Are you or do you know someone with?

Asperger's Syndrome

Someone suggested that maybe we could start a thread about it as discussion and education, it has nothing to do with cats of course but this is the lounge so I figure it is okay to post this.

Asperger's syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder, associated disorders such as Autism. Here is a link regarding the definition of Asperger's and the diagnositic criteria. What is Asperger's Syndrome

My daughter was diagnosed at the age of 4 years old. As she's gotten older we've had more issues with her but then I wonder, what is typical and atypical behavior for a 6 year old like any parent would. She's very sensitive to sound and prone to over-stimulation.

She has problems with being a bit 'pitchy' at times when she talks and she speaks as though she is an adult at times...at other times she uses baby talk. She is highly intelligent (gifted in fact), has little to no imaginative play skills. She doesn't understand the concept in fact. We bought her a play kitchen and she didn't know what to do with it because it wasn't real.

She takes everything literally. You can't use aliterations with her because she thinks you are serious.

I figure maybe I can gather understanding from those who are adults that have this or other parents on the board that might have a child with this or regular autism (as they are related). As well as perhaps helping others understand what it is.

Well, you know that I have Aspergers. So there........

Observe me.

I had always been shocked by how often Aspergers is confused with some kind of mental disorder. It is a gift and a curse, a condition with brain biochemisty cascades going twitchy. It has nothing to do with any mental disease.

It just can be frustrating at times though to deal with as a parent. Her case was labeled (I hate that word but my brain struggles with the appropriate) as a more severe incidence of it.

Just make sure you never give you antidepressents. They work on a totally different branch of brain biochemistry. Giving her antidepressents would make her wacko.

They tried giving her Ritalin, which simply did nothing more than make her incredibly angry, agressive and the like.

Right now she is not medicated, though she does need occassional benedryl (per doctor recommendation of course) to help her sleep at night cause she can get terribly insomnic.

Benedryl decreases my appetite. Not sure if it works the same way with her.

Once I actually used Benedryl to lose weight. LOL.

Really? No her appetite is vorocious...but yet she is skinny as a rail.

My 13 year old son was dx'ed with Asperger's Syndrome 7 years ago. There have been many, many challenges, but he is doing better now that he attends a private therapeutic day school for kids on the autism spectrum. School runs year round, which is a big help during the long summer months.

There are many excellent forums on the web for help and support with AS. Do you have a specific question?

I personally do not believe there are any "mental diseases". The brain is just like any other organ in the body, sometimes it does not function perfectly. Fortunately, there is a lot of help and support for our kids.

Elise

Also, most of the most brilliant scientists are homeschooled Aspergers people.

I guess it's the frustration part of the bit. It can be challenging as a parent.

Of course. However, my parents' attempts and all their efforts to rectify the condition actually made me more nervous and depressed. I wished they could just take it easy.

We try to take it easy believe me, it's the acting out she's doing now which could be partly to do with the fact that she is after all 6 and a half. But sometimes it's just ARGH. Know what I mean?

I am a teacher and have a limited knowledge of this topic. I have known one student who was diagnosed with asperger's syndrome. He really needed a solid routine. If there was going to be a change in the routine it was important to explain to him what would be expected.

You really need to work closely with her teachers now that I assume she is in school. There are many things that the teacher can do to help that will also work with other students. Depending on what your school district is like your teacher probably has special education teachers to ask for support. Their ideas can be adapted for the regular education classroom and all kids would be allowed to use these resources if needed, at first might be novel to all kids (like noise filtering headphones etc), but eventually the ones that need them will gravitate to them.

I have also heard that they cannot read facial cue like you or I might. The student I am talking about had a hard time telling if you were sad or happy. It might be important that the teacher works with all the students to understand this (depending on how comfortable your or your daughter is with this). I know at this young age it might not seem that important, but kids can be mean and begin picking on students who are different.

If you have any questions about how to approach the teacher or just want to bounce ideas off of me please let me know!

Yeah that was one of the problems we were having that and a child was stealing her lunch money on the school bus, she told my daughter that she needed it and of course my daughter handed it right over...but as soon as I found out I took care of that issue and she takes some things as insults when they aren't.

One occassion I think a young boy tapped her on the shoulder she thought he hit her so she wallopped him.

We'll be starting at a new school so we'll go from there in the fall.

Kids peak at cruelty at around age 13. Make sure you have a backup plan at around that age.

Geez more to look forward to.

Does she or can see receive any services? I realize if this is not affecting her learning she will not qualify for services. However, she might be able to see the social worker. We are a smaller school and our social worker can take groups of 4 or 5 kids who have limited social skills and in that small group setting work through those types of things.

There are so many "hidden" curriculum things too that she might not understand. Like what kids not to hang out with etc. This is only my third year of teaching in the fall and if I had a parent who approached me with all of the knowledge that you have I would greatly appreciate it. That way you might curb some problems before they become a problem.

Just if you need knowledge about Asperger's go to Oasis's website...it's one of the better websites offering knowledge about Asperger's. My daugter's kindergarden teacher was quite knowledgeable about it and so that was helpful. As it can seem as though the child is simply peculiar.

www.aspergersyndrome.org

It offers alot of information for family members, those with it as well as for teachers and such. That should help you if you encounter students in the future with Asperger's.

I'm just concerned that all teachers are not as knowledgeable! Thanks for the website!

You are welcome, I think if it's important that schools are aware of what can be going on and understand what things are what if that makes sense?