Asperger's vs. Sensory Integration Dysfunction

[isyne4u]

I usually come to the DISabilities when I have questions related to my best friend and her CP or some question about my special ed. students that I teach.

Today that changes. I have a 5 yo that has been referred for testing by a neurodevelopmental doctor (not sure exactly what I'm supposed to call him). The appt is not until Dec because that was the earlies appt they could give me.

Anyway, I've begun to suspect that my son has Asperger's Syndrome and as such discussed it with my ped, well, I only gave her the examples of the behaviors I was questioning and she mentioned asperger's as one of the posibilities. So now while I'm waiting I have spent a fortune at Barnes and Noble on books related to Asperger's and Autism.

One of the books I bought was reccommended by a fellow teacher whose daughter has some similar issues. The book is "The Out of Sync Child". As I read it, I began to think that this sounded more and more like my DS.

So my question (finally!) is Are Asperger's and SI dysfunction related? Are they often confused? Are they really one and the same?

I would truly appreciate any information you all might have. I'm trying to look at this from the clinical, teacher, perspective rather than the parent one....I teach special ed and never imagined myself with a child who might have problems.

Thanks,
tara

 

[TinkTatoo]

My DS has HF Autism, Dyspraxia and Sensory Integration Disorder so these conditions can exist together. I think they are related as parts of one are seen in another - they can exist separately but usually co-exist with other conditions (as in my DS's case)

I hope this helps and good luck with your appointment in December

 

[disneymom2one]

Many kids with Asperger's and/or HFA have sensory issues. With our almost ten year old it was the SID issues that were more apparent and we were pretty surprised when our evaluation revealed Asperger's. It makes sense now as many of the sensory issues have gotten better with time but the Asperger's type issues seem more permanent. But there is a tremendous amount of overlap.

 

[isyne4u]

Thank you for the responses. I have scoured the books I have to see if they mention them coexisting but none of them do.

So in the books that I'm reading it is possible for me to see parts of him in both books.

Okay, at least I know now that I'm not crazy!!
thank you so much! I knew someone here would be able to help me!

tara

 

[MommytoMJM]

My daughter also has autism, dyspraxia and SID (among other stuff) so yup, it is possible and hard to sort out too! Good Luck.

 

[taximomfor4]

I have not ever looked into Aspergers, my first and second dd have SID though (among other problems, more physical in nature.) My impression is that Aspergers has the communication issues involved. SID is the sensory overload problems. SID is a common problem with Autistic kids, I know, but CAN and DOES exist independently also.

My oldest dd, 11 now, is MUCH better with her SID...or really, she has just learned what to do for herself when she starts getting overstimulated. But she never was as bad with it as my second dd.

My second dd is just as bad as she ever was with the SID stuff. But being very sociable, and very verbal, making eye contact,etc, Autism and Aspergers have never been suggested as possibilities. Her SID might be a long-term thing, it is possible that more is going on in her central nervous system than we have identified. For now, SID. Pretty severe SID.

Good luck at your appointment, doesn't waiting so long get depressing? Every appointment dd has takes forever to come (she sees all specialists).


Beth

 

[riu girl]

DD was diagnosed with SID at age 3. But the dr. who gave her the assessment said that 90% of kids who took the current testing tool she used would have come up with some sort of SID. I then asked about ASD. I was told that no DD was not ASD and that SID and ASD often do show up in the same child but some kids have one and not the other. Since then we have been told that DD has some Aspergers tendencies (but is not actual Aspergers, does not fit enough fo the criteria).
confusing......

 

[Figment1964]

My second dd is just as bad as she ever was with the SID stuff. But being very sociable, and very verbal, making eye contact,etc, Autism and Aspergers have never been suggested as possibilities. Her SID might be a long-term thing, it is possible that more is going on in her central nervous system than we have identified. For now, SID. Pretty severe SID.

My ds has Aspergers and is both very social and very verbal. He makes okay eye contact but I can tell it's not his favorite thing. He got braces on his upper teeth today and was telling EVERYONE he came in contact with all day all about them. I had to remind him that he shouldn't be telling people he doesn't know about them and he said, "oh, yeah...I forgot!" His communication disability is that he doesn't "get it" when he's talking with others. He can hold a conversation for a little while, as long as HE'S interested in the subject but he doesn't do a whole lot of give and take with the actual conversation. He blurts his facts and thinks that's the way it goes!

