AboutCatherine Ridenour Expertise I can answer your questions about parenting your High Functioning Autisic or Asperger`s Syndrome child. In particular, questions about family life, discipline, siblings, finding resources, and working with (sometimes opposing) the educational system are welcome.
Experience I am the parent of an Asperger's Syndrome child who is now 22 years old. She went undiagnosed for 14 years of her life, so I have done extensive reading and Internet research into the possible cause of her difficulties. Even a short 8 years ago, A.S. was practically unheard of by the public educational system.
We fumbled our way through her childhood and early adolescence without any effective outside support. In some ways, that may have been a blessing as we were focused on her abilities rather than a label for her disability. However, I can think of many times when knowing WHY would have been comforting.
Had we known very early on, some social skills interventions might have made her life in school easier. At this point, I like her for who she is so I do not regret how things have turned out. More importantly, she likes herself.
Education/Credentials I have a Bachelor of Science in Education.
I have worked to educate myself about Autism in general and HFA/AS in particular.
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Expert: Catherine Ridenour Date: 7/6/2008 Subject: My Son - Autism and/or ADHD
Question Hi Catherine
I would be extremely grateful if you are able to advise me in respect of my 17 year old son Jonah. He has previously been assessed twice with child paediatricians, but neither has been able to give a definitive diagnosis. Great Ormond Street said that Jonah does present with social and communication difficulties but they did not meet criteria for a significant disorder on the autistic spectrum. The previous paediatrician said that Jonah was merely struggling at school and needed to be Statemented. Now we have visited a 3rd Diagnostician who consider that Jonah has difficulties with receptive language, difficulties paying attention and concentrating and poorly developed social skills for someone of his age. They stated that he came across as much younger than his age.
In the tests carried out, he displayed difficulty understanding the intentions of others in relation to language and social interaction, problems with theory of mind and with particular uses of language.
They stated that his understanding of jokes, white lies and idioms were poor. Jonah was not aware whether someone who was being sarcastic was lying or telling the truth. He was not aware of persuasion nor of characters having contrary emotions. His grasp of the difference between appearance and reality was not always clear. Jonah did not understand that a character from one of the stories had forgotten something.
As well as these listed difficulties my son also has never been able to concentrate or pay attention. Messages do not get through to him. Peers found him to be odd. He did not have any friends from secondary school onwards. Jonah has never liked a change of routine. He is obsessed with skateboarding. This is all he will do. If people are talking in conversation, Jonah cannot follow and will often change the topic around to skating.
As a younger boy, he displayed a lot of echolalia. He was never able to take other people's feelings into account. He still cannot understand that others may feel differently from himself. All of Jonah's teachers suspected that Jonah had some deafness, but this has been tested many times and has been found to be 100%. Jonah takes things literally. I explained that I was going to take part in the Open Studios event here (where artists open their studios to the public) in September. And Jonah said "Does that mean that you're going to leave the door open?" He could not work out why a local property had been boarded up, even though in our area there is a lot of property re-development. He has never had a sense of danger.
I am of the opinion that the Consultants are going to go along the route of diagnosing ADHD although I am of the opinion that Jonah has both Autism and ADHD. He has been so very badly let down. I had to remove him from secondary school twice because of the most awful bullying. I could not sit back and allow Jonah to be treated so appallingly. Please can you help me. I need to know if you think Jonah has Autism as well as ADHD? Jonah said that if he does have ADHD he is not going to take medication. He is not keen to apply for a job because he wants to be a pro skateboarder.
I want my son to have the right diagnosis. Whenever I raised the possibility of both ADHD and Autism before, the professionals said no to both of these conditions.
Thank you very much.
Kind regards,
Miranda (March)
Answer Hello Miranda,
Your son is displaying all the classic symptoms of Asperger's syndrome. This is considered a high-functioning autistic spectrum disorder. Poor attention is part of the syndrome.
It IS possible to have both ADD and Asperger's. If you can't get them to deal with both, go for the Asperger's diagnosis.
The receptive language issues are the most critical piece of this puzzle. He has to be taught that words have different meaning in different contexts. He can learn this but only like we learn lists of unrelated facts. Likewise, direct teaching of social skills works, but every new situation requires new learning. As these kids get older, they build a larger repertoire of social behaviors to draw from. But, they never deal with new situations in the instinctive way you and I do.
At this point in his life, school is nearly finished. If his passion is skateboarding, support him in becoming the best he can be. If, in fact, he is not very good, suggest he learn about building or repairing skate boards. Try to help him find work in a skateboard shop in the back room doing hands on work, not out front doing customer service.
Some of the terms you used lead me to believe you live outside the United States. I am unfamiliar with them. Do find out what his legal rights are to an appropriate education. DO get a diagnosis BEFORE he is a legal adult so that he is entitled to whatever social and financial support services your country offers. At least in the U.S., that is the best tactic.
You did not mention if they attempted to determine his I.Q. You probably have a better idea of his intellectual ability than the test will show. Impaired language knocks a big chunk off of the score for most kids. If he's as smart as most A.S. people, he will find his way with your support.
