• Replies 22 replies
  • Subscribers 29 subscribers
  • Views 20657 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Aspergers Girls-Please describe yourselves as 3-4 year olds

ASC Professional

I have been in a quandary for a while. I grew up with an Aspie brother and I now work in special education and specialise in ASC. I am also in the process of completing a Masters in Autism.  Therefore I feel I have a really good sense of Aspergers/ASC and associated symptoms. Every Aspie girl that I have come into contact with at my school has been diagnosed at the age if about 7/8, and I have often been the one to raise concerns with parents who initially thought their daughters were quiet, qurky, intelligent, sensitive worriers. I understand how easy it can be for Aspergers to be masked, particularly in young girls, however I have significant concerns regarding my own 3 (nearly 4) year old daughter.  I keep reading paediatric reports about what girls in my care with diagnosis were like between 2-4 years old, and it is like they are describing my own daughter. I have had concerns for over a year but I am reluctant to persue anything at the moment until I can be absolutely sure that I'm not 'looking' for symptoms based on my job and experiences with my brother. My husband would agree that she is odd in many ways but the things I see as her 'means of communication' he sees as intentional behaviour.  For example if she is interrupted when trying to complete a task (anything from trying to explain something, taking some rubbish to the bin or completing a puzzle) then she has a meltdown. I see this as a reaction to a break in her routine, an overwhelming desire to complete a task and inflexible thinking.  My husband would think more along the lines of it being her wanting her own way, although to be fair he is gradually seeing my point more often. The list of strengths and difficulties are quite long.  Some of her strengths include: Very intellligent, good with numbers and letters, excellent memory (she will pick up a random toy and say who bought it and why e.g. My uncle gave that to me for my birthday, and when we check with him, she is right every time.) Some of her quirks include: Desire to complete tasks, seeks sensory feedback, over expressive facial expressions and tone of voice, literal, wants people to be her friend but may overwhelm them, unaware if personal space, repetitive monologues (for example when she was 2 she repeatedly said "I've got brown eyes, mummy's got brown eyes, daddy's got blue eyes, my sister'a got blue eyes" this monologue would carry on through ever person she knew, including the next door neighbour's cats.  She would then go on to pair people up, for example saying that she was the same as me, and daddy was the same as one of the cats next door etc.) I could go on but I think you get the picture. 

I suppose my big questions are, what did your female relatives/yourself present like at this age? Do you think I am confusing things by being so naturally tuned into symptoms and am I over analysing her? I also wonder if some of these things aren't too far away from age related expectations. By this I mean that I would worry if a 6 year old girl at my school presented like this, and I keep needing to remind myself that she is younger. 

Parents

  • Hi my daughter has just been diagnosed at 15 years old. During childhood she was much more comfortable in the presence of adults, once describing other children as 'childish'. She was often totally absorbed in what she was doing, hard to engage, a poor sleeper, academically bright and had very few, if any, friends. One of her more quirky traits was communicating with me using little notes or letters, which she still does. She has always found it difficult to express her emotions, but when she becomes frustrated she can get quite aggressive. She can also become 'mute' when she doesn't want to discuss something, and sees most things in black and white and will not budge in her opinion.

    Since a very early age she has had major problems fitting in at school. She finds it extremely difficult to make and then keep friends, which has led to social isolation and other problems which I won't go into here.  An earlier diagnosis wouldn't have necessarily changed things much but at least I would have been able to support her better in forging friendships and in understanding her own self. If you are worried get your daughter checked out..., trust your instincts. At the end of the day if you are wrong there will be no harm done and you will have peace of mind. You are only doing the 'lioness and cub' thing after all! Good luck.

Reply

  • Hi my daughter has just been diagnosed at 15 years old. During childhood she was much more comfortable in the presence of adults, once describing other children as 'childish'. She was often totally absorbed in what she was doing, hard to engage, a poor sleeper, academically bright and had very few, if any, friends. One of her more quirky traits was communicating with me using little notes or letters, which she still does. She has always found it difficult to express her emotions, but when she becomes frustrated she can get quite aggressive. She can also become 'mute' when she doesn't want to discuss something, and sees most things in black and white and will not budge in her opinion.

    Since a very early age she has had major problems fitting in at school. She finds it extremely difficult to make and then keep friends, which has led to social isolation and other problems which I won't go into here.  An earlier diagnosis wouldn't have necessarily changed things much but at least I would have been able to support her better in forging friendships and in understanding her own self. If you are worried get your daughter checked out..., trust your instincts. At the end of the day if you are wrong there will be no harm done and you will have peace of mind. You are only doing the 'lioness and cub' thing after all! Good luck.

Children
No Data