DS9 FINALLY diagnosed with Aspergers

[JESW]

It doesn't come as a surprise to me, but I am happy that we finally have a starting point and now we can move on. It has been a loooong time coming. I have posted about my son on this board frequently and we have had some rough times. Now that we know what we are dealing with we can learn how to help him. He has an appointment with a pediatric psychiatrist on 5/29 and we know that he will be given medication. It scares the heck out of me, but we know our son can't go on like this. (he gets very sad and has low self-esteem issues) At least we will have the summer to get used to meds.

And now we can get the right help for him at school, but I know it will be a bit of a battle. I have found that there is no road map for parents when they find out their child is "different". Fortunately, I have made two good friends with sons with similiar issues and they are helping me along. And I know I can always count on my DIS friends.

Thanks again for listening.

Jill

 

[DoeWDW]

Hang in there, Jill! It can be a rough road but the rewards are so great! Now that your son can get some help, he'll hopefully start feeling better about himself and life and will smile more. He'll stop focusing on his weak areas and hopefully will find his gifts and how to use them. We're all given gifts and talents - some of us just have to work a little harder to uncover and use them.

My son was diagnosed with ADD at about that age. The meds were our last resort - tried everything we could to avoid them. However, they helped him so much. He didn't come home from school crying anymore. Now he's 16, off the meds and doing much better because of all the coping strategies we've worked on over the years.

Sending prayers and pixie dust and hugs your way.

 

[Pop Daddy]

good, you cant get better until to know whats wrong

 

[zurgswife]

In my oldest DD's class there is a girl with aspergers.

We are a very small school and it was always very evident that she was different. Her parents found the out the diagnosis a number of years ago....it was never officially shared with the schools or friends. Finally this year it was shared with her class...mind you this is a whopping 34 kids....but it has made a world of difference. The kids at least try understand when she has driven them crazy...mind you they don't always have the understanding they should (but they are kids) but at least now they try because they have been explained about her condition.

Prayers and good thoughts and pixie Dust as well....After having the experience with Aspergers that I have...my advice would be that being forthing coming with the information might be more beneficial then trying to hide it...

 

[DisneyMomx7]

My 21 year old son has Asperger's. It's been a long road, but he's in college (living at home) now, and he seems to be happy. I think it's much harder when they're in grammar school because kids can really be mean.

Things do get better and these kids have a lot of love in them, and are really great kids.

 

[Lars624]

& for success on the meds. My DS wasn't diagnosed ADHD until he was in 7th grade. It was a rough road before that.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Well, Jill, a diagnosis, as we all know, is good, a place to start. Knowing 'what' helps infinitely. Some excellent thoughts aove, and so true. Your son will progress, you watch. I am so happy for you guys ight now, I think we will hear good things in the time ahead. Let us know how he and you all are doing. Okay?

And both these are so important............'I have made two good friends with sons with similiar issues and they are helping me along. And I know I can always count on my DIS friends'.

Dan

 

[soccerchick]

The unknown is scarier than the known. Hopefully the road will only get easier now and I hope you will have much success in tackling this diagnosis.

I taught a young man several years ago (high school) who had Asperger's. I saw him a few years later working at our local Linen's n Things and he was doing so well -- I was amazed at his progress. Makes me tear up now thinking about his progress.

I have another student now who I would bet all the money in my bank account has Asperger's. His parents don't believe he's "different" and refuse to have him tested. The school has tried to get him help, but can only do so much without parental cooperation. It breaks my heart because they are losing time to help him.

Good thoughts and PD coming your way...

 

[Jeafl]

Our good friends have 2 daughters, the older one has Aspergers, and the younger one is severely autistic. Grace, the one with Aspergers is doing very well. She is at the tail end of 6th grade and is on the high honor roll and has lots of friends. It was a long road, but it's amazing how far she's come. She is also involved in a tennis club where she competes with others. It has done wonders for her self esteem.

 

[tmli]

My ds also has AS and was recently diagnosed. It's nice to have a name, locally it opened a whole world of resources to me through the autism society. You may want to access a local chapter they are a wealth of knowledge.

 

[Loftus]

I hope this doesn't come across as a fatuous reply because that isn't the intent.

I have just read a novel here in the UK and the hero is a boy with Aspergers. I found it very uplifting and enlightening and, though I expect there are different degrees of the condition, I found it such an educational experience reading it - learning about something without realising I was.

It is called 'The curious case of the dog in the night'. I thoroughly recommend it and thought it might be nice for your son to see something where he may be able to relate personally with the hero.

My thoughts are with you.

 

[BrerMom]

I just read this article this week and was able to find it here, also: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4824772

Calling the kids "quirky" avoids a label and emphasizes the positives. Quirky has been used historically to describe somebody intelligent that doesn't fit the stereotype for that age-group. Asperger's kids usually qualify.

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by Loftus
I have just read a novel here in the UK and the hero is a boy with Aspergers. ... It is called 'The curious case of the dog in the night'. I thoroughly recommend it

Any idea where to get this book on this side of the pond? I didn't find it on amazon.com or bn.com

 

[Loftus]

Sorry I got the title a bit wrong...

Try this.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...002-1165603-7783208?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

 

[BrerMom]

Thank you! The reviews say that math geeks will love it! I think I qualify!

 

[JESW]

Thanks for all the kind replies. We know it won't be easy - but since when is raising kids anyhow? But at least we know what we are dealing with now - the unknown was the scarey part. I will look into the books and sites. We also have to find out if our public school will be able to give him the education he deserves. DS tests very high for iq but you wouldn't know it from some of his school work.

And on a side note...I HIGHLY suspect that DH has it too and I am encouraging him to get tested. The man is brilliant, has a very high job (he's a Fellow, for anyone who knows what that is...only the 4th at his company) and has always been "different"

Thanks again!

Jill

 

[Poohnatic]

My son also has Aspergers, was diagnosed two years ago.

I agree that having a diagnosis helps. If you haven't been already, Barb Kirby runs an excellent website, www.aspergersyndrome.org. She also has a message board, OASIS. It has been my lifeline on frustrating days!

We started with a developmental pediatrician and switched to a psychiatrist this year. The medications the first doctor gave were a good start, but since we've begun with the psychiatrist, he's now on three meds that have done amazing things. We've been tweaking the doses and think we've got the right blend. Next up is a therapist-most don't want to work with the younger kids due to the fatigue of keeping it together during the school day.

Good luck. Feel free to PM anytime you've got a question or just feel you need to vent.

Suzanne

 

[mbb]

are AS, and Aspergers is certainly one of their words...

A word that is just part of who they are...and that gives us better tools...

At the end of the day, still my babies...

PM anytime, and yes, Dis Friends are the best...

 

[missypie]

Welcome to our world! I think that if your child is diagnosed at a very young age it is pretty devistating because we all expect "normal." But when they are older when they are diagnosed, it is a relief because it explains so much (my DS was 10 when he was diagnosed).

As for the "quirky" kids thing...I think a parent has to embrace the diagonsis and forget the diagnosis, all at the same time. If your child is in public school, you need the diagnosis to get special services. The diagnosis also helps guide your reading and research, so you know which behaviors are related to Aspergers. But you also have to forget the label and just enjoy your child for his or her unique self.

 

[Big Dude]

Hi Jill. Lot's of great responses on this thread. I wish you and your family the very best with moving on. I work with a lady who has a son that was diagnosed a few years back. We see him when we go swimming at the Y sometimes. A story about him came out in today's local newspaper.

Express Times Story

We'll be rooting for him to get to round 4 so we will be able to see him on ESPN. Keep the faith.

Adam aka Big Dude