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Original poster

Hi I'm New Here ! Son with Aspergers

28 replies

lisani2003 · 21/02/2012 16:37

Hi I am Lisa and my 8 yo son was diagnosed with Aspergers about a year ago. He is pretty High Functioning and is also dyspraxic but not to a large extent and has sensory problems with all of his senses.

We live in Belfast - any other Northern Ireland parents here ?

OP posts:
lisad123 · 21/02/2012 16:48

Hello Lisa, I'm Lisa.
I have 2 girls with HFA aged 9 and 4years.
Welcome to the board, Smile

Ineedalife · 21/02/2012 16:59

Hi lisa and welcome to the board, Smile
I am not in Northern Ireland,
I have 3 Dd's, Dd1 is undiagnosed but I am sure she has Aspergers/ADHD and Dd3 has ASD and is high functioning. Dd2 is NT,16 and a pain in the a..eGrin

runninggal · 21/02/2012 17:18

Hi Lisa. I am in NI also. DS has motor, attention, auditory and sensory processing issues. He is being tested for AS on Thursday. Am quaking a bit.

Welcome to the board

flowwithit · 21/02/2012 17:47

Hi Lisa we have just got Aspergers Dx for our Ds age 11. Still sinking in and we have not told him yet just working up to that, and still trying to get help at his school as he is extremely anxious at the moment. Everyone on here has been so helpful and given v valuable honest advice so I am sure you will find this forum a good supportSmile

chitterchatter · 21/02/2012 19:00

Hi Lisa

I'm afraid that I don't live in NI but just wanted to say hello. It's the first time I've posted on this board but we also have a DS who was diagnosed with Asperger's 16 months ago when he was 8 yo. He is also high functioning and his main issues are connected with aggression/lack of emotional control. He also has a lot of sensory issues.
We're going through a rough time with him at the moment and his 'temper tantrums' have to be seen to be believed! I've got 3 other children and am feeling exhausted - I hope it will get easier in time. Maybe I'll start posting on here a bit more as I'm definitely in need of some moral support!! Hope you find this board useful. x

moosemama · 21/02/2012 19:09

Hi Lisa, not in NI, but wanted to come and say hi and welcome to the board.

I have 3 dcs, 9, 7 and 3.

Ds1 was diagnosed with Aspergers almost exactly a year ago, when he was 8. Like your son, he is quite high functioning, tested on the cut off for dyspraxia, but still has some gross and fine motor issues and struggles with some sensory stuff. He also has extremely high levels of anxiety and lack of emotional regulation.

Just had a thought, if you're new you probably don't know what all the dc/ds/dd/dx business is on about. I know I didn't. If you scroll to the top and click on Acronyms they're all explained in there, but for quick reference, ds is dear/darling son, dd is dear/darling daughter, dcs is dear/darling children. One that's not on there is dx which a lot of people on this board use for diagnosis.

moosemama · 21/02/2012 19:13

chitterchatter, just noticed your post. Welcome to you as well.

Please do post anything you're struggling with or worried about - we're all here to help and support each other and its a really friendly supportive board.

To both - even if you don't have anything specific you feel you need to post about, please do come on the Friday night thread. That's when we all tend to relax about after whatever the week has thrown at us and share some virtual Wine and chocolate. Its a great way to get to know everybody and for everyone else to get to know you. Smile

WannaBeMegMarch · 21/02/2012 21:35

Hi lisa I'm not in NI either but am newish here too since my 8yo was diagnosed with ASD last autumn.
He has sensory issues; big problems with social skills and temper outbursts- usually related to him not 'getting' whats going on, or not 'getting' that he doesnt control the world with his mind- that whole theory of mind thing Grin. My guy also is dyspraxic and his handwriting is becoming a big problem for him at school.

I find it great to hear what other people are doing with their dc and also to have a place where other parents just get what you're talking about.

troutpout · 21/02/2012 21:57

Hi Smile
welcome to the board. I have a son with a dx of aspergers/HFA and dyspraxia . He is 14 and in yr 10 of a mainstream school.

pinkorkid · 21/02/2012 22:42

Hi lisa, welcome to the board. I have a 14 yr old ds with AS and have found lots of useful advice and support here. I'm not in NI but have family htere including a cousin whose son also has AS. The links below are to the doctor who gave the diagnosis and support for the interventions needed at school and uni and to the support group which they are involved in. Cousin's son is now a young adult at university - he still socialises with friends made through the teen and young adult section.

www.thespectrumcentre.com/Biographies.html
www.autismnetworkni.org.uk/membership.htm

HolyCalamityJane · 22/02/2012 07:50

Hi Lisa

I live in Lisburn so not far from you. My DD is 5 and has ADHD and Dyspraxia. This board is absolutely fantastic loads and loads of great advice and support. I am also up for coffee and meeting up if you ever want to have a whinge and a moan in the future. Or feel free to message me.
Welcome to the board.

wibbleweed · 22/02/2012 09:31

Hi Lisa and everyone else,

Welcome! I too am pretty new here (though have been lurking alot over the past year - this board is a tremendous help).

