Different symptoms for girls ASD/AS??? (another...post sorry)

[Dinkysmummy]

I have read that girls present differently and have read certain bits and pieces from one friend who pointed out that some of the things I thought were 'normal' or what just made dinky an individual, we're actually symptoms of ASD.
However a friend I rarely speak to whose son has been dx with HFA, said dinky cant be ASD because she is too normal has a friend and talks all the time when she is not in her own world.

Obviously I'd love to believe my friend whose son has ASD dx, as no parent wants there to be issues with their child, but the more I read from the one who is convinced dinky has a problem the more it seems that it is the case.

So my question is... what is the difference from your experiences of girls presentation of ASD/AS, if you don't mind me asking?

Hi Dinky have a look on you tube, you may see something on there.

Social Symptoms
A girl with Asperger's may exhibit the following social symptoms:

Appears excessively shy or avoids interacting with others or making the first move socially
Seems uncomfortable during conversation and may struggle with eye contact
Usually has only one close friend at school
May play appropriately with toys and engage in pretend play or may focus on organizing objects or toys
Often shows empathy and compassion but may be confused by non-verbal social signals
May have difficulty fitting in with peers due to clothing and hairstyle choices

Communication Symptoms
The way an AS girl communicates may also be different from her peers:

May have an exceptional vocabulary
Tends to mimic rather than providing natural responses
May converse in predictable, "scripted" ways
Seems to struggle with non-verbal aspects of communication, such as body language and tone of voice
May use odd inflection
Appears to have difficulty dealing with unexpected verbal responses

Behavioral Symptoms
The behavioral symptoms of Asperger's in girls may be very different from those in boys due to inherent differences in emotional processing:

Less prone to act out physically or aggressively
Intense focus on a particular subject, often involving animals or classic literature
Appears anxious when there are changes in routine
Practices rituals that appear to have no function
May play with dolls or toys well beyond the typical age for these items
Appears to have attractions or aversions to sensory stimuli, such as textures, foods, sounds, or visual patterns
May engage in limited self-stimulating behavior, such as hand flapping, rocking, spinning, or shifting from foot to foot

Hi Dinky's mummy

From what I have read (including the post above from isthat), I have drawn the conclusion that even if there are differences, they arent that obvious till they are older.

My daughter doesnt have a diagnosis yet, but I do see traits of ASD which I have seen on youtube videos having boys and girls alike.

SA

One of the main differences is that girls often develop the ability to mask their symptoms and appear to fit in. The consequence of this can be meltdowns at home due to needs not being met at school and also being exhausted and needing downtime to recover after social activities.

Often girls are more passive at school and make themselves invisible. The trouble is that at some point something could give way and this could lead to mental health problems.

Hi,

My dd 8 was diagnosed with Aspergers just last month and it has been very well described here. She was diagnosed with dyspraxia just before her fifth birthday. She has received loads of OT which has really helps. To be honest at times it is hard to believe she is on the spectrum as she is in no way obvious. She is shy, passive, tires easily, has one friend at school. She has support but could easily become invisible.she definitely compensates by imitating. I would agree with Ineedmorepatience that I am relieved she will receive more support so she is better understood and please god it will prevent further problems down the line.

My daughter was diagnosed a year ago with ASD aged then 7. She does not shy away from others and would talk to anyone - she just doesn't talk at an appropriate level to them, her speech is all about her and her likes/experiences etc. As she has become older the differences with her and her peers have become more obvious to all around. She is however very well behaved in class and is off the radar for the teachers and they don't seem to appreciate all the difficulties she has (she has other issues as well as ASD). She stresses with things at school but rarely shows this unless she reaches full on tears and breakdown, but she will come home and be either very subdued which is not her normal nature, or grumpy and cross esp with her sisters.

Don't dismiss your concerns because someone you know says you can't be right based on their own experience. All children with ASD are different and each case needs to be looked at as an individual to ensure the correct answers are found.

Hmmmm

Let me tell you a little about dinky...

As a baby, she was so easy. Two people I was friendly with had babies after me and complained that their bubbas were not as easy as dinky.
She rarely cried
She slept well

As a toddler again easy (until we hit tantrums which turned to meltdowns)
She spoke late but not enough to worry the HV although I was slightly worried
She played quite happily by herself although would sit with me for up to 10 mins doing shapes or puzzles
She was so into toy story we watched it everyday more than once and she wasn't interested in anything else for 6 months until she liked shrek and watched alternately but more toystory
I didn't get many tantrums but when they came they were full on meltdowns
She was fearless and it was as if no blood=no pain
She walked very well but would run a lot

Preschool

She was quite popular but still played alongside others
At home still happy to play quietly alone
She got into space at 3 and could tell anyone anything about it (her 4th birthday was a space only affair, her presents when not space related were met with disapproval)
She was always taking about 3 children she knew in separate areas of her life almost obsessively so
Even though she had finished teething she still chewed everything and put things in her mouth
Just before 4 the Playgroup said she seemed to be going backwards
Noise became an issue and she would hide
her favourite activity for a while was running the length of the room over and over
She seemed to have forgotten about stopping at roads which she had done since 18months
Still having serious tantrums/meltdowns including physical violence

Since end of Playgroup

Behaviour at its worst ever physically violent, screaming, refusal to do as directed, not listening ect
Found visual timetable effective for home

Since starting school

Running off is out of control= back on wrist reins, school have implemented risk assessment for her safety
Behaviour still out of control
Taking her anywhere is a nightmare especially crowded places
Bus journeys to/from school unless armed with angry birds is stressful at best
Her reading diary states she is now more compliant to join group reading, which suggests she didn't do group work

School say she is behind in her reading, which is odd as she went in knowing her single phonics and was reading 1+ phonics books, so she is not progressing?
They say she is not showing any worrying social issues as she seems very concerned by friends absence from school, in each of the 5 in depth conversations with the teacher, she said dinky was very concerned about her friends and was very attached to them
The school have implemented a different behaviour system for her as she didnt take to the normal school system.

I might have missed bits but the social side seems to suggest no ASD/AS, but I think she has learnt to fit in from being at the childminders. I still pick up on the fact that she doesn't always play 'with' the other children and when she does seem to it is always on her terms.

I don't know...
All I know is there is something going on

Dinkysmummy since looking into the whole 'is my child on the spectrum' issue' I have come to disregard 'descriptions of' ASD because they are just not helpful. It can manifest in a such a variety of ways.

Have you started a diary of behaviours and triggers? This will establish what your Dinky struggles with and how the problems present themselves.

My dd2 is nothing like the description of an Asperger girl. She is not shy. Nor does she seem particularly overbearing or inappropriate in her interactions. She seems on the surface to relate well to her peers, although her understanding of her peers and interaction is immature, mimicked and fixed. She has always shown appropriate levels of concern for her peers. Emotional empathy has nothing to do with ASD. You would not pick her out in the classroom. Yet there is an awful lot going on which school now recognise. It has taken dd2 hitting a brick wall academically for them to see it, but then I am one of the lucky ones in that regard. Sounds like school already have Dinky on their radar. Use it to your advantage. At the moment you'll have to ride out the 'housing' red herring and play the long game.

Stick with your Dinky and your diary and your own picture will emerge. That's what counts. That's the basis on which an assessment will be recommended.

My Dd3 is definately not shy either. It has taken years to teach stranger danger. She used to do the running off thing.

I think you should take your list to your GP and ask for a referral to a developmemtal paediatrician.

Good luck