders in some sense, but they feel deep love and deep intimacy and can share their feelings well with their caregivers. Not so easy for ASD kids.
Greenspan would not care how your child relates to his friends at school. He would watch closely how your child relates to YOU and your DH because that is supposed to be the closest people to your child. He would ask you to play with your child and watch you play with him.
Greenspan says he isn't concerned about labels but I think he says that so parents don't panic when they hear that their child has ASD. Thats why he often gives the diagnosis 'static ecephalopathy' instead of 'autism.' Yes, it helps with insurance reimbursement too. But he's very mindful of not upsetting parents too much and to get them refocused on what matters most which is getting started on the hard and long journey to make great neurological changes in your child.
It's a long road and a hard one. Greenspan will tell you if your child was ASD to be ready to do hours of floortime a day. If your child has a sensory issue, you'll be doing lots of floortime and OT too. The diagnosis does matter because with an ASD child you'd probably look for social skills classes. With a sensory kid, not likely.

[Anonymous]

Actually, greenspan diagnoses kids with regulatory as sensory disorders as having Static Enceophalopathy becuase of reimbursement. Kids who he labels as on the spectrum get a spectrum label

[Anonymous]

I just got done reading Quirky Kids by Perri Klass and Costello and there is a lot in there that you may find helpful as you search for answers.