mild autism

soontobesmokin

Hi there,
I was recently told my child has asd, mild autism which was devastating to say the least.
The child generally looks /acts normal , has a little difficulty with some words but improving. Generally most people cant tell.
My query is to anybody reading this have they themselves been diagnosed with autism when you were younger , what type of life you lead etc. I guess I just need to know my child can grow up to live a normal life ( even when im gone ) ( job, lovelife, be happy etc ). I hope I make sense.
Thanks.

magnumlady

Just to let you know my son is almost 16 and has Asperger's syndrome. It's not the end of the world, there is a lot of help and support out there.
I know of people with autism that are independant.
Read as much as you can about it and get as much help and advice.

That_Guy

http://www.independent.ie/health/case-studies/dealing-with-autism-its-like-a-cloud-has-been-lifted-705766.html

I read this article and thought that maybe it might help a little bit.

soontobesmokin

Thanks for that lads. Our child is the following;

1) In the top of his class academically.
2) Loves playing with other kids, cant keep him in.
3) loves hugs and kisses.
4) Was walking at 8 and half months.
5) Has extremely good manual dexterity.
6) Has an excellent memory, especially for numbers and directions.
7) Is bilingual.
8) Is still only 4.

And they tell us something is wrong ???

nb. I dont know why I wrote what I just did, I just felt I had to.

magnumlady

I think after reading that list that you need to get a second opinion.
A lot of as children are very bright and are great at remembering things, but some of the other things on your list don't add up.

That_Guy

magnumlady wrote: »

I think after reading that list that you need to get a second opinion.
A lot of as children are very bright and are great at remembering things, but some of the other things on your list don't add up.

+1

I honestly have no experience of autism in my family or anything so I can't give you proper advice other than to maybe follow magumlady's post.

newman10

magnumlady wrote: »

I think after reading that list that you need to get a second opinion.
A lot of as children are very bright and are great at remembering things, but some of the other things on your list don't add up.

+2

Again it does not seem to be Autism. Who diagnosed ASD ????

soontobesmokin

The local authorities began examining him after a recommendation from a speech and language teacher ( whom was recommended by the local health nurse ). He was a little slow with speech but we put that down to listening to 2 languages ( and can understand both excellently ). He does have to work a little on some words, but looking at other kids his age alot of them dont have word perfect speech.
They also said that the eye contact was poor when communicating, to be honest I can remember when I was a child and someone spoke to me I would light up like a red lighthouse I was so shy. He does make eye contact, with us at home( and others outside of course ) whom I presume he feels relaxed around he makes contact all the time.
To be honest I think he may be a little innocent. It is the one thing that concerns me most that no-one makes an idiot of him. I just think he needs to become a bit more 'street wise', which he is improving on a daily basis from monitoring him at play.
When I was younger I was as thick as three planks, totally naive, I know we all probably were when younger but I had bucket loads of it. I like to think that now I'm a little cuter.
I have another theory about this, with all respect to those who work in the 'autism inspector industry', I had a thought, do they need a constant supply of recommendations of children to make there operation viable? I know I am probably 150% wrong, but looking at the places where they carry out the tests, it seems to me a little too privatised ( contracted out ).
Im sorry if I have offended anyone with my opinion.

mel.b

Where specifically was your son's diagnosis done? Was it through one of the early intervention services, a centre like Solus or with a private pyschologist? Is he seeing/involved with any professionals (SLT, OT, Pysch etc) and were any of these involved in the assessment process? How long was the assessment process? Did you get a diagnosis quickly or did it involve a number of sessions/visits (including home and/or preschool visits)? What assessments were used - some common ones are the DISCO and ADOS. If you can provide some more specific information about the assessment your son had I'm sure you can get some more suggestions.

undecided

I would get a 2nd opinion if I were you. I have a little man 6 with asd and yes he is top of the class and very intelligent has language skills of a 13 year old but definately doesnt do socialising, bad fine and gross motor skills and alot of sensory issues.

Op I believe that most of us have autistic tendancies but a 2nd opinion wouldnt do any harm

Demonique

Could it be a case of Asperger's Syndrome rather than classic Autism?