As far as the OP, yes SID and Aspergers can co-exist. My ds has Aspergers, SID and Dyspraxia. I think it's pretty common to see the SID with the autism spectrum.

 

[isyne4u]

Aspergers tendencies (but is not actual Aspergers, does not fit enough fo the criteria).
confusing......

From looking at the info in the books and about what the DSM requires for the diagnosis, that is what I'm thinking about wiht my son. He doesn't match either one completely. But I know he is not "normal".

Taximomfor4...his communication is good when he is with people he is totally comfortable with. that's the confusing part. For example, tonight on the phone from his grandparents house he told me that he was writing a story (he can't write yet, he just turned 5) but that it was "complicated". And I told him that I couldn't wait to read his complicated story. He replied, "It WAS complicated and not it is uncomplicated". So he has a great grasp of language and knows where to use big words, but when it comes to interacting and communicating with people outside of his circle he gets very anxious. He tends to "bark" and "growl" at people if he does speak to them or even acknowledge their presence. If I force him to talk (this was before I really began to realize that he might have a problem) he would respond in short blasts and basically yell one or two word answers at people. Then I would fuss at him for being rude. So he would get quite and hide.

I sure wish kids came with manuals that had trouble shooting sections that would allow us to look up "barks and growls at others" so we would have an idea of what it might be.

thank you!!

 

[BethanyF]

My ds has Aspergers and is both very social and very verbal. He makes okay eye contact but I can tell it's not his favorite thing. He got braces on his upper teeth today and was telling EVERYONE he came in contact with all day all about them. I had to remind him that he shouldn't be telling people he doesn't know about them and he said, "oh, yeah...I forgot!" His communication disability is that he doesn't "get it" when he's talking with others. He can hold a conversation for a little while, as long as HE'S interested in the subject but he doesn't do a whole lot of give and take with the actual conversation. He blurts his facts and thinks that's the way it goes!
.

are you talking about my son? He is very similar to what you described. He can carry on conversations, but mostly about his chosen topics. People who dont know him think he is funny and ara amazed at what he can talk about. I have to tell them it is only funny or cute or whatever the first 300 times

With our almost ten year old it was the SID issues that were more apparent and we were pretty surprised when our evaluation revealed Asperger's. It makes sense now as many of the sensory issues have gotten better with time but the Asperger's type issues seem more permanent.

again, this sounds a lot like my son. I noticed SID before anything else. He has a dx of high functioning autism / asperger's. He is learning to control and deal with some of the SID issues. He knows when something will set him off and can usually tell me he will have a problem ('I cant do this because it makes me have to cover my ears') or take steps himself to calm down (roll on his yoga ball, pound a pillow, hold a blanket, etc).

So, in answer to the OP...SID can be part of Asperger's and Autism, but it can also stand alone.

 

[mbb]

Autism is called "autism Spectrum Disorder" for good reason...that is, there are so many variances within it from one end to the other...there are children who lick, bite, growl, bark, tweet, hum...rock, bang, flutter...sniff, swallow, pick, scratch, twirl their hair...blink...the list can go on and on...and like others have pointed out, a child can have autism, and not do any of those things.

Sometimes those things are referred to as "stimming"(for sensory issues), other times, it's a way of interaction or expression. Again, it depends on the child...and where they are "on the spectrum".

The part that can be the most confusing, though, is just when you think that you- as a parent - have your kid all figured out...it changes

We're here to listen

 

[tw1nsmom]

You may also want to research NVLD (nonverbal learning disability). It isn't an officially accepted diagnosis as of yet, and it makes the grey area of ASD even murkier, but it may be a better fit for your son. It is suspected that my DS may have a version of NVLD.

 

[Figment1964]

He tends to "bark" and "growl" at people if he does speak to them or even acknowledge their presence. If I force him to talk (this was before I really began to realize that he might have a problem) he would respond in short blasts and basically yell one or two word answers at people. Then I would fuss at him for being rude. So he would get quite and hide.

I sure wish kids came with manuals that had trouble shooting sections that would allow us to look up "barks and growls at others" so we would have an idea of what it might be.

thank you!!

