Expert: James Michael Roan - 9/16/2009

Question
Our soon to be 13 year old son was diagnosed with Asperger's almost four years ago and was followed through by a second official evaluation.  Over the last eight months, his agression and defiance have been coupled with comments of "you just wish i was never born" when he doesn't get his way. He is also extremely jealous of his 4 year old sister and has threatened her on numerous occassions.  Prior to the AS diagnosis, we went through five different medications, most with drastic side effects. The problems are primarily home related and we have gone through multiple alternative behavior plans at home over the years with little success.  His behaviors is making home life unbearable.  Should we have him re-evaluated or are there other things we should be looking for?

Answer
Hi Candy;

I'm sorry to say that these behaviors are very common in children this age with AS. There are no easy solutions to these behaviors. Folks with AS generally have a concrete/literal thinking style, which makes them interpret information in either a "black" or "white" context. Couple that with impaired executive functions, they have a lot of difficulty shifting their perspective and regulating their emotions when reality does not line up with their expectations. Unless you get a detailed evaluation, you will not get the information you need to work with these behaviors. A good neuropsychological evaluation by a neuropsychologist should address executive functions, attention, abstract thinking, social thinking, perspective taking, and the ability to read emotion in the eyes of others. You have a label, which is a start, but now you need to understand your son's unique intellectual profile in the areas mentioned above to both understand him and to help him.

Kind regards,
James

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Bio

James Roan is a certified school psychologist who has been consulting in the areas of autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and learning difficulties in the United States and in Ireland for over ten years (http://www.jamesroan.com). James earned his M.Ed. in School Psychology and M. Ed. in Adult Education and receives ongoing post graduate training in autism at the University of Washington’s Autism Center. James Roan has traveled to Galway, Limerick, Mayo, Clare, Dublin, Cork, Waterford, and other cities and counties across Ireland assessing children and adults, and consulting with solicitors (lawyers) in defense of children with disabilities. James Roan was the consulting assessment professional responsible for many of the autism and AD/HD screening tools and other content for Access Special Needs.Com. James Roan consulted with the graduate department of the Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford Ireland in the development of their graduate program for the certification of private autism tutors. James has conducted formal assessments of students in the Autism Unit in the Claddagh National School in County Galway Ireland.