OT-About my Son

[natemomma27]

Sorry this is OT, but I wanted to let every one know who has been following/wondering how my son's evaluations were going that today he met with yet ANOTHER occupational, speech and behavioral therapist(s). After those he then met with PA's top Pediatric Neurologist and she determined that Nathan does in fact have Asperger's Syndrome as well as OCD. His intellect and speech were way beyond his age. (He will be 4 years old in June and tested at a 6-7 year old level) However his fine motor skills and socialization skills is where he is delayed. The best way to describe Asperger's (AS) would be to say 'high functional autism' is what the doctor told me. He will now recieve help with area's he needs most through the IU20 unit and Good Sheppard Hospital. They are also going to work with on how to manage and live with his OCD since it has already proven to taken over most of his daily activities, which is hard for me to watch at such his young age. Just wanted to let you all know and if any one who knows some information about AS would mind giving me the websites/books, I'd love to research and know the most I can about it. Thanks!

[irrelevance]

Well in my brother's case [I know everyone is different, but this is where I get most of my experience with autism from] his speach wasn't just delayed, but also somewhat inhibited.. He didn't speak until age 4. He doesn't have a wide range of vocabulary and neither have those other people I know with autism. My brother has a very choosey vocabulary and uses words that HE associates with things [he's really big on video games so he gets a lot of the words he uses regularly from them] such as I noticed the other day rather than saying "We've got more food" he said "We got an upgraded food supply" Which is somewhat comical in a way.. He's capable of explaining what he means if you ask, though.. Sorry, I'm getting off topic.. Haha. But yeah, I just wanted to point that out because I hear a lot of people say they are practically the same thing. To me, autism tends to be much more evident, where as you're more likely to know someone for a long time with Asperger's and never know they even had it.

[natemomma27]

thats how my son is..he appears 'normal', and although his speech WAS delayed (he didnt speak any words until almost 2) he has exploded with a vocabulary! ive done a little bit of research and i do see the differences between the two and my son def. fits the AS diagnosis, but he is highly-functional and the OCD plays a role in that. thank you for your imput and pointing out the difference, so that others who may read this will know as well.

[irrelevance]

Sorry that I don't have info on AS, but I just wanted to give my opinion on the way people refer to Asperger's close to autism.. There are usually very different aspects of difficulty for those with Asperger's than with autism. Speech is most often delayed in autism.. From what I have seen personally, Asperger's is really quite different than autism, although they have their similarities. I guess I'm telling you this because those with Asperger's tend to be more "normal" or I guess should say "high functioning" than those with autism and not to be frightened by the doctor saying it is 'basically' autism. I know a couple people with AS and I have an autistic brother and know a couple other autistic people as well.. I just wanted to point out, people act as if they are the same thing, even though they are both in the same spectrum or disorders, they are very different. And I know thinking about autism can probably be rather scary..

[martikadragoon]

I've got a friend with a little boy with AS. he goes to OT as well as BT. I'll get some info for you k?

Just PM me... and I'll try to respond with his info. !