It's good that it was caught early, going through life with undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome can be hell

soontobesmokin

Yes Melb he was tested with all the slt's, pysch, ot people over a period of a few weeks. It was a slow process to be fair and also waiting for the results. We are still waiting for the actual report where I can see exactly what they reckon the problem is. First we got a short letter back saying our child is asd, then we have to wait 3 months for the report/findings. To be fair to them I was at a ' recently diagnosed parents support meeting ', and I have to say they were very nice there. They tell you about all the supports and stuff out there, but the only thing is I really dont think the boy needs most of these things ( carers, etc ) I even brought it up at the meeting that do we have to apply for certain things if I dont think he needs it, and got a reply back saying I might aswell apply for everything if its there ( by one of the other parents, whom was also very nice ).
There is even an allowance called the domicilary allowance where you get a payment if your child has been diagnosed( which we have not applied for yet ) and if I put my hand on my heart, most of the questions where it asks what different types of needs your child has, when I read it I had to admit he did not need any of them.
And Demonique, yes I had suspicions of aspergers myself but correct me if Im wrong but I think a child must be over 5 years old to be diagnosed this, I heard this somewhere.
So now we are waiting on the report to find out exactly what is wrong.

Zaynzma

It is possible that they got the diagnosis wrong, or maybe he just barely reaches the cut-off point for ASD so that it is really really mild. If he doesn't have any sensory issues at all then that's great, you'll be spared a lot of trouble that parents of ASD kids generally have to go through.

Did the doctors mention the triad of impairments, the 3 areas that a child must be having difficulties with in order to get a diagnosis?

The only other thing I would say is that my son has "high functioning autism" which personally I think is Asperger's although the doctor insisted we shouldn't make any distinction between the two. My son wasn't diagnosed till he was 8, and a later diagnosis is fairly common with Asperger's or higher functioning ASD since they often don't appear to be any different from their peers until a bit later (although a professional might be able to tell even at that young age I suppose).

When he was 4 years of age I didn't think my son was any different from any other child, but as he has got older the communication difficulties have got more obvious and also the behavioural issues. He is still as uninhibited about talking to people as he was when he was 4 (he was great at talking to adults at that age, he seemed precocious), but now that he's 10 it is really inappropriate. And his topics of conversation are inappropriate too especially for other kids his age (politics, Winston Churchill, jet engines....). Also he still bursts into tears or gets into a temper like a much smaller child.

Another thing is it's not always clear at the age of 4 that they might have difficulties organising themselves, since all 4 year-olds would be the same whether ASD or not, it's only when they're older that it becomes an obvious area of difficulty.

The good news is there are loads of things that can be done to help children with ASD, especially when they are diagnosed at a very young age and especially when it's at the milder end of the spectrum. Even if he doesn't need anything specific at the moment, your son might need a bit of help in some areas as he gets older. So try to keep an open mind about the diagnosis for the time being, unless you are 100% certain of course (you know your child better than anyone else).

And yes, even with ASD he could absolutely live a totally 'normal' life with job, marriage, kids, etc. Since my son was diagnosed I have carried out some unofficial diagnoses of my own on a few grown men of my acquaintance - I see Asperger's traits a lot, although they are married men with families and jobs/careers and so on. So I am hopeful for my own son's future, though I know me and his dad (and my son himself) have a lot of hard work ahead of us.

All the best to you

soontobesmokin wrote: »

Thanks for that lads. Our child is the following;

1) In the top of his class academically.
2) Loves playing with other kids, cant keep him in.
3) loves hugs and kisses.
4) Was walking at 8 and half months.
5) Has extremely good manual dexterity.
6) Has an excellent memory, especially for numbers and directions.
7) Is bilingual.
8) Is still only 4.

And they tell us something is wrong ???

nb. I dont know why I wrote what I just did, I just felt I had to.

bushy...

Zaynzma wrote: »

Since my son was diagnosed I have carried out some unofficial diagnoses of my own on a few grown men of my acquaintance ---

Don't take this the wrong way , but when all you have is a hammer , everything can look like a nail

Zaynzma

bushy... wrote: »

Don't take this the wrong way , but when all you have is a hammer , everything can look like a nail

hmmm actually I have a problem with your comment as have discovered that I'm a bit of an aspie myself and inclined to take things literally, it takes me ages to figure out this stuff (I think they're called idioms?). I think I know what you mean....

I don't think I'm seeing autism everywhere (although I have just admitted I've seen it in the mirror so my case is looking a bit weak lol). Just a few acquaintances, not everyone. I think in the past higher functioning autism wasn't diagnosed as much as it is today, not because it wasn't as prevalent but maybe the kids were seen as simply being eccentric or naughty or defiant or whatever. But that's a whole nuther subject.

THJ

I feel that you might be a bit inclined towards going into denial about his diagnosis. It may have been devastating at first, but it really need not be. Some of the greatest minds in history have been on the autistic spectrum. Some believe that being autistic means that you just have a different kind of mind and that it in itself is not really a disorder. I personally believe there to be an element of truth in this and that it is the surrounding environment that ultimately determines whether it becomes a disorder or a gift. If he is in fact on the autistic spectrum, he will need special allowances made for him and in order to make those allowances, you will have to fully accept him as he is, even if this means accepting him as having special needs.


