Could this be Aspergers?

[Anonymous]

I know Aspergers doesn't exist as a diagnosis anymore, but I'm not sure what it has been replaced with. Recently, we have had some people mention Aspergers to us in regards to DC4. We have an appointment with a developmental pediatrician, but we can't get in for a while.

In the meantime, I am trying to figure out DC. DC struggles initiating play with peers and has some social challenges. However, once comfortable, DC will run, play and talk with peers and adults. DC speaks with emotion and makes good eye contact. DC also has anxiety, sensory, and motor challenges that may indicate something like Aspergers, as well. DC does not seem to understand personal space boundaries and often needs to touch people. We have no concerns with pre-academics or speech/language. We are just trying to understand how best to help DC. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Any repetitive behaviors? Stimming? Obsessive interests?

[Anonymous]

Asperger's is now ASD, level 1.... Although everyone still calls it Asperger's.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks!

DC definitely needs a lot of structure and gets upset when things don't go as planned. DC does flap hands some when excited, but not always. DC likes to play the same games or the same way over and over again. Definitely has strong interests, but seems somewhat normal for age group (say dinosaurs, cars, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Sounds like my DS who was diagnosed at 4, eye contact, how he plays, etc

I would take your son for an evaluation. Either someone who observes your son at school as part of the evaluation and/or ADOS/ADI-R testing at Children's.

If you met my DS with Asperger's, you could not tell he has anything at all so the school observation with peers was important.

Gl!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like my DD who, after many months of waiting, is about to begin the evaluation process with a developmental pediatrician next week.

In the meanwhile, though, I've already been getting services for my DD -- a local OT provider once a week after school, and PT on the weekends at Dynamite.

Regardless of whether my DD warrants the official ASD diagnosis (TBD), she has some social delays and gross motor challenges that warrant early intervention.

And insurance covers it (well, some of it). They use a non-ASD diagnosis (for low tone or lack of coordination or something like that), which Blue Cross seems to accept.

[Anonymous]

The DSM folded Aspergers into the Autism diagnosis since it is a form of autism.

An evaluation will help you determine what's going on. Lots of developmental issues can look like autism. In any case there are lots of therapy options, so it's good to know what you're dealing with. Good for you for getting help for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like some SPD - sensory seeking. If he has good eye contact, good emotions, and can run, talk and walk with peers and adults, it doesn't seem like he is on the spectrum.

What motor challenges does he have?

Having some sensory or anxiety does not mean Aspergers or Autism. Don't be too quick to jump on board. Not all kids are made the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like some SPD - sensory seeking. If he has good eye contact, good emotions, and can run, talk and walk with peers and adults, it doesn't seem like he is on the spectrum.

What motor challenges does he have?

Having some sensory or anxiety does not mean Aspergers or Autism. Don't be too quick to jump on board. Not all kids are made the same.

My kid does all these things and he definitely has Asperger's. You cannot rule out Asperger's from "good eye contact, good emotions, and can run, talk...."

It's mostly a impediment which affects social communication with obsessive interests and repetitive behaviors. Op should get his child evaluated.

[Anonymous]

Make sure they test his receptive language. Most people assume if a child is verbal speech is ok but he may be struggling with understanding so he cannot formulate a response. Some kids hand flap with excitement. If they can turn it on and off, it is no big deal.

[Anonymous]

Could be Asperger's, but it could also be a language disorder (Mixed Expressive Receptive Language Disorder or Semantic-Pragmatic Language Disorder) or social anxiety.

I'd get a neuropsych exam to differentiate.

[Anonymous]

I would not be in a hurry to affix a label to your child, OP. Your child may have a number of issues, but they may or may not add up to an actual diagnosis. My DD has never had a diagnosis of ASD, but she has some similar symptoms. I focus on the symptoms, not the diagnosis. I read a very interesting article about Round Up as a cause of the huge increase in autism, ADD and other similar issues in children in the last 20 years, and I think it's a good hypothesis. I would try to clean up your child's environment and diet as a very basic start, eliminating sugar and processed foods, and see if her behavior changes. DD no longer has a LD diagnosis, and most of her symptoms are gone. A developmental ped will not tell you about diet and biomedical treatments, but in DDs case, they made all the difference, along with speech therapy and a few other therapies. Best of luck to you sorting it out, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not be in a hurry to affix a label to your child, OP. Your child may have a number of issues, but they may or may not add up to an actual diagnosis. My DD has never had a diagnosis of ASD, but she has some similar symptoms. I focus on the symptoms, not the diagnosis. I read a very interesting article about Round Up as a cause of the huge increase in autism, ADD and other similar issues in children in the last 20 years, and I think it's a good hypothesis. I would try to clean up your child's environment and diet as a very basic start, eliminating sugar and processed foods, and see if her behavior changes. DD no longer has a LD diagnosis, and most of her symptoms are gone. A developmental ped will not tell you about diet and biomedical treatments, but in DDs case, they made all the difference, along with speech therapy and a few other therapies. Best of luck to you sorting it out, OP.

Uh, yeah, because they believe in science...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not be in a hurry to affix a label to your child, OP. Your child may have a number of issues, but they may or may not add up to an actual diagnosis. My DD has never had a diagnosis of ASD, but she has some similar symptoms. I focus on the symptoms, not the diagnosis. I read a very interesting article about Round Up as a cause of the huge increase in autism, ADD and other similar issues in children in the last 20 years, and I think it's a good hypothesis. I would try to clean up your child's environment and diet as a very basic start, eliminating sugar and processed foods, and see if her behavior changes. DD no longer has a LD diagnosis, and most of her symptoms are gone. A developmental ped will not tell you about diet and biomedical treatments, but in DDs case, they made all the difference, along with speech therapy and a few other therapies. Best of luck to you sorting it out, OP.

Uh, yeah, because they believe in science...

Diet is science. Chemistry.

NP here OP - I agree not to jump with labeling and diagnosing. It is very easy to get up in all of this but some kids have more anxiety than others which tends to exhibit quirky behavior. Others just need more gross/motor work. It may not need a lot to change things. Clean up the diet, keep a schedule, regulate sleep, keep a log. Talk to your regular Ped, preschool teachers, and get a reputable OT eval.

But again, docs, OT's, and parents of SN are very quick to label and diagnose so be careful.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not be in a hurry to affix a label to your child, OP. Your child may have a number of issues, but they may or may not add up to an actual diagnosis. My DD has never had a diagnosis of ASD, but she has some similar symptoms. I focus on the symptoms, not the diagnosis. I read a very interesting article about Round Up as a cause of the huge increase in autism, ADD and other similar issues in children in the last 20 years, and I think it's a good hypothesis. I would try to clean up your child's environment and diet as a very basic start, eliminating sugar and processed foods, and see if her behavior changes. DD no longer has a LD diagnosis, and most of her symptoms are gone. A developmental ped will not tell you about diet and biomedical treatments, but in DDs case, they made all the difference, along with speech therapy and a few other therapies. Best of luck to you sorting it out, OP.

Uh, yeah, because they believe in science...

Diet is science. Chemistry.

NP here OP - I agree not to jump with labeling and diagnosing. It is very easy to get up in all of this but some kids have more anxiety than others which tends to exhibit quirky behavior. Others just need more gross/motor work. It may not need a lot to change things. Clean up the diet, keep a schedule, regulate sleep, keep a log. Talk to your regular Ped, preschool teachers, and get a reputable OT eval.

But again, docs, OT's, and parents of SN are very quick to label and diagnose so be careful.

Good luck

The dietary changes you're talking about aren't evidence based. That's the difference.