Second Grader (HFA or Aspergers?)

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My son Erik just started the second grade this year. Since he was a young, I have always noticed Autistic traits in him. He lacked eye contact, was very resistant to change, very sensitive to sounds, smells, textures, etc. He also had a speech delay, He talked in mainly vowel sounds and didn't really use sentences until around age 3 1/2. I also had to 'teach' him how to have a conversation. When he entered Kindergarten he had an IEP for speech, and was pulled out for occupational therapy, math and reading. In first grade, he started having a lot of meltdowns when things changed, during transition times, or when things weren't exactly 'right', (or what he thought was right or correct). His current IEP deals with developmental delay, Speech, and behavior issues. Now on to second grade, he progressed so well over the summer he is now in his grade level reading class! He is also doing awesome in math. He talks all the time. with people he is comfortable with, or if he's in a familiar environment. (However with strangers he has a hard time carrying on a social conversation and reverts back to talking about whatever he happens to be obsessed with at the moment.) The main problems his new teacher is having are his meltdowns, (mainly crying), and not paying attention and staying on task.) The Special education teacher and Social Skills teacher want to have him re-eveluated and his IEP changed if necessary to Asperger's. I have a few questions though. I was led to believe that if a child had a speech delay of any sort, they can not be diagnosed with Aspergers, but instead high-functioning Autism. What is the difference, and does it matter which label the school chooses? Also what should I expect with this evaluation? I am really glad I found this website and enjoy reading through and seeing so many things that remind me of my son. I love him so much, he is very curious, affectionate (when he wants to be), and has the neatest way of looking at things). He is truly unique and very quirky (just like me.) Thank you so much!

-Erik's Mom-

Clinically speaking, the difference between autism and asperger's is language delay vs no language delay. "Functioning" has nothing to do with it.

My son is diagnosed with PDD-NOS (hfa) because he had a language delay. Had he not had that, I was told he would have been diagnosed with Aspergers. When I was looking for books to give to a friend to explain autism I checked out books on both HFA and Aspergers, and found that the aspergers books were more fitting.

Autism is such a broad diagnosis that I don't think it matters what labels you are giving your child. As far as the school is concerned it's all autism. In my school district, Autism is used for both, but it's a state regulated category that a child needs to be put in to get an IEP. What I would focus on more is what are his difficulties, and what can you do to help, and what are the strengths and what can you do to nurture those. IMO Labels can be limiting.

When the new version of the DSM comes out it won't really matter. Most here will say there is very little discernable difference (if any) between HFA and AS. My daughter had a mild speech delay (didn't have any words until 2.5 years) and was still diagnosed with Asperger's.

Whichever label the school chooses to use should be irrelevant. The IEP should focus on the areas where he needs support and that doesn't change if you call it AS or HFA. If he would benefit from a social skills class then that is what they chould provide him. If he needs OT then he needs OT. The school's label is not a medical diagnosis anyway. I would be inclined to let them call it whatever they want to call it then move on to the real focus, what are your child's needs, strengths and challenges. Good Luck!

The label really doesn't matter as long as the label he has gets him the help he needs. We went through a private behavioural psychologist for our initial Aspie diagnosis for both of our children to get them the help they needed as quickly as possible.

Once that was done we found a multi-disciplinary team with 6 separate specialists in different fields. All up the kids had 2 years of 3 times a week visits to confirm the Aspergers but also to find out their most prominient traits and any other problems they had. Once that was completed we stopped seeing all specialists and used the reports and findings we had to research and come up with our own plans.

I was sick of hearing " I can't do 'insert activity here' because I am Aspergers". These days they do more and are capable of more than I would have ever thought possible.

My best advice to you would be to never think a specialist knows your child better than you do.

I really really don't like the idea of medication in a young child...(Ya, I know everyone says that probably). Also my family hasn't had good luck with Prozac in the past. I suppose I'm open to anything though as time goes on. The thing is, these meltdowns and crying over trivial things pretty much only occur at school, and occasionally at other daycare facilities he goes to rarely. Everything goes pretty smoothly at home, except when he's off in his own world and I'm trying to help him finish his homework or study. Could it be the stress of school just puts him on edge and sets him off over small things? The only behavior more severe at home then elsewhere is his stimming which I could care less about because he is really happy when he does it.
Also, since he already has an IEP with goals, strengths, weaknesses etc, what is the real purpose of them wanting to re-evaluate for Autism? Thank you so much for your replies.

I'd only do meds if it cannot be addressed behaviorally. My kiddo spent much of last year battling back tears when he was anxious/scared. We've worked through it behaviorally and have since a HUGE difference this year. If we had medicated him, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to control the anxiety and have the tools to handle future issues.