have two sons diagnosed Aspeger's, and have so many questions and am not sure where to start, but am very glad to have found this forum.
Admittedly I'm remiss; there is so much I still need to learn regarding terminology etc, my focus has been more on what my sons need.
So, finding places like this should have happened some time ago, there are reasons - good and not-so-good - for that which I might go into detail about in later posts.
My youngest - just turned 8 - was diagnosed PPD-NOS a few years go.
The diagnosing Dr - hired by the school for the original evaluation and this past Spring for the re-eval - has updated that diagnosis to Asperger's.
My middle son - now 9 - was diagnosed with Asperger's last year as well by the same diagnostician.
But somehow all that doesn't ... feel right.
What I've read, researched and discussed with specialists makes me wonder if our youngest is instead high-function autism - have been told there is a fine line between the two; have an idea of it, but I've never really been able to grasp how fine that line between may be, or not.
There are behaviors and reactions of his, ones that in reflection may not have been delved-into during the evaluations, that suggest the possibility - and also wonder if during the re-eval the extreme improvement in language skills was touched on, his vocabulary is ... wow, but things like his grammar structure and reading ability, well, aren't.
And if there is a difference, does it matter?
And also wonder if our middle's diagnosis stems from the ADHD meds he has been taking as one of the potential side effects is depersonalization - but that doesn't cover the "socially inappropriate" behaviors (not lewdness, but things like laughing when it's not acceptable).
He was diagnosed by a different Dr (whom he still sees, and who is aware of the Asperger's diagnosis) with ADHD two years ago and started meds then.
After talking with specialists, etc my husband is certain that he is Asperger's as well - considering we have discussed ad nauseam things like semantics - him: dictionary definitions, me: vocal tones and allusions - I can't help but agree!
We've always joked that our youngest is his clone - the resemblance is uncanny, like twins born years apart.
Their learning styles are just as similar, though our youngest's social skills lag greatly in comparison, as do a couple other non-surface distinctions.
My Mom-in-law agrees about the similarity/disparity between son and youngest grandson, and also has the same concerns about the boys that I do.
She's (mostly) retired and keeps up to date in her career-field, one that gives her leaping-point understanding of all of this ... she likes to research too.
We're told that some of the things our family emphasizes; volunteering with a dog rescue, insisting on manners, and my inability to keep to a schedule, have helped mould our sons into sweet-natured, charming and flexible children.
However many other ways we can help them we want to do!
Thank you kindly for listening, any advice would be welcome.
04 Oct 2012, 4:34 pm
