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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Does anybody struggle to believe their child has Aspergers?

32 replies

TheStatueOfLiffey · 22/01/2009 16:41

A year ago I was told my son had GDDs as well as a severe speech delay. I knew about the speech delay obviously, but I was surprised that he was coming out a whole YEAR behind on other things.

A year has rumbled on and he's seeing an OT now too, who has made much of the fact that he can't jump and gets upset if he gets wet. He's still seeing the speech therapist and is finally beginning to use some words, although they are mostly car, tractor, train type words. Not really the usual, drink, more, up type 'first words'.

A statement is being prepared right now, I should have a copy mid feb, but the OT said to me some time ago 'in my very honest opinion I think we are looking at Asperger syndrome'.

I've answered all the questions as honestly as I can, but sometimes I feel they 'run with an idea' too much. LIke yes, he's interested in door handles and wheels and so on, but he's a little boy. He has had obessions, but he also likes new toys.. Although they also said that his play was impaired. That he has no imaginative play he just examines toys.

Some days I worry and some days I think, wtf? his play is impaired?

He does look me in the eye and he is affectionate although only on his terms. He likes to be with other children but he has no particular friends at his playschool that he goes to twice a week. They could be replaced by an entirely new set of chidren and I think he would hardly notice, but yet, he recognises me, his grandparents, his sister, some of his sister's friends....

What do you think? Am I burying my head in the sand? Or is there a possibility they are jsut wrong?

OP posts:
belcantwait · 22/01/2009 17:07

well both my ds are dx with AS and couldnt be more different. i do believe that ds1 is more severe than ds2 and some days i wonder if we havent made a mistake with ds2 but then again some days he is a right bloody pita and i think 'yep no doubt about it'

fwiw ds2's headteacher REFUSES to believe there is anything 'wrong' with him which really gets on my tits tbh as who deals with him more? me or him??

cornsilk · 22/01/2009 17:01

I did and I didn't at the same time. It's hard when you're the parent as you get so used to behaviour that other parents would think was totally out of control!

TheStatueOfLiffey · 22/01/2009 17:00

If you don't mind my asking, did you agree when the paed told you they thought your son had AS?

Is it that there is a group that just have some of the behaviours but not enough to be diagnosed as having AS, but too many of the behaviours to be confirmed as definitely not having it?

Excuse my terrible English here!!

OP posts:
TotalChaos · 22/01/2009 16:58

I think it's very hard to say, as the language delay and affect play. There have been quite a few threads on the SN board over the last year discussing how there can be a fine line between ASD and language delay/disorder. FWIW my DS was very much like your DS at that age - a year down the line his language and pretend play had improved, and the offical conclusion was probably not ASD but they couldn't say a definite no (probably because he still had echolalia).

cornsilk · 22/01/2009 16:56

GDD and speech delay are very broad terms so when you do get a clearer assessment it will be more helpful in terms of how to provide for him. If you don't understand what they write on his report get them to explain it to you.

TheStatueOfLiffey · 22/01/2009 16:53

He is 3 and 2 months by the way. So still quite young. But old to only have ten words I know. My gut instinct has always been that it's a severe speech delay and the OT and the SALT say there is more going on than just speech delays. I feel they're preparing me.

Anyway, I guess I will just have to wait 'til mid feb when I get this statement. I hope it is comprehenisble to the lay person!

OP posts:
cornsilk · 22/01/2009 16:47

Well the OT won't be the one to make the diagnosis anyway. I was told by the paed that he was absolutely convinced that my ds had aspergers 5 years ago - still no diagnosis!