Has anyone had an MRI brain scan for their Asperger's/autistic child to aid diagnosis?

[phoebus]

My 7 yr old son is currently undergoing assessment for possible Asperger's. It's taking forever. I am interested in a new study which implies that a short MRI scan of the brain can be a quick route to identify possible ASD traits in the brain (not yet accepted as a formal diagnosis but apparently over 80% accuracy so far). Has anyone else out there got any recent experience / comments to offer?

Have you got a link to the research, as its not something I have come across.

I think if it is new research it will need to be thoroughly investigated and so its not something thats going to be available any time soon. In more personal terms I think my own DS would baulk at the idea of an MRI.

The invasive nature of the technology has been the biggest barrier regarding making advances in the diagnostic processes, to move away from the current subject observations of behavioral traits. So they are very aware of the of the concerns you have raised.
However they are improving the technology to be less invasive. You might like to have a look at MRI Study of Minor Physical Anomaly in Childhood Autism Implicates Aberrant Neurodevelopment in Infancy

Thanks to all who've commented so far - hearing about others' experience (or equally lack of it) is much appreciated. I'm continuing to be interested in this topic and especially if anyone has had any 'successful' diagnostic outcome of an MRI scan on an autistic/asperger's child, as it is something we're thinking about.

i would love to have one for DS - it could be great clarification - he has multiple disabilities and suspected neurodevelopmental issues in addition to ASD.

I suspect the waiting lists for MRI (in our area) and the cost will prevent them from being used in diagnosis for ASD even if/when there emerges there is a definate benefit to using them in diagnosis.

thanks for the link dolfrog, going to have a read of that.

That said, there is a children service in sheffield that i know has used MRI for assessment purposes and it does say on their website they accept specialist referrals from outside the area.

www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/Child-Development-and-Neurodisability.htm

My DD (aged 3) and currently under assessment for speech delay and possible ASD traits is being sent for an EEG (brain scan) to rule out transient fits.
No one has suggested the scan could also confirm or rule out a ASD diagnosis.

My DS2 had an MRI, but his whole development was delayed (physically as well as asd) hence the scan. Found something a bit wonky in the occipital zone, but nothing that said 'wow that's why he is autistic' Personally I think autism is never going to be diagnosable by a scan.. it's like MRIs for CP now.. you can have a normal looking MRI and be severely impaired and a dreadful looking one, with only minor disabilities.. they just can't tell the whole story.

I foresee the DLA people using that one tho.. MRI fine, nope he can't be autistic.....

The research in to ASD using fMRI is still in the early stages. They have had to and still are developing and improving methods of using various types of neuroimaging to build a substantial body of research from which they may be best able to use brain scanning technologies to help in the ASD diagnostic process.
So currently there is a need for volunteers to be scanned to help build the much needed research base. They need to first identify the areas of difference between the brain maps of autistic children in comparison to children who may have a related invisible disability, and children who have no invisible disability.
There has been neuroimaging research regarding many of the individual invisible disabilities which can exist as an individual disability, or be co-morbid with other invisible disabilities, or be part of the multiple sets of disabilities that combine to cause ASD.

ds 10 had an mri brain scan 2 weeks ago. doc called me yesterday to say was normal. dont know if he means normal for my ds or normal same as everyone else. mri was done because ds has severe autism, gdd, low muscle tone, pica, he never walked until age 5 and is still non verbal. i requested this to see if he has something else underlying perhaps cp (due to not walking until 5, and over last year his leg keeps giving way from him and at times leg and arm twists inwards, sometimes he seems to stick when trying to get up as though he cant move). waited about 10 weeks for mri from initial appointment, and was done under general anaesthetic as day care patient. (stay in glasgow, scotland) was really hoping for some answers from this scan, though obviously happy that ds doesnt have any other disability to add to his many. only other test result waiting for (which doc did at same time as mri, though isnt sure will be this either) is for glucose transporter deficiency.

DD has severe ASD, and her MRI was completely normal

my friend's son did. it showed major abnormalities that meant his 5 year old autism dx was rescinded. so not really what you were after, but an interesting point to note. sometimes what you find isn't what you expect.

as others have said though, mris aren't particularly useful as an aid to either current presentation or prognosis. dd2 had a second mri around 4, and after the neuro had reviewed it (she has brain damage due to birth injury) we were called in. it was used as a teaching point for the student doctors as given the state of her brain, dd2 really oughtn't to be walking in and holding conversations with strangers.

Thanks Madwoman and others, all this is really of interest and so helpful to widen my currently very limited store of knowledge. All gives me lots of food for thought as well as some perspective on the matter.