[lemmesee]

I understand that only time can tell but my 3 year old (almost 4 now) son has been diagnosed with autism and possibly my youngest, my two year old may have it. Anyway, I am going to just focus on my oldest because that's what he was diagnosed with. Anyway, he doesn't talk except a few mumbles and yells "no" every now and then. He doesn't talk but understands what I say to him. I can ask him to do all sorts of things and somethings he has figured out on his own, such as using a screw driver to pry open a locked door. My question is and I am confused about this BUT what makes someone with Asperger's different from someone lower on the spectrum? I think if my son is Autistic he probably has Asperger's. How would I know?

BTW here's a picture of my son Nova, I am talking about. He was about ten months old in this picture.

((((((((((((((lemmesee))))))))))))))))

I remember when my son was diagnosed, it really hurt for a while. Even though I *knew* before his diagnosis that he had autism, it was still kind of a shock to have it become so "official". Everyone reminded me he was still the same kid that he was before the diagnosis, and it's true, he was...it's just a label to help us know how to help them.

When my son was diagnosed, the psychologist was on the fence between autism/aspergers. Now that he is older (9), I would definitely say he has aspergers. If I remember correctly, it's easier to just identify kids as being "on the spectrum" when they are young, and it becomes more obvious as they get older sort of where exactly they fall on the spectrum.

My son had very few words at that age. I read about making dietary changes, and removed dairy from his diet to see if that would help. His language increased dramatically. Then we removed gluten and saw more improvements. We've tweaked it a lot over the years, removing and adding things to see what helps him feel better.

My son has always been VERY VERY obsessed with really specific things. For a while it was rockets....recently it's been first aid...now he's into making comics, but they are first aid comics. He has a tough time understanding social nuances, and has taken some social skills classes to help with that. I think those are two of the things that really point to aspergers for him.

I hope you are able to get your questions answered...there's a lot of information to wade through at first!!

((((lemmesee))))))))))))) your son is very cute. I know how hard it is to hear those words. I want you to know there is always hope. My son was DXed at age btween 6 to 8 with PDD. I want you to know he could not talk till a very long time. He now can talk up a storm. Hes 18. No one would ever know he has PDD unless speaking to him for a very long time. Even I forget.
hope these links help the last one i like the best

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topic...rs/index.shtml

"
What's the difference between autism and Asperger's syndrome? What do they have in common? That's a question that concerns many people.
Asperger's syndrome and autism are both on the spectrum of Autism Disorder which also includes Rett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, etc. All these types of autism disorder present at least some of those symptoms: echolalia (repeating words said by others), abnormal social behavior, restricted range of interest, poor motor coordination and self-stimulating behavior.
Asperger's syndrome is a mild form of autism. People suffer asperger's don't have communication delays as people with other forms of autism have, they function relatively well in terms of intelligence and social functions, and they often manage to go to school, graduate from colleges and live independently. Asperger's syndrome is a specific type of "high-functioning autism"(HFA), which is characterized by poor social skills, advanced and overly formal language, and extensive, pervasive interest in a specific subject. It's said that geniuses and people with asperger's share same characteristics, because they both have narrow interests and are more focused and persistent on what they are doing than normal people. Many geniuses showed asperger's traits, for example, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, George Orwell and H G Wells.
Both Asperger's and Autism are subgroups of a larger diagnostic category called Autistic Spectrum Disorders(ASD), people can be affected by the disorder very differently form others."

http://www.autism-world.com/

Your son is cuuute!

I've got a son 11 years old with Asperger's Disorder.
I think treehouse and muffy explained the differences between autism and Asperger's in an informative way.

*special interests... deep deep diving into the subject/activity
*good verbal skills (almost "too good" sometimes - I would say lol)
*normal up to high intelligence
... some signs of Asperger's

Feel free to pm me anytime.

/daynnight

[lemmesee]

Thanks for the comments about my son, yes he is a cutie...He gets it from his dad! LOL naw, he gets his good looks from his momma. Anyway, I read about the symptoms at that website. My son definitely fits a lot of those. BUT he's not over sensitive to stuff, except Pantera, Stone Temple Pilots and other rock bands...I have spotted him with both fingers in his ears in the back seat with the radio turned down low. He will get up set if he say, has his toy truck turned up side down, he is spinning the wheels on it and you get up to move a toy or pick one up for his bubba and he'll screams bloody murder. When he does that, I just grab him pick him up and give him a big kiss on the forehead. He is affectionate, he does smile at you and will randomly hug you. He also know the difference when you are mad because if you use, "Nova get your butt over here now!" He'll run off and hide. So some of the things in there really don't fit him at all but some of it does. I don't know I am not the expert and there was literally a team of "experts" about ten in all who observed him at the same time at the school here. I'd also appreciate it if anyone knows of some support groups for parents with Autistic children in my area. I've searched and haven't located none...I am still a n00b to all of this. I live in Fort Worth by the way...Thanks for all yalls help!

