Just thought I'd start a post here on this new section. My oldest son Nathan was dx'd w/ Asperger's this year while in kindergarten. I'm looking for others with children with similar issues/challenges. ↓
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Name: kellens mom | Date: May 31st, 2007 12:54 PM
Sahmof3- I know you need support, but I hope this "Special Needs" site does not get to many visits. ↑
Name: sahmof3 | Date: May 31st, 2007 2:41 PM
I know what you mean. It's sad when kids have special needs challenges! ↑
Name: Rhiannon | Date: May 31st, 2007 3:07 PM
sahmof3, I was going to ask you a couple of questions if you don't mind. I want to take a program at school called "Communicative Disorders Assitant." I really want to work with autistic children and children on the spectrum. Does your son get any types of specialized therapy? Could you tell me about it if you don't mind too much? I really want to get a feel for it and I am going to start volunteering soon so I would like to be able to prepare. Thank you so so much!! ↑
Name: momoftriplets | Date: May 31st, 2007 3:53 PM
My fiance has Aspergers....it requires a lot of patience, but it does have it's benefits!
It is said because of his disorder, our baby may have the same one...I wish you the best! ↑
Name: sahmof3 | Date: May 31st, 2007 4:49 PM
Heaven... I would bet that if my dh were to be tested he would have Asperger's, too. There are so may similarities between how he apparently was at Nathan's age (according to my MIL) and how Nathan is. He's always been just slightly "awkward" around people, too... not in just a shy way. Momoftriplets... how old are your children? Nathan is my son with Asperger's. He's alomst 7. I have a 3 1/2yo dd and an almost 2yo son, as well (neither of them are on the spectrum). Rhiannon... Nathan is not in any special therapies and doesn't have a classroom aid. The school psychologist dx'd him this year in kindergarten... but I have an appt. in mid-June to discuss it with his ped and see where we should go from here. School actually worked wonders for him and he seems to have just had a huge leap as far as handling change better... just in the last few weeks. He forgot his favorite watch twice this week and it wasn't even a big deal to him... as opposed to a few months ago when he forgot it and had a tantrum at the bus stop right in front of all the other kids and moms and refused to get on the bus (at first... I did manage to get him on the bus). And after school the whole day was ruined for him because he hadn't had his watch at school! But this week he was ok with it. Acted like it was no big deal! His class is also having all kinds of special end-of-the-school-year activities that aren't normally in his schedule and he's going with the flow very well!!!!! As for other therapies... I will just have to wait and see what his ped recommends. ↑
Name: AntsWife | Date: May 31st, 2007 5:30 PM
My step son is special needs. He just turned 15 years old. He has a mental delay- the age varies on the activity- cerebral palsy and although he was never properly diagnosed, I believe he has a touch of autism too- he bites his hand when he gets angry, things like that. He's gets alot of therapy through his school so we're thankful for that. He also throws tantrums if he wants something he doesn't have but in the last year he has improved dramatically. Very proud of the little guy - well, not so little. I'm 5'7 and he stands taller than me :-) ↑
Name: momoftriplets | Date: May 31st, 2007 6:07 PM
hi. i don't have a child with special needs myself but my little brother has Asperger's Syndrome. he's 13 now. and he's very socially awkward but is very happy and doesn't realize it most of the time. but he doesn't have many good friends and kids used to pick on him a bit when he was little. he doesn't always know what is appropriate to say to people and tends to talk for ages about whatever thing he's obsessed with at the moment. luckily, it's mostly normalish kid things. it used to be Pokeman, for example. but he'll just go on and on and on until even kids that love whatever it is get sick of it too. he doesn't go to special ed, never did, but his teachers are aware that he has Asperger's so they understand that they need to be a bit more patient with him then the average kid. i'm pretty sure he inherited it from his father (my stepfather) ↑
Name: sahmof3 | Date: Jun 21st, 2007 10:39 AM
Shannon... your brother sounds a little like Nathan. He can be "normal", but not around other kids that he doesn't know well. My best friend even thought I was crazy when I mentioned my suspicion of autism, because Nathan had always played really well with her son, but it was because he was used to him... plus they were both young and into toddlerish things. But, she's starting to see it now that Nathan is getting older and gets obsessed with his interests (which are quite different from most kids' interests at this age) and talks about them non-stop. Right now he's obsessed with ants. I know more about ants than I ever thougth there was to know LOL!! Nathan will lay cups of yogurt out that still have a little in them to draw ants so he can watch them. He pours water on a group of ants to see how they will move away from it. He likes the patterns that ants move in. It's kind of cool to me, but, of course, other 7yos can't appreciate it as much when he goes on and on ;-) ↑
