Aspergers??? Or not?!

I have a 9 year old son who I believe to have Aspergers or some kind of Autism. I have researched the symptoms of Aspergers A LOT and decided to book an appointment with the doctor. The doctor has seen myself and my son and although he is going to refer him for assessment he has basically told me that he doesn't think my son has Aspergers and not to hold my breath with them actually assessing him. He had a 5 min chat with my son  and didn't really present himself as confident in what questions to ask. he phoned me and said because my son made good eye contact with him and that he said he has some friends that he doesn't believe he has it.

my son doesn't have all of the symptoms of Aspergers and some he doesn't show all of the time and some he used to have but don't have anymore, but I would definitely say there is something there. He does have some friends and seems to play with them ok, but the other day two of his friends were being mean and running away from him but he still insisted he wanted to play with them. He used to have a major issue at bedtime where in he used to worry about not falling to sleep by a certain time, and he used to cry and get really upset at the thought of still being awake at a certain time. He doesn't do this any more though.  Here is a list of things that worry me. What do you think? 

-Issues with swearing, as in he worries about hearing swear words, thinks about them a lot, finds swear words in normal words ie Dictator, he'll focus on the first sound, saying its a swear word.
-Outbursts with brother/friends, will blow up, cry or shout when he's not happy with something, gets especially annoyed with anything his brother does, ie if he sits near him or says something he will bite very quickly.
-No confidence in trying new activities, doesn't like competitive sport, if he thinks he's going to lose he just won't try, sits out, prefers craft/games.
-Night time obsessions ie tuck blanket in, folds cloth in glasses case, has glasses opened out in his desk
-Tags & labels, zips, doesn't like the feeling of socks crumpled in his shoe & says they fidget, tags on the back or shirts we sometimes have to cut out.
-Plays by rules very black & white doesn't like to change the rules of a game, no variation.
Dominates play/rules with brother, takes over when they play, play has to be done by his ideas & will shut down brothers ideas.
-Computer mad, minecraft especially.
-Used to click knee, as in kick his leg out until it clicked.

-Wasn't imaginative as a toddler, didn't like small world toys, doesn't like dressing up, face paints.

-Notices small things, ie small changes or differences.
-Doesn't like talking on phone/carry on conversation, if grandparents ring & start a conversation he'll just say 'I'll get my mum' and pass the phone to me, not answering the callers questions.
-Never likes school plays, drama, says he's shy about people looking at him.
-Listening/concentrating at school teacher has said he loses concentration quicker.
-Having to understand School work, Questions what he needs to do & wont start work until he knows what he needs to do or if he's doing it right.
-Worrier 'what will happen?' About anything!! Ie questioned doctor about having tonsils out even though it wasn't going to happen.
-Notices if I add or miss words in book
-Questions what things mean when reading 
-is funny about some foods, if he has the same meal at his grandparents but it doesn't taste like what he has at home he won't eat it.
-Chatterbox
-Asks questions as if I know what he's thinking, will start talking about something without starting the conversation off properly, or as if it's half way through what he's thinking.


????

Parents
  • Thank you for your reply! I do worry that I've read these things about Aspergers and now I'm noticing all these little traits in my son and assuming he's got it. My main concern is that now he's started a new school with new expectations and more work to do, that if he does have Aspergers he may struggle and if undiagnosed will not get the support he needs. 

    Like you say I will leave it to the professionals (hoping he will be assessed, as the doctor pretty much said a third of patients will be refused an assessment and it's likely my son will be) fingers crossed and thanks for your response.

Reply
  • Thank you for your reply! I do worry that I've read these things about Aspergers and now I'm noticing all these little traits in my son and assuming he's got it. My main concern is that now he's started a new school with new expectations and more work to do, that if he does have Aspergers he may struggle and if undiagnosed will not get the support he needs. 

    Like you say I will leave it to the professionals (hoping he will be assessed, as the doctor pretty much said a third of patients will be refused an assessment and it's likely my son will be) fingers crossed and thanks for your response.

Children
No Data