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You know what to? I'd do it all over again 100 times. I love both my boys very much and could care less if they both are Autistic or not.

heres a another link. First one is for your area.
http://www.partnerstx.org/Resources/Autism/Support.htm

I had after many issues with my son. And a few dxs that were incorrect. It was a long road till the PDD one was put in place. Well 8 years .ALso LD one. Anyways a Dr who only did Autism that came and gave him a eval. Also spoke to me and I had to give a complete history of both sides of the family. He came many times. Then he Dxed him with PDD. Everything else had to be ruled out as you know.
Its a hard Dx to do I guess. Do not stop till you and his mom are satisfied. I still after 18 years of dealing with this feel like a noob lol
As its a ever changing issue with in them.
One Dr had Dxed him with something he did not have before this other Dr. That has come back up to haunt him so to speak. Thats why I said for you and your wife to be satisfied with the Dx if one happens. As you 2 know your son best.
Your son will do good he has the both of you ..
A side note I have to say these kids are so specail , they are such a gift from god as you know.

[lemmesee]

Originally Posted by muffy

heres a another link. First one is for your area.
http://www.partnerstx.org/Resources/Autism/Support.htm

I had after many issues with my son. And a few dxs that were incorrect. It was a long road till the PDD one was put in place. Well 8 years .ALso LD one. Anyways a Dr who only did Autism that came and gave him a eval. Also spoke to me and I had to give a complete history of both sides of the family. He came many times. Then he Dxed him with PDD. Everything else had to be ruled out as you know.
Its a hard Dx to do I guess. Do not stop till you and his mom are satisfied. I still after 18 years of dealing with this feel like a noob lol
As its a ever changing issue with in them.
One Dr had Dxed him with something he did not have before this other Dr. That has come back up to haunt him so to speak. Thats why I said for you and your wife to be satisfied with the Dx if one happens. As you 2 know your son best.
Your son will do good he has the both of you ..
A side note I have to say these kids are so specail , they are such a gift from god as you know.

SWEET! Thanks for the link, I knew there had to be one, but I had searched and never found one. I just want what's best for my kiddos. BTW my son was shown flash cards today, and I asked him Nova! What is this? He said APPLE! then I showed him the E with a picture of an egg and asked, Nova? What is this? His said EGG! I said yes, like you have scrambled for breakfast! I am soooo stoked! W00t!

yayay ((lemmesee)) I am so happy i could help. I remember so very long ago for me when my son was your age. Autism was not so widely known of . It was there but not out in the open . Like it is now.If you did not have it full blown it could get missed. Support groups here .,..there were none. My friends I have to say were wonderful about it. They helped me and him so very very much. At your sons age I could not undertand a word he said . He also for got what things were and at times he still will lose the name for a object.
I am so happy for your son and you be proud.You have a gift in him and your other son
I want to say , when I read what your son had done with the flash cards I too went Woo Hoo and smiled. That great. Words and knowing what a object is? yayayayayayayayayyaya
(((((Nova))))))))))))))))))))))))) good job hes on his way.

[Trying & Caring]

Your son is such a DARLING. I think he definitely takes after Dad, too, especially around the eyes. It is so hard to have anything bad or difficult to happen to happen to your children.

I've had a hard time w/bipolar BUT when my children both went through difficult bouts of depression in their late teens & early 20's it tore me apart. I so wanted to take their pain away. We got them treatment & they are doing well at 33 & 30 yrs. old!

But it is a killer to be a parent when anything is happening to your child. When my son was going into kindergarten the school tested him (private school) & said his fine motor skills were not up to par. I was devastated. Like I had disabled him in some way. I worked w/him as you are working w/your son & he made many strides in those fine motor skills--but Mom was a mess!

In your area NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness--though I don't think Autism is in the category of "mental illness"--it is like ADHD--they are in the DSM code). Anyway, they may have a "Family to Family" class (free, very supportive & informative).

Or contact the MHA (Mental Health America--formerly Mental Health Assoc.).

Take care.

[Sammy Jo]

My son was also diagnosed with Autism last year. He is three years old. The doctors told me that he was on the low end of the spectrum but with therapies he would go up the spectrum, such as Aspergers. My son has not, he has only gotten worst. He says "no, bye and sometimes hey".

Unlike your son, he does not understand what is said to him. So maybe that is a good sign for you. The doctors told me that people with Aspergers are able to more "normal" lives (I hate that word "normal" but that's what they said). We are still hoping that there will be some progress with my son.

I know this is hard to go through. The doctors don't tell you much, so you have to do much of the research yourself lol...
Hang in there!! I wish you all the best of luck to you and your son!!!

((sammyjo))))))) My son has pdd. He could not talk for a very long time.
Now hes non stop sometimes. Hes 18 now , there is always hope;
There is alot out there on the net about it. Keep looking. Your right it can be very hard with Drs, Finding a Dr who does only autisum is the way to go if you can

[Callista]

Yes. And avoid quacks. There are SO many people preying on families of kids with autism, saying they've got the miracle cure or diet or therapy or whatever, supporting it with bad science, charging thousands upon thousands... It's sad, and it robs the child of his childhood in many cases. Spending day after day in therapy, every move regulated, is just not a proper childhood... There are so many more important things than being like the other kids, and being happy is one of them. Really, what is best for autism is simply education--teach the child what he needs to know, and teach him in the way he learns best, which is almost guaranteed to be atypical. If you want an example, take me: I learned to crochet when I was three (fine motor) but couldn't ride a bike 'til I was twelve (gross motor skills). I learned algebra at eleven years old, but couldn't memorize the multiplication tables until I was sixteen. Atypical learning style... so very common. So you don't try to standardize the child--you tailor the teaching to his way of learning. Simple--and complicated--as that.