Autistioc absence V epileptic absence.... ?

[Peachy]

DS3's absences are worsening,school have noted that he spends much of the day absent and a significant one (I didnt get to see it, DH did) on saturday led to him dropping a glass and could ahve caused realinjury.

The Paed never investiigated and said it was clear that it was ASD related, I am intrrested to know how to tell the difference and at what stage to traise with a GP (or Paed appt in March)

I wouldn't be leaving it, tbh. If they are getting more significant, then regardless of cause you have an acute change in his condition. I would say you need to phone the Paed's secretary and ask for at least a telephone conversation with the Paed.

That's interesting. We have just come out of hospital with DS who started having prolonged absences - he has other seizures but hasn't had these before. So many of the neurologists kept saying that they didn't think that they were epileptic absences but didn't offer any other explanation. DS spend most of last week in and out of them and he was completely non functioning - couldn't read, speak, write

He's back home now, fingers crossed with a new med

fatzak

Lou I amseeing class teacheron Thursday for IEP,willask herhow much more significant trhey ahve beocme- certainly enough for her to note in link book today that he is requiring additional help.

sorry you have had such a rough time fatzak. I agree with Lou about speaking to the paed before March. IME (albeit of a different department) a consultant to consultant referral is likely to be dealt with quicker than a GP one.

I really worry about this as DS had regression at start of all this. Given is it about 1/3 of ASD children develop epilepsy I don't know why they don't routinely screen for it via EEGs. At an autism specific NAS school I looked round the school nurse said 50% of kids there had epilepsy - but then they had a high % at more severe end. Still its still a worry for all parents with ASD child and I would rather know if DS had a suspicious EEG than wait for his first fit. Interestingly the school nurse also said that almost all kids with ASD had easily controllable kind of epilepsy.

I do know that our PAed specialises in epilepsy as she diagnosed a friend's child.

DS3 rates as sevee on CArs though i would callhimmoderate in termsof the severity someother children have: he is certainly severe enough however to need SNU, lifelong care and has SLI with his ASD (mainly ASd related, partly through facial scarring after what i thought ewas a drop attack at school but couldnt get a story from anyone)

I willspeak to the PAed'ssecretary,just becuase I haven't seen it want to oduble check with school what they are seeing.I agreethough,and EEG should be done as routine.

(he was regressive as well donkey, ds1 wasn't though- I collect variants)

I really don't see how they can tell the difference without doing an EEG.

How old is he? ds1 used to have them lots, some would last for hours, and he would sit staring into space. Some lasted minutes, like a sort of drop. Thankfully as he has gotten older they aren't as frequent, mostly got replaced by meltdowns . It was only an EEG that ruled out epilepsy though.

I never heard of autistic absences before, it's a good way to describe them. we jsut describe him as zoning out!

He is 6.5.

His ASDdid start with a head uinjury as well but nobody seems to want to acknowledge that.

get the eeg referral, peachy, jsut in case.

I'd talk to the paed asap. an EEG might pick it up, but of course DC's often don't perform their partytrick when required.

DS (6) had absences... just short ones and also jerks, but the worry was that he would have on up on a climbing frame, or on the stairs, and put himself in some kind of danger. Had to get it written into his care plan at school that he needs constant supervision, esp when climbing stairs, or in sports. ( although apparently it's pretty unlikely that an absence will occur while doing a high stimulus activity). Also to let them know that he might need a sleep after an absence.

We also had the dropped cup thing going on. Thank goodness he only likes cold drinks,

all controlled by keppra now thankfully.

I am going to ask for an EEG thanks,schoolarewatching to see what they think as well.

DS4 HAD absences too, usually lasting between 10secs and less than a minute. But they cleared up with a dairy free diet. I posted about it at the time and quite a lot of others said their children had fewer or no absences with dairy removal.

Not saying that milk is the cause of everything, but it seemed to help a lot of kids on the spectrum.

Just thought i'd stick my twopenneth in