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Concerned about 7 yo son, what do I do?

Muminmama

Hello. This is my first time here. I wonder if someone has some experience that might be able to help me. I am increasingly concerned about our son and feel that he may have an AