IS THIS A MILD CASE OF ASPERGER'S SYNDROME

I have a 10year old son, who I find to be an absolute wonderful child.  He is amazingly creative and has an imagination they just keeps going.  He is very funny and has a huge heart.  He has a great personality that attracts everyone to him.  I call him and unusual breed.  My problem lately is he falling behind in his school work.  He has not sence of priority.  I have been forcing him to do the work in a timely manner but everything and anything distracts him.  I clear the table, take everything away that could be a potential toy and leave him with his school books and a pencil and he still finds something to distract him.  I have noticed that his school work comes home incomplete so when it is time for test he can not study.  He is not an exceptionaly inteligent child, I would classify him as average.  If he learns something in class and comes home we work on it again he gets it.  It just takes him a little longer to get things.  But it's not only school work.  It is simple things like knowing what he has to do in the morning and yet I have to give him specific step by step instructions.  It is as if he can't think on this own when it comes to something being done.  I think that is the problem with school work.  I takes him forever to get started because he is just not focused.  He has no learning disorder. He has been tested 3 times.  I am just not sure what I need to do to help him.

[Myrna Libby, Ph.D., BCBA]

I have forwarded your question to one of my colleagues who is currently out of the country.  When he responds I will send you the answer ASAP.

[angelinamarina]

Have you had him tested for ADD or ADHD?

You say "He has a great personality that attracts everyone to him."  This would lead me to believe that he does not have asperger's.

Have you taken him to a developmental ped?

-ANgi

[aver]

I agree with the above comment. My son has asperger's and ADD. You described ADD not asperger's.

[tomcat47]

Just let him be,,,,ont force him,,,these children are smarter then the so called normal ones,,,,,,,My sone has aspergers,,he is 13,when my wife naggs him,he will do the opposite like any other kid,,I tell her let him be,,,he is now on the honor roll,also has perfect attendence,he loves school,,when he was younger he would take everything litterally,,,and the questions he use to aske,I am not smart enough to anser,questions about the universe,thses kids are well beyound deep thinkers,,and he use to stay up all night if he coulndt figure something out even at 4 or 5,,,,,they will get picked on,lets face it poeple are jelouse if someone know;s more then them,,,

[tomcat47]

sorry for the mistakes ,,, dont force him,,I forgot the d,,lol,and If he was standing behind me he would correct me,,,that i explain to him some adults dont like it,,I explain to him somethings you have to let go,,,,

[EdieMarie]

"WOW"  you just described my 12 year old son to a tee...I'm new to this Asperger's thing I thought he just had ADHD, but I do know my son is smart and he play's me quite well!   Everyone calls him little Jim Carey!  he is so funny and goofy. But the homework thing,   I found that when he put on his dads ear protectors that he uses at the shooting range it cuts out all the noise and it is easier for him to focus.  At home not at school!

[tomcat47]

My son ,,,does not like any kind of noise,,except the noise of his tv,,he likes it loud,,,for instance he does not like going out to dinner or stores,to many people,,,I found out at his young age he takes everything litterly,he got better as he got older,,,I told our pet dog one day I was going to ring his neck,,,he ran to his mom ,and told her,,he really thought i was serouse,,,,I also have a sense of humor,,,but it took him a few years to no when something was a joke,,the scary thing is if someone picks up on that,you no how dangerouse that could be if someone wanted to scare or hurt him,,,when he was young he was on meds,,,I and my wife decided to take him off all that stuff,he takes nothing now,,,,,also he likes to take risk like skate boarding off a 1st floor porch he can take pain,,but he also is protective of his sister,,,,   ,,when he was a baby he would  sream             tighten up stiff like a board,,,,he is a quit kid,, theres so much more,,,If you want to no,

[Presidents]

A related discussion, mild aspergers was started.