My son also used to growl a lot more than he does now. I hadn't really thought about how it has decreased until now. He is making progress, I guess!

I'd be willing to pay double for that kids manual...if one existed!

 

[Figment1964]

are you talking about my son? He is very similar to what you described. He can carry on conversations, but mostly about his chosen topics. People who dont know him think he is funny and ara amazed at what he can talk about. I have to tell them it is only funny or cute or whatever the first 300 times

Yep, that's my son, too. Everyone loves Cam and thinks he's the funniest guy.

 

[isyne4u]

You may also want to research NVLD (nonverbal learning disability). It isn't an officially accepted diagnosis as of yet, and it makes the grey area of ASD even murkier, but it may be a better fit for your son. It is suspected that my DS may have a version of NVLD.

Oh Lordy!! Don' t throw another set of letters at me

By Non verbal do you mean he doesn't talk or communicate but is cognitively fine?

Boy, ASD covers so much. Its hard to believe they can diagnosis anyone!!

As I get closer to my WDW trip I will be scouring all the previous posts to see what I can do to make this trip more enjoyable for all. He won't have been assessed, but I can start to make some adjustments for him based on what I am learning.

You guys are great!! thank you so much!!

tara

 

[isyne4u]

I'd be willing to pay double for that kids manual...if one existed!

Maybe this is something we could work on here at the DIS!! hehehe We could make a fortune!

 

[tw1nsmom]

By Non verbal do you mean he doesn't talk or communicate but is cognitively fine?

Actually, it means just the oposite. NVLD kids are ussually quite good verbally (even advanced). Their disability lies in their difficulty with the nonverbal cues in life (facial expression, sarcasm, visual-spatial...).

Some think that Aspergers and NVLD are closer linked than Aspergers and Autism. The main difference (at this time...the criteria is still being set) is that NVLD kids ussually don't have one single area of obsession/special skill (although OCD tendencies can be seen).

 

[riu girl]

Since we are talking about LD's, can anyone tell me anything about a language based learning disability? What it is and anything else? DD just had a full assessment by a psychiatrist and the doctor has come up with no ASD but ADHD and a language based learning disability as a diagnose. Which makes no sense since her IQ and academcis are way ahead, but the doctor said it will show up eventually. Concerning the LD, her main concerns were exective functioning and working memory. Right now they are in the average range but feels that over time, difficulties will arise. The doctor also noted high anxiety.

Its funny, just when you are getting to used to one diagnose, something new is thrown your way.

Any thoughts???

 

[mlwear]

You may also want to research NVLD (nonverbal learning disability). It isn't an officially accepted diagnosis as of yet, and it makes the grey area of ASD even murkier, but it may be a better fit for your son. It is suspected that my DS may have a version of NVLD.

My youngest son has classic autism. My older has some qualities that seem like Aspergers (dx officially with ADHD, SID, anxiety disorder, OCD). Dev. pediatrician suggested NVLD. Some Aspergers/ASD advocates put it on the spectrum. I have been told Asperger included it originially in his Aspergers findings (I have no research on this). Dev. Ped. told me that if you one isn't skilled, NVLD is easily mistaken Aspergers. He even said (I think I have this in another post) that if it helps to get services and I am ok with it, then just let the school call it Aspergers.

My son who may have NVLD is extremly verbal. He has a gifted IQ and tests amazingly high in all verbal areas. He is very articulate. (However, he did have a speech delay as an infant). His inconsistencies with math is the biggest area of concern now. Some areas are easy, some are very difficult. He has a lot of problems with social skills and is emotionally hyper-sensitive.

 

[nwdisgal]

This whole area is evolving... As my neuro specialist told me about seven years ago, when they diagnosed my son, with High Functioning Autism "In ten years, we may call this something completely different." I think really that he was just referring to the enormity of this classification, and there are sub categories all over the place.

I have been told by my SLPs that the difference between Autism and Aspergers, is that kids with Autism tend to have the verbal delay, while the kids with Aspergers, don't have the speech delay. I've heard the school and others use Aspergers and ASD interchangably, though I think there are clear differences in each. As far as the Sensory Issues, I've been in support groups with moms who have kids with everything from ADHD, Downs Syndrome, CP, to Autism and there was a lot of cross over with sensory issues. It seems to be pretty common across the board for kids with Special Needs.