My ds12 is an asperger's kid - diagnosed at 9 (3rd grade) after extensive testing. We had known that there was something "different" about him for years but those things really became more apparent when we had his sister when he was 4 and we saw how she developed. Oh, so all kids don't flip out when their socks have seams and their shirts have tags? All kids don't need the same things to happen all the time - same drink in the same cup at the same place every day? The list went on and on.
Ds did ok in school up until 3rd grade when he needed to be more independent and he had trouble with that. 4th grade was with a tough teacher and he started doing things in class like bang his head on his desk when frustrated. 5th grade he had his first male teacher who was wonderful with him and really tried - but ds was getting in way over his head with dealing with changing for classes, all the social issues, homework, etc. 6th grade was a NIGHTMARE. We had him tested again - with tests they couldn't do when he was younger. It was then he was diagnosed with non-verbal learning disabilities including auditory processing. The more we read the more the things he was doing and having trouble with made sense.
In school he had an IEP, was pulled out for math and writing and at the end had a one-on-one aide, which they had to split between two people as it was too hard on just one person emotionally. My son was failing miserably and was an emotional wreck. It was taking a toll on him and our family. The neuro-psychologist who did the latest testing HIGHLY suggested that ds be pulled out of public school and put in an environment better suited to handle kids like him. March of this year we pulled him out of public school and he is now in a collaborative in another towns public school - so he gets the services but is still in a school environment. There are two classrooms with only 7 in his class with two teachers. The one-on-one interaction is just what he needs. Included in the ciriculum is OT, PT, counseling and social skills. On monday he will be going on his 5th field trip of the year as they incorporate them in the classroom studies.
Our son takes abilify and seroquel and both have helped him tremendously. At 9 years old he used to talk about just wanting to die...it broke my heart.
I could go on and on as of course what I wrote is just a small part of what we have gone through over the years.
Yes, my son has asperger's, but that is only part of what and who he is. My son is very thoughtful, kind and affectionate. He has had many explosive outbursts, but with the meds and the new school environment, these have subsided. He is creative, has friends and is doing so wonderfully this year. Every day we get a notebook home from school telling us what kind of day he has had and he has been getting glowing reports. It is SO FAR from just under a year ago when we really feared for his mental health. Ds also sees a psychiarist every month to check on the meds. He has seen therapists in the past but not at the moment.
I highly suspect my engineer dh is an apsie and his father too, but that's another story..
It is scary when you find something new about your child, but it is really not the end of the world. More and more is coming out about Asperger's. Over on the DISabilities board there are many of us with aspies and we have our good and bad days - come join us!
Wishing you and your son the best.....
Jill
