Reply to Diagnosing high functioning autism in an older child

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here.  Thanks so much for all of the feedback.  It is very helpful.

My son has a very hard time with social skills and with fitting in.  He does have a couple of friends but he has a hard time with basic skills like saying hello or goodbye.  He is very awkward outside of the home environment and very uncomfortable outside of the home.  He is highly sensitive, both emotionally and to any strange smells, tastes, etc. He doesn't have a typical level of life skills either and is very clumsy. I could go on and on and I realize that I should just have him evaluated.

I am a bit frustrated that after he's spent so many years in therapy (since he started school) and on medication that possibilities other than anxiety are just being raised now.    [/quote]

Don't beat yourself up.  It is very common for Asperger's (which now exists as ASD, level 1, in the DSM-5) to be diagnosed in older kids or even as an adult. And anxiety is commonly comorbid.   Better late than never....   Go see Dr David Black if you live in this area.   He is the area's expert on Asperger's.[/quote]

+1.  For what it's worth, our 12 DS has significant anxiety and trouble fitting in, but does have friends.  Our therapist likewise floated the Aspergers possibility, but also said her treatment approach would essentially be the same if the diagnosis is confirmed.  She said a neuro assessment may be worthwhile if we planned to advocate for school accommodations, but otherwise we might save our money.[/quote]

Thank you both.  My son does have a 504 alreafy so I am not sure the diagnosis would make a difference.  [/quote]

You can try to get an IEP:  My son gets OT, social skills, pragmatic speech therapy (will help with "hello", "goodbye", jokes, irony, etc) and got PT when he was younger, all at school.   Gets lots of social supports and is a popular kid with friends and well liked by classmates fully mainstreamed at a dual language school.

The OT and PT helped with DS's clumsiness.  The OT taught him to touch type in second grade and also to tie his shoes and use utensils when younger while the PT taught him to climb playground equipment and to dribble a ball among other things.

DS has always been above grade level academically and excels at an elite level in his hobby.  Getting the supports at school has been wonderful for his self confidence and if ASD is suspected, there can also be other issues like ADHD, learning disability in written expression, anxiety, etc.   it was definitely worth the expense to get a neuropsych eval for us.

Getting a diagnosis has only helped DS.[/quote]

I think this PP is a great parent but you should know that it is highly unusual to get this level of support for a child who is above grade level academically. I would only do the evaluation if you think it will help your own peace of mind or your child's peace of mind or change the treatment course (although this doesn't seem likely either) rather than any hopes about extra school support.[/quote]

OP here. If it were determined that he had ADD, then that would likely affect which medications he takes.  Currently everyone has assumed it is only anxiety.  [/quote]

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