Name: Corrie | Date: Jun 22nd, 2007 8:11 PM
My son has Asperger's Syndrome. He is 6 years old now and was diagnosed last year. ↑
Name: Corrie | Date: Jun 22nd, 2007 8:15 PM
If you ever want to talk about Aspie Kids, I am here. I have plenty of experience with it. I also have a nephew with Asperger's and one with Autism. Just remember, God made the special for a reason! And Asperger kids grow up to lead pretty normal lives! :) ↑
Name: sahmof3 | Date: Jun 23rd, 2007 12:19 PM
Hi Corrie! Was your son dx'd when he went to school or before... just out of curiousity? Nathan was dx'd by our school's psychologist this past April. I just had an appt w/ his ped who said that he doesn't entirely trust dx's by psychologists employed by a school district so he's also going to be seen by a developmental specialist, but, of course, we can't get int there for 6 months! I'm not too worried by the wait, though, because it will be well after Nathan starts 1st grade, but he did well in kindergarten, so I think he'll be ok this year... hopefully... ↑
Name: Corrie | Date: Jun 25th, 2007 4:00 PM
He was diagnosed right before kindergarten. I knew before then though, that something was wrong. He was obsessing over vacuum cleaners and just couldn't seem to communicate like my daughter. The school also told me as well as a private psych. I then took my son to Emory Univ. in GA and found out they were all correct. At first the "A" word made me cry and I was so upset trying to think of what I had done wrong. But, now, I see my son and think ...wow, Asperger is just a word and don't be afraid of it. And besides...look at Dan Ackroyd.. has it, and has lived a fabulous life :) ↑
Name: sahmof3 | Date: Jun 28th, 2007 11:24 AM
Corrie... sorry, it's taken me awhile to respond. I've only been able to pop in for a few minutes here and there b/c my brothers and sister and spouses and kids were in and it was INSANE lol. Anyway, I felt the same way when I heard the dx... which is weird because we had suspected it for a long time. But the same day I had to keep telling myself that nothing has changed... he's still the same kid he was a few hours ago... because I kept feeling sad and wondering what I had done wrong! The psychologist had spent a lot of time asking questions about his birth circumstances, which were a bit traumatic, and I felt like maybe if I had just had my c-section before 24 hours of labor that would have made a difference! I was beating myself up, but I have come to the conclusion that I think Nathan's is hereditary, because when the psychologist was going over his behaviors and history and was telling us what some of the warning signs are w/ Asperger's my dh said he's sure he has it. He has things that I think are stimming behaviors (tongue chewing (almost constantly), repetitive tapping, etc.)... his mom thinks so, too, because she had 5 kids and she's always said that Phil would tantrum for no reason A LOT and that he was always "different" from other kids in general and from HER other kids. ↑
Name: crysania | Date: Jun 29th, 2007 10:08 AM
To sahmof3.
You said that you had a traumatic birth and blamed that.... but now think it’s hereditary.... I too had a c section; my son was premature and is now autistic... I am studying a BA in Special ED and work in a Special needs school for autistic children... What I can say to you is from my research I believe that all the PDD spectrum disorders are genetic... It’s the environmental triggers that are different. For instance... my son and his dad both have similar traits... however different things would have triggered the gene in both of them.... I think this is why we see such a huge range in the spectrum... it is down to the triggers the gene.
Hope this makes sense.
↑
Name: Corrie | Date: Jun 30th, 2007 5:16 PM
I disagree. PDD spectrum disorders are not all genetic nor has it ever been linked as such. My child is the only one in my entire family with Asperger's. No one in our family on either sides shows any characteristics and/or traits. My other child is perfectly fine w/o any issues as well. Certain types of spectrum disorders can be genetic, but more are not. Asperger's is occurring in rapid numbers across the US, mainly in boys. (1 out of 130). These numbers are alarming. Links are currently being evaluated from the vaccinations to food preservatives. There is hope that a cure will be found. ↑
Name: Corrie | Date: Jun 30th, 2007 5:23 PM
sahmof3...I would recommend you get the book "Asperger's Syndrome, A Guide for Parents and Professionals" by Tony Attwood. It was like my "Bible" when trying to understand Asp and how to cope. Tony Attwood is the best when it comes to knowledge of Asperger's. You will find it very helpful, if you haven't read it already. :) ↑
Name: crysania | Date: Jul 1st, 2007 12:39 PM
Corrie.. yep you are right.. I should have said Autism and the genetic Links and not PDD.. I personaly am not aware of the genetic link to all PDD spectrum disorders.. However with autism there is a lot of evidence to there being a genetic link.. as for the food perservatives and other possible causes I think these are triggers of the gene.. this said not everyone that have the gene for this will then have the envrionmental triggers that could cause autism. Sorry if I affended you.. still learning and am glad to have any in put.. ↑
Name: Corrie | Date: Jul 1st, 2007 3:07 PM
crysania...No need to apologize, I wasn't offended:) ↑
