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Question: Autism pdd high functioning autism or aspergers ?

(Posted by: sobusy on 2007-12-01 13:37:06)

I am trying to figure out which one my son has .Not sure if he has any , we have an app next month for a developmental pediatrician . Can you tell me which one my son has , even if it is a guess? Shy with strangers, doesn't talk to them or say his name Give a blank look when people are talking to him, but has good eye contact Doesn't have much imaginary play At the library or preschool doesn't participate in games with other kids but likes watching them Lines up cars but doesn't get upset if I remove any of them Throws up paper towel 3- 4 times/ day Touches his eyelashes 2- 3 times/ day Enjoys a lot numbers and ABC puzzles Enjoys a lot musical toys Can't ride a tricycle Resists teaching unless given a M &M Has 4- 5 words sentence ( just turned 3 ) words are unclear Knows letters, shapes, numbers, can count to 10, sings Doesn't flap hands no rocking no echolalia no sensitive to noise He is ok if we change his routine Tells me about his achievements Very affectionate and likes touch

Posted by: Jane Doe on 2007-12-01, 13:49:36

Sounds very much like my son, and i beleive he had sensory processing disorder. My son has food issues which developed into speech problems due to lack of tongue and muscle form... im glad you have decided to see a specialist but i suggest you go to a highly recommended one or even two just to get a second opinion. My son has to be bribed, very unclear when he says things yet blabbers on and on, so i read him the same books every day, and cut up the syllables in a word and try to have him string the words together, its very hard to understand him which means thee is frustration on both ends. He's very smart yet is strugling... i wish you the best

Posted by: David R on 2007-12-01, 13:50:59

It seems to me these are all just varying degrees of the same thing, and psychologists and psychiatrists are just making up names to keep themselves busy. I have a nephew I believe has Aspargers (although it's never been diagnosed and his mother who's a nurse would never talk about it). He did have a flat voice and poor social skills (they've improved a lot through no special therapy - just growing up), but he just entered college and has a girlfriend. He's just a smart, shy, introverted kid but also very affectionate and warm. I have a patient (11 yo boy) who was diagnosed with Aspargers and I think it's not true, because he tells jokes and smiles and really friendly. He is just really smart (IQ 152) and his teachers probably don't know what to do with him. Best luck. Sounds to me like your son will do fine.

Posted by: happy on 2007-12-01, 14:05:31

It would be so unfair to try to figure out whether your son has Asperger syndrome or autism just from a list of behaviours. As the autistic spectrum is so diverse and as well as autism and Asperger syndrome there are so many other conditions on the spectrum it would be impossible to guess without seeing your son in a clinical setting. So many of the behaviours you have listed could be applied to a normal child but could also be used for a child with and ASD. Don't even try to canvas for opinions as they could all be wrong. My own daughter is on the spectrum and I tried to work out exactly where. When she saw the clinical psychologist they actually diagnosed her with two conditions on the spectrum, one of which I had never heard of! Try to be patient and leave it to the professionals. In the meantime make the most of your son.

Posted by: environmental1st2003 on 2007-12-01, 15:07:57

There is a good article written by autistic author Donna Williams which might be able to help you out: americanchronicle.com/ articles/ viewArticle.asp? articleID= 43650 "High functioning versus low functioning autism - it's more complex than you think " If the link doesn't work, you will have to copy and paste the entire thing into your browser. Only a trained psychologist can diagnosed which type of autism your son has.

Posted by: Trog on 2007-12-01, 16:03:51

I couldn't comment from what you've said, it just sounds like a rather shy little boy. Had you considered the possibility of Dyspraxia rather than an ASD? His speech doesn't seem to be delayed, just indistinct, and he doesn't seem overly dependent on routine; but the specialist could tell you better than anyone else. However, I understand your need to ask; when you are waiting to hear it is a really anxious time. What I can tell you is my own experience....my son was diagnosed with PDD at 3 but had been different from birth. He didn't make eye contact and made no attempt to communicate with other people. He didn't babble at the age other people's babies did and was very uncoordinated. He first sat up at ten months, walked at 19 months and couldn't speak more than two words at 3 years, unless they were snatches of dialogue from Toy Story...he also cried a lot!!! He couldn't hold rattles or play with toys until ten months...his first successful toy was a thing with a huge button which played music when you bashed it. When he did start to play with toys he would choose cars and line them up...he did get upset if you moved them. He also got extremely upset if people sat in different seats in the car (we all had to have our own positions) or took a different route when driving. He had a very high pain threshold...I had to buy him shoes well before he walked as he wore his toenails and the ends of his toes off by crawling yet he didn't cry about it. He seemed to cry about everything else. He has food intolerances and very restricted diet. Two of my other children are diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. They both have extreme problems sleeping at night and had food intolerances...they also wouldn't chew food when young. Whereas my autistic son spoke late, these two spoke early but had a strange intonation to their speech. They too were very clumsy and couldn't ride a bike, fell over frequently, and were hyperactive. They had difficulty making friendships and relating to people. They were excessively stressy and anxious. It was plain to me that they were different from other people's children quite early on. I hope that helps?

Posted by: Alex on 2007-12-02, 04:22:28

My video might help you youtube.com/ watch?v= rbgUjmeC-4o