DS2 (5) is in (hopefully) the final stage of the dx process - have another meeting/assessment on Monday - looking very much like HFA/AS. However, what brings me to post here is there are more and more issues with DS1 (8), and I'm beginning to think he might be AS. His teacher thinks so too, but it's not a huge problem (yet) in the classroom, more at home. Main issues are total obsession with rules and control (has lost all friends as a result :(; massive anger/tantrums when things don't go his way - beginning to get quite violent; general lack of social skills... I'm beginning to wonder...

Original poster
lisani2003 · 22/02/2012 10:31

Wow what a lovely welcome ! Nice to see a couple of people from NI and very nice to meet ALL of you !

runninggal good luck for tomorrow - which Trust are you in and do you know who you are seeing ? I had a very positive experience with diagnosis.

HolyCalamityJane it would be lovely to meet up with you for a cuppa and a mutual whinge - I am only at the bottom of the Hillhall Road so very close !

Laides, I work full time so will try and be as active as I can but don't owrry if I disappear for a while here and there. I also have a son who is 3 and 3 stepchildren aged 22, 18 and 16 so a busy house too !

OP posts:
Original poster
lisani2003 · 22/02/2012 10:34

Thanks too to moosemama - I have beebn part of a mum's group on the internet for 9 years so know some of the lingo but there are ones on here I wasn't sure of.

OP posts:
runninggal · 22/02/2012 11:21

Thanks

I am in the SE Board. We are seeing Dr McP in Ards. I saw Dr M McC before Christmas who is is the lead paed in Ards but who is on the diagnostic team in other centres. I believe Dr McP also works at other centres . We are having the ADOS test . Did you have this? Who were you seen by?

DS is 10 and is high functioning. He is very well behaved with no meltdowns. I have been aware of his ASD traits for years but until recently nobody mentioned it.

I need to know for peace of mind whether he is or isnt. I have a feeling he may pass the ADOS test and that we could be back in another year or so.

You certainly have a busy life!

Original poster
lisani2003 · 22/02/2012 11:48

Hi runninggal I think it may have been the ADOS test as I have just looked it up and it does describe the tasks he was given (don't have the paperwork here).

We are in the Belfast Trust and his diagnostic team were really good - it was Siobhan Mawhirk and Brigitte Boyle who weer based in NW Belfast at the time and they very straight with me (which I liked). My son is high functioning too and does have a few meltdowns with anxiety but there are not too many signs when he is out of school and the house .... some people do that annoying "there's nothing wrong with him" speech which really irritates me Angry

I used to work in Ards Hospital until 2006 until I changed jobs - I liked it down there (especially the cinnamon scones in Daisy's cafe !!!)

OP posts:
Original poster
lisani2003 · 22/02/2012 11:50

wibbleweed I have found myself looking very closely at my younger son too and I get obsessed with his 'lining up toys' episodes and dislike of loud noises .... Only time will tell but I think he is NT !

OP posts:
Original poster
lisani2003 · 22/02/2012 11:55

pinkorkid thanks very much for the links - it is very encouraging to know that children like outrs can make it to university :)

OP posts:
chuckeyegg · 22/02/2012 17:05

bump :)

auntevil · 22/02/2012 17:16

Welcome lisani. Not in NI, but have a DS (9) dyspraxia, SPD, hypermobility, and had a ? aspergers (but never followed up) .
Watching younger siblings copy traits can become obsessive - worse than googling Grin

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 22/02/2012 18:02

Lisani, there's another new poster, Laney, who has just joined from NI, see high function autism post. Smile

Original poster
lisani2003 · 23/02/2012 11:43

Oh thank you ladies...... must be going blind in my old age !

OP posts:
bobbybear1606 · 24/02/2012 10:15

Hi another mum from NI I live in Millisle and attend Dr M Mc at Scrabo too. My son is 4 has NF1, Aspergers, ADHD and hypermobility.

Original poster
lisani2003 · 24/02/2012 10:16

hi bobbybear nice to 'meet' you - maybe us NI lot could get together some day ?

OP posts:
HolyCalamityJane · 24/02/2012 12:45

That sounds like an excellent idea Lisa!!!!