Please help - I'm so puzzled...

Hope,

Thank you for your thoughtful questions.  I will answer them one at a time.

(Does your son have narrow and singular interests...):  He has interests that are more intense than others (construction, farming, and trains), but his interests are not exclusive.  Going to a museum for example, he may want to spend more time at the train exhibit, but wants to check out all areas of the museum.

(Does your son take things literally and/or too far...):  No, he understand humor and nuance as well.    He does worry about things, but not to the degree they are debilitating.  He is not overwhelmed by loud noises.  He is not very possessive with friends, but he also doesn't "need" to have friends.  As his teacher decribed it, it is more important to him to play with things how he wants to than it is to have a certain friend or two with him (altough he never excludes people and does seek out relationships).  

(Tiptoes):  No, didn't as a toddler either.

(Tantrums):  He has had two tantrums, I can't even remember over what, where he cried for about 30 minutes and had a hard time calming down.  Once he calmed down, he was ok.  I also don't give in when my kids cry (if for example they want a certain toy or something), so I'm not sure if this would have an impact or not.

(Skill Profile):  He is very mechanicaly inclined - he just seems to "get it" when looking at how things go together, move, etc.  His Father is an Architect and was much the same way as a kid, so I always thought that had something do do with it.  He is average at letters and starting so show proficiency with numbers.

I am interested in your response!

Thank you

I'm not sure of my ground but feel certain points need to be made.

You need to let the medical avaluation go its sometimes slow and circuitous way, and probably not look for explanations unless more problems arise. Otherwise you could be looking for things that are not really there.

I have read that some repetitive movements are just normal phases, and that rocking is included as such a response.

Rocking and hand movement however could be a response to sensory restrictions - information not getting through - that could be autistic spectrum, but it could be dyspraxia, or a hearing deficiency, or a few other things. For example could he just be immitating another child?

Looking for social clues is not easy. While books might refer to eye contact and forming friendships, and play interaction, its not that easy to detect. There are many stories in books on autism/aspergers about children who appeared to make friends but on detailed analysis didn't do it properly - for example had toys and a nice house that attracted people round but didn't actually engage well when other children there.

But I suggest if no other obvious factors, it may be best having started an investigative process, to follow it through without anticipating complications that may not be there.

Does your son have narrow and singular interests which are very intense, and does he talk on and on about his interests? When I was his age, I was only interested in food and all my activities would involve food.

Does your son take things literally and/or too far? Does he worry about things? Is he easily overwhelmed by sudden loud noise such as fire-work displays, popping balloons etc?. What are  his friendships like - does he fall out with his friends easily, is he very possessive?

Does he walk on tiptoes (often an early sign of ASD)?

Does he have prolonged tantrums when things don't go his way?

Does he have an uneven skills profile - i.e. very good at some tasks but not so good at others?

Thank you for your post.  We have looked at touretts as well, but it just doesn't seem to fit.  His stimms are specific and come about when excited (usually).  Doctor did think his eye contact was lacking, but outside of this appointment, we have not felt it is an issue.  It didn't seem unusual to me that a 5 year old boy in a small room with three doctors was feeling a little intimidated and scared.  I appreciate hearing from you - it helps just to interact with someone about this.

Hi there,

Im not suprised you are puzzled, your son is however still young to judge social skills. I only say this because its quiet often not till kids get older that a diagnosis of AS is sought through social challenges. My son has always behaved like an angel at school, had friends etc. He does have other things like dyspraxia so he was always different at school and his differences were just accepted. I live in a village so he went to a small school, I ws very lucky.

It could be that the developmental pead saw other little hints that you wouldnt be aware off, like was his eye contact quiet right? did he answer any questions directly to the doctor? was he playing with toys whilst you were talking/ watching the video.

I do think he has jumped the gun a bit though as its a very long process to be assesed and diagnosed with  ASD.

Im not a professional so cant answer your question on other diagnosis centred around 'stimming', If it was 'ticks' then may be touretts syndrome.

good luck

sam

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