Name: Tory1980 | Date: Aug 17th, 2007 7:23 PM
I don;t have a child with Asperger's but my sisters son has it. He was diagnosed a few weeks ago after continuous tests. He is 5. He was diagnosed with ADHD at 3 years old and this was after a lot of fighting to see if there was something wrong. No one expected this to be the outcome. They also believe him to be Bi-Polar and he is being tested for this too. His sister was diagnosed with ADHD about two months ago and will turn 4 in September. My sister is at a complete loss as to how to help him, the school has no idea and he seems to only be getting worse (as is his sister). They are the most loving children but the issues they have to overcome I can't even fathom. She has tried changing their diet etc and that didn;t work so both of them are on the medication now and unfortunately it works. She hates 'drugging' them but if they don't take the medication then they are completely off the charts! ↑
Name: reneelane | Date: Aug 23rd, 2007 1:18 AM
My son is 9 with severe autism but is really smart. He just started an excellent program to get him "dependent ready." I am not sure or what you mean by dx'd though? I am sorry but no can pay me or convince me that his autism is from genetics---not even a little bit! ↑
Name: kitzy | Date: Aug 28th, 2007 2:13 PM
I have a question for all of you ladies- I am new to this site and just read all of your responses. I know I am just jumping in, but want to ask you all a question, if you dont mind. How old were you when you had children, especially those with autism? I am just curious? Were you over 30? Over 40? Please, it is just something I have been thinking about. Plus, did you eat fish while pregnant? Did you microwave a lot while pregnant? Hope you dont mind the questions. I am s spec ed teacher and am pregnant with my first and am curious as to know what you have to say! ↑
Name: kitzy | Date: Aug 28th, 2007 2:14 PM
when I mean, how old were you, I mean how old were you AND your husband when you had your child with autism? sorry for the correction. ↑
Name: sahmof3 | Date: Aug 28th, 2007 3:17 PM
reneelane... dx'd = diagnosed. I don't believe that all cases of autism are hereditary, but in my own son's case I'm almost 100% positive. There are so many similarities b/w my son's behaviors and what my MIL describes with my dh when he was young. Kitzy... I don't mind at all. I was 25 and my dh was 31 when Nathan was born. I ate fish about once every 1-2 weeks. Microwaved probably at least once a day. Although, those variables were also the same for my other two kids who don't have Asperger's or any form of autism (except dh and my age, of course LOL... I was 29 and 30 and dh was 35 and 37... when I had them). ↑
Name: kitzy | Date: Aug 28th, 2007 4:02 PM
Ok- so age may not be a factor....it just crazy how we dont know what is causing this. autism is so common these days, its scary. i mean, it is nice knowing that your child is smart and has potential, but i see cases where the child is really bad and cannot communicate at all. just sad. any other thoughts about what may cause autism? ↑
Name: sahmof3 | Date: Aug 29th, 2007 11:09 AM
kitzy... On another forum that I'm on for Asperger's/autism/PDD-NOS, etc. I've noticed that people will ask the question a lot, "Do you or your sigificant other have traits of autism?" and it seems that there are always tons of people with kids with less severe forms of autism that say that they or their spouse were dx'd with Asperger's or that they strongly suspect that they or their spouse have it (like with me... my dh hasn't been dx'd, but in going through the interviews with the psychologist when she was trying to determine whether to dx Nathan, my dh had enough of the traits to qualify!). But, I also notice that people with kids with more severe forms rarely see anything in their family. Not that that is research, by any means!... I just find it interesting that I see the same pattern over and over. Sometimes I wonder if it's actually more than one condition and researchers just don't know enough about it and the causes to be able to separate them... (all of the categories on the spectrum). Just something I sit and think about LOL. ↑
Name: kitzy | Date: Aug 31st, 2007 3:08 PM
May I ask, what are some of the traits that your dh has?? Out of curiosity. From what you notice, it is usually the father of the child with the traits for the child to have it or does it vary from father to mother? Have you seen children with Asperger's have grandparents with the traits? I am wondering if it goes from generation to generation or if it is just random. I always thought that Autism was caused by murcury and/or other cuases enviornmental and/or partly genetic, but mostly murcury. I wish I knew what really caused this. I ask about the grandparents of the child with autism, b/c my father might have characteristsics of aspergers. He is really really smart, but isnt very social and doesnt get along with many people. That is why I am wonderng if you could tell what the traits are and/or if you have seen Aspergers pop up in families with paents/grandparents who might have similar traits. I hope this makes sense. Sorry, just rambling... :-) ↑
Name: waitingforbaby#2 | Date: Mar 8th, 2008 6:56 PM
Hi I am a mother of a three year old with Autism. He is currently on the severe end of the spectrum but we are in the early stages of therapy so we are very hopeful!!!! ↑