By making allowances I mean, protecting him from environmental factors that aggravate his symptoms. For example, by providing him with a quiet place if he is sensitive to noise. It may also be a good idea to watch how he is being treated socially, in that "no-one makes an idiot of him" as you point out. This happens, especially amongst peers. One way to help make peers not do this, is to make sure that they do not see grown-ups and especially teachers treating him like an idiot. It is important that teachers understand that he has special needs, but it is also important that they do not make it obvious to the other pupils in how they treat him.


There are some things on that list that you put up that might suggest that he does not have ASD, but the symptoms vary amongst individuals. Most people with ASD have sensory difficulties. I myself have a difficulty with noise, but I do not have the difficulty involving taste with many different kinds of foods as some others do.


By all means get a second opinion, but bear in mind that if the second opinion contradicts the first, it does not necessarily override it. I stress this because it has been my experience that the public health system in Ireland, for whatever reasons, generally fail to consider ASD (dyslexia also) for diagnosis. Hence, if you have ASD and you get a diagnosis, you might consider yourself very lucky!


As for what kind of life I lead now, I think it has been pretty rough so far, but slowly I am turning things around for the better. As a child I was poorly understood and it was never acknowledged or even considered that I had special needs. Had this been different, I think my life would have been a lot brighter. This is why I say do not deny it, embrace it and make the best you can of it.

magnumlady

Very well written THJ.

soontobesmokin

Hi THJ, thanks for your response. To be honest I dont think I'm in denial with the diagnoses ( maybe a classic denial statement ! ), but of course I want whats best for him. Ok it would be very hard for me to accept if he had to go to a special school, which has not been recommended, I just want society to accept him the way he is.
The thing I find hardest is trying to get through to him and connect with his true self, if that makes any sense. You see he is a bit of a free spirit, which is great for him, but he just needs a bit more watching than normal. He told me recently out of the blue that he loved me and will miss me ( he went on holidays ) and for that moment it was so great that he connected with me.
This is going to sound very strange but I always compare his spirit to one of those horses who can never be tamed, who always want to run free ( not in a misbehaving way just in an attitude kind of way ). I'm very proud of him for this.
I recently received his report and to be honest I was more positive than negative after reading its findings.
Without going into too much detail, his IQ is in the mid 130's, other aspects of him are in the high and above average for his age. There is a couple of areas where he needs help but as I say I am a little more positive now.
And finally THJ it has been great to have a response from someone whom has Autism ( I hope I'm correct in assuming this ), in a way it helps greatly people like myself to have communication with adults with this condition as it kind of opens doors to my childs mind a little, I hope this makes sense.

THENORTHSIDER

How are things now with ur son

PrincessDee

Hi my child has had a rollercoaster journey,from when he was 6weeks old we were told he most likely had cerebral palsy.he had physio,s&l and O.T for first year off life,developed normally so obv wasnt c.p.
He then transferred to enable ireland at a yr and they told us this child is fine.mri scan came back fine.he developed normally enough but we started noticing some strange things.he was out off the system for a year with no help.at 2 he wasnt talking and health nurse reffered him back to redemial clinic for help.
Hes been there a few months now and hes up and down the whole time.we think hes autistic and of course we have to wait months for him to be assesed but its looking that way.
Its sooo frustrating for us never knowing whats wrong with him,false diagnosis waiting etc.
Hes 2 and9months.hes up and down but at the moment hes incredibly difficult,he used listen to us somewhat before but now he doesnt even respond to his name.loads of other issues.its hard and upsetting,im also a young mum so am able for the tantrums and running around but god I cant imagine how hard it would be if I were older

scholar007

My son (now 20) was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome when he was about 8. Primary school was hell for him as he was picked on and bullied a lot because he is a little bit different. Thankfully he went to a fairly new progressive (young motivated staff) mainstream secondary school and thrived there.

Now he is going into second year in college. When he turned 18, we got a letter from the HSE services that as he was now an adult, there is basically nothing more they can do for him. So apparently thats it! He gets up, goes to college, comes home, watches tv, goes to bed etc. He doesn't have any friends. He never goes anywhere of his own volition. He shows no interest in anything. He spends a lot of time alone in his room.

I can't imagine him going to an interview for a job (not that there is a whole lot of work out there anyway). He wouldn't be able to handle it. So when/if he finishes college, what does he do? Is it onto the disability payments for the rest of his life?

magnumlady

scholar007 wrote: »

My son (now 20) was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome when he was about 8. Primary school was hell for him as he was picked on and bullied a lot because he is a little bit different. Thankfully he went to a fairly new progressive (young motivated staff) mainstream secondary school and thrived there.

