Would you mind describing some of the strength and difficulties that your little one with aspergers has please?

[popsycal]

My sister has lots of concerns about my 5 year old niece as has school. She has seen a psych at my sisters request who brushed her off but is seeing her again on Tuesday. PArents evening last week brought up lots of issues for us - and my sister wants to go armed with info to the appt on Tues.

We are both teachers (sister works one to one with children with autism, particularly aspergers) so we both are reasonably clued up.

I just wondered if you would mind sharinf about your little ones to confirm our thoughts.

Thanks

[bobalinga]

When my ASD son was in school he had to be carried in screaming every day and physically handed to the head. He would then spend the day under the table sometimes emerging to deck a loud child (he can't bear noise)
School was a totalnightmare because allthe things he could stand - noise, other kids, leaving the house, labels on the uniform, eating in public, books with weird textures - were present.
We did 2 years of hell and then removed him to home educate.So much easier.
But the school made no effort to get anyone useful to help with his ASD and blamed me for 'having a nice home that he didn't want to leave'!

[jenk1]

DS struggled every year in school. he came out 18 months ago, school were really unhelpful and in documents submitted to the tribunal last year they say that in their opinion DS doesnt have ASD and that the problems started at home

Sorry, cant be much help on the school front but to the untrained eye it looked like DS had no problems at school at all.

[coppertop]

Ds1 is 6.

Difficulties at school:

• writing (fine motor and co-ordination problems)

• other children sitting too close to him

• other children singing, although he likes to sing himself

• taking turns

• organising himself to get things done (problems with sequencing)

• understanding the intentions of other children, eg can't tell when someone is joking

• still has some toileting accidents

• co-ordination problems and difficulty with spatial awareness means that he regularly trips over or bumps into things/people

• finds light hard to tolerate, eg has to wear eye-mask in bed so that he can sleep

• hates surprises

Strengths:

• Bright and learns very quickly once he's got the basics

• Enjoys the academic side of school

• Likes rules too much to break them so is actually very well-behaved at school

• very good with a computer

Ds2 is completely different but doesn't start school until September so I don't know how relevant his strengths/weaknesses will be to you so feel free to ignore:

Difficulties:

• Dislikes wearing clothes

• Needs a lot of warning and preparation if his routine is going to be changed

• Very very active (although I suppose that could also be seen as a strength) and becomes almost manic when tired

• Hates noise and other people singing

• Gets very angry when things are 'wrong'

• Finds transition very difficult

• Still has trouble understanding language

Strengths:

• Amazing balance and co-ordination, eg stands on dh's shoulders without holding on, has been doing head-stands since he was a toddler etc

• Very bright

• Gets on very well with adults

• Very good spoken language

• Seems to have a photographic memory

-

[popsycal]

thanks everyone

many of the 'difficulties' particularly sound very familiar to us.

How difficult was it to get a diagnosis and have you found it beneficial to have this?

OSrry for the questions and thanks in advance

[Yummymum1]

Hi Popsycal
Ds1 has aspergers and has just been diagnosed(over easter).
His strengths at school are
exceptional reading ability (reading books would usually start in yr2)
Very enquiring mind and understands in detail how things work
Photographic memory
Has used his intelligance to learn how to behave at school.
His weaknessess are
Doesnt understand right and wrong
Doesnt undersatnd others emotions
Cant read faces or body language
Either happy or angry,no in between
Obsesses over detail and misses the bigger picture
It was an easy process to get a diagnosis.Iwas at my wits end one day with him and rang hv for help and advice on how to have a relationship with him.They sent school nurse to see me who suggested aspergers and referred me to specialist paed.
The diagnosis was a relief as i knew whay it was and could do something to help ds.Since then things have been a lot calmer in our house as we are more relaxed knowing there are some things he just cant help so we go along with it rather than trying to fight it.
Hope this helps.Good luck on your journey!!!