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Duaghters Odd Behavior and a Diagnosis to get her help

I have an 8 year old duaghter that was recently diagnosed as Aspergers, but as I research the disorder I am not certain the diagnosis is accurate. She doesn't have any problems with ey contact or being socially withdrawn, more than anything she is overly social to the point of inappropriate. She is is excessively friendly and engaging, has no concept of strangers (although we have tried to explain this), often she meets omeone and after an hour or so wants to crawl into their lap,hang on them, follow themor go home with them and is right up in their personal space totally oblivious to the idea that it might not be ok. She talks alot but conversation is often one sided about whatever she is interested in, if you ask her a question about the subject  she frequently doesn't answer (unless you repeatedly ask) and just keeps going on. She interupts conversation and repeats portions of what she's already said and expects you to find it interesting again. She says things in front of people that shouldn't be said (either because it's embarassing/ rude/ private) and doesn't understand why your upset....nor does she stop talking about it if you ask her to until you've asked several times and then she's annoyed with you. There are also many times in a day that she will be talking in a normal  voice and posture and all of a sudden she'll hunch her shoulders foreward, poke her chin and head down and foreward, make a crinkled up face and start talking almost like a muppet or silly / goofy like  with her hands floppy up by her mouth  and her entire body becomes almost like she's a clown and she makes silly sounds and gestures??!!  She doesn't really enjoy playing games, coloring, make believe or things that are in groups of more than a few children.  She doesn't share well because she doesn't understand the concept of borrowing if she's the one doing the lending.......which leads me to point out that she doesn't really have emptahy either.  She gets cognitively when other people are hurt/ sick/ upset but it's kinda a blank stare and you have to tell her to respond and how. On the other hand she is very sensitive to pain/ sturggle in regards to animals.  She does flap her hands occaisonally especially if she is sad/ happy and constantly ***** on her finger.  If she is bored or stressed she will sit down cross her legs and rock for self stimulation and totally zone off.  She is constantly asking if she can go outside, even if it's really early in the morning or late at night no matter if it's hot or cold she just wants to go outside.   Because she has been diagnosed with  ADHD, expressive language disorder, processing disorder, auditory processing diorder and dyslexia, it can be difficult for her to fully put into words her feelings or tthoughts and understand sometimes understand what your saying, so she is emotional all the time and you can't rationalize with her, but her IQ is fine and so is her speech  She isn't very flexible if plans change or she doesn't get her way.....because of all of the above there are lots of meldowns, tears, hysterics. Anyway........this is my daughter, I don't know if she has some kind of Aspergers where its Aspergers because she's socially  so off the mark , or if it's possible she has something else......but either way I'd really like to know so that we can know how to work with her ( what's known to work for others who are similiar) so that she's not alientated as she gets older.  Thanks!
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Avatar universal
THANK YOU!!!  I have asked her therapist to writer her diagnosis in a report so that we can add it to her IEP and get her into social skills class, I am very excited about the possibilites for her. Thanks for your suggestions I will work with her on them!
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973741 tn?1342342773
Hi,  I'm not an expert but that does sound like aspergers.  I have a nephew with aspergers that is also 8.  He is extremely smart (reads at a MUCH higher level and is super smart about his favored topics----  talks like the little professor they describe with aspergers.etc.)  She has many traits similar to him.  I have a son also with a developmental delay and he has difficulty with self regulation and social cues as well.  He is 5.  We did a social skills class this summer and have worked on it with his ot.  He is doing much better.  I imagine if she goes to ot, they will help her with these things as well.  Your ot may run camps or organized play sessions to practice skills as well.  Anyway, here are some things my son learned this summer:  basic skills of talking to someone----  face the person.  You model this to her.  Stay appropriate distance apart (robot arms to the front and the side, no closer).  Again, model this and keep reminding.  Cut out pictures of people in different moods or draw them and show her the pictures and come up with words for what they are.  Sad. Happy. Mad. etc.  Then use your own face to show these feelings and make her tell you what they are.  This is practice for reading nonverbal cues.  Act out the too close scenario by getting a hoola hoop and putting it around someone.  The get in the hoop and watch how the other person pulls their head back because they are too close.  This visual will make her laugh but keep reminding her of this.  Act it out too without the hoola hoop.  Too close and just right.  With the inappropriate hugging and touching----  get pictures together of all of her family, friends and then some strangers.  sit her down and make three lines in front of her.  Family on the first line.  They get hugs and kisses.  friends on the second line---  a hug once in a while.  Strangers on the third line----  no hugs/kisses, etc.  It's okay with family (and maybe a best friend) but everyone else gets robot arms.  Last, my son hasn't gotten this yet as it is tough.  It is called put it in a bubble.  If there is something you want to say but know you shouldn't----  just put it in a bubble in your head.  It is there but you don't say it.  

I don't know if this helps, but this class was for kids of all levels of dysfunction.  My son isn't on the autism spectrum but has sensory processing disorder.  His social skills aren't too bad, but robot arms and trying to see nonverbal cues for himself was invaluable for him.  Good luck.
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