Now he is going into second year in college. When he turned 18, we got a letter from the HSE services that as he was now an adult, there is basically nothing more they can do for him. So apparently thats it! He gets up, goes to college, comes home, watches tv, goes to bed etc. He doesn't have any friends. He never goes anywhere of his own volition. He shows no interest in anything. He spends a lot of time alone in his room.

I can't imagine him going to an interview for a job (not that there is a whole lot of work out there anyway). He wouldn't be able to handle it. So when/if he finishes college, what does he do? Is it onto the disability payments for the rest of his life?

Have you heard about the National Learning Network? My son who is 18 has started on a course there and he loves it. They teach them about cv's, interviews etc and 'life skills'.

scholar007

magnumlady wrote: »

Have you heard about the National Learning Network? My son who is 18 has started on a course there and he loves it. They teach them about cv's, interviews etc and 'life skills'.

Thanks for that Magnum Lady.

stevielenihan

scholar007 wrote: »

Thanks for that Magnum Lady.

What is aspergers sysdrom?

scholar007

stevielenihan wrote: »

What is aspergers sysdrom?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

stcatherine

I kind of had a reverse experience of finding out my son had ASD ( aspergers ) and worrying about his future because everytime someone told us he had issues or problem areas we said " Oh yes his Daddy was just like that at his age and he is fine now " ..... when the little guy was Diagnosed we realised there was a very good reason he was like Daddy because it turned out Daddy has ASD also ..... and he is doing perfectly fine now except for his social awkwardness and people sometimes finding him aloof or without sense of humor .

stevielenihan

Does autism spectrum disorder mean autism?

THENORTHSIDER

Autism is a spectrum disorder. The likes of aspergers and ppd-nos are others that are on the spectrum.A spectrum is a range of linked conditions. Not all conditions are common to each disorder

stevielenihan

Is aspergers a type of autism?

The Black Oil

Yes.

Some changes coming in the next edition of the DSM re autism.

Scruffles

to offer a view from the 'other' side of the spectrum-am twenty seven and am diagnosed with severe classic autism amongst many other labels.
due to using severe autism as another term for traditionaly 'low functioning autism'- most people assume we are all intelectualy low functioning , lack any level of understanding,and extremely limited in communication,and if it is parents of autistic kids judging us; they think if we are not like their kid then we are an insult for being associated with the same diagnosis.
-they do not realise their young child,regardless of how profound or severe they are will progress and be different as an adult than they are now.

the severity labels of autism have one big thing in common- its a very different experience for everyone,people need to drop the stereotypes on all ends of the spectrum and realise we have ASDs but we are not clones.

speaking from own experience-had been special school educated but expelled at fifteen,institutionalised as a late teen and am now living in a registered residential centre only for children,teens and adults on the severe to profound spectrums of autism.
most people dont realise am not able to communicate verbaly like in text-am partly non verbal and echolalic when verbal-and relie on alternative communications such as makaton,some BSL,text to speech and PECS.

am very high functioning when it comes to computers but am officialy classed as severely disabled and also one of the few adults in the UK to be awarded high rate mobility allowance [disability living allowance] due to the autism.

all of us at this centre have defied the stereotypes of our label and proven like many others that we can do things given the right support and understanding-in fact it is the profoundly autistic adults living here who have had the biggest changes-they have gone to mainstream college,have a voluntary mainstream job,they love socialising-people associate profound autism with no hope.

people with classic autism at any severeity-even at its most profound,are not stupid,have known many profoundly autistic kids and adults over the years and the most extremely affected kid have ever met is also one of the most clever thinking.

people with aspergers are no different to us,except they tend to get over expected to do better when younger whilst those of us with clasic autism are under expected.

hans asperger had originaly concentrated on the highest functioning side of autism whilst leo kanner had still been focussed on low to high functioning autists with significant speech and language development difficulties, it took many many years for hans research to be translated into english so by then there was a clear seperation made by people between them both.
apparently the nazis had burnt a lot of hans original research as well which is also why it took so long to go public.

lorna wing [founder of the UKs national autistic society] was the one who brought about the term 'autism spectrum disorder' to show that autism was not just low functioning, it came in many flavours and volumes-a flowing spectrum from the most extreme to someone with a few traits and not diagnoseable as such,which is why finaly-from the next DSM onwards,theyre doing away with labels and classing it all under ASD mild/mod/severe/prof instead.
that is how it woud have been years ago if leo and hans had never been interrupted in their work.