Relating to Aspbergers

[StephMomof4]

Well, back at the school again yesterday for yet another conference regarding my 11 year old son.  Same old same old, even though he started taking AdderallXR towards the end of the school year last year with what seemed to be an improvement.  I am now wondering if he has ADHD/inattentive type at all?!  He cannot get organized, stares blankly into space when being spoken to, rambles on and on to us and others about things that he has a keen interest in, but no one understands (i.e. a tv show he has been watching, online game he was playing, etc.), withdraws into himself with varying behaviors at school such as putting his head down and fiddling with fingers instead of doing work, seemingly lacks the ability to pick up on social cues, has a couple of "friends", but really shows no interest in social interaction save for the one kid (2 years younger) who comes over to play and is just as "odd" as my son.  He is basically a loner and seems to really prefer it that way.  When he was 2-3 years old he could recite TV commercials verbatim, and has always said things that seem way too advanced for his age.  (Calling his lego structure his "prototype" at age 6)  I am beginning to wonder if he has Aspbergers, and what to do about it.  Help!

[Rachel Thompson, Ph.D., BCBA]

I do recommend that you get your son evaluated for Asperger's syndrome. But, the most important part of your question was "what to do about it." A diagnosis is sometimes helpful in gaining appropriate services but often does not really go far in explaining in the types of behavioral difficulties or in pointing toward intervention. I recommend that you attempt to identify a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who could assist you and your son's school with identifying some interventions aimed at addressing the behaviorall concerns that you identified. It would be important, for example, to get your son involved in some social skills training. A registry of certified behavior analysts is available at bacb.com, the website of the behavior analysis certification board.

[MaryannesMom]

I would definitely get him tested for Asperger's.  Many people with AS also have ADHD.  By what you've said, he very well could be on the spectrum.