To diagnose (AS) or not?

[bizzi]

Ds 10 would most probably be given a diagnoses of Aspergers if we asked for a diagnoses. But am unsure what to do. He has asked why he's more sensitve, fussy, bossy etc. He struggles in the school setting, is regularly in trouble and intolerant of others, pupils and teachers. We struggle in other situations too, eg the dentist. We are moving area at Easter, he may well have to attend two new primarys before starting a secondary in Sept 2006. I think having a diagnoses will help me and him at the moment. But what about the future. I've been told he may be resentful, even angry about it.

Yes it does sound as though you have overloaded Roisin
If you ever need a chat, even if's nothing related to this then please do contact me. You know where I am!
Blossomhillxxx

Thank you
Ditto of course - if you ever need to rant, sound off, or whatever!

Just wanted to say thanks for the discussions about your thoughts on dx here, dh and I are following the course of this thread with interest and finding it very useful for highlighting areas that we need to consider and discuss re ds and considering dx.
I've booked a gp appointment for ds to ask for a referal. Now need to have a chat with him to enlighten him...

Got another question while so many mums of children with AS or ?AS are about but think I should start another thread..

Oh boy! Having decided that a dx would be the right decision for ds(10) and got all psyched up for it, I had a chat with him tonight before gp appt on Weds and he has said it's not what he wants. "Having someone confirm that I am different from everyone else would be a very sad moment in my life"
We discussed some pros but he was adamant, I agreed to drop the subject for a couple of weeks.
What now???

Oh! He certainly sounds as though he knows his own mind, and I think you are absolutely right to follow his wishes on this matter. He may come to a point when he's older when he wants an explanation as to why he's different.

BH - just picking up on what you said about similarities - I think we share something else as well, which is having one other child who is (am I right?) unusually bright and at ease in the world. Mine is ds's little sister (4) - yours is dd's big brother?

I have moments when I think all my concerns about ds are pure distortion - because instead of comparing him with kids his age in general I'm comparing him to this child who is at such the other extreme of the range. It's so difficult! But also, and I'm sure like yours, my two adore and support each other that I think they couldn't do if they were more alike.

Just read your last posting Binkie. Guess what my ds (now aged 17) also has an unusually bright and confident sibling! Dd is 5 years younger than ds and they have always got on incredibly well together. Intellectually for a long time they seemed to be at the same level but in the last few years ds has shot ahead. But dd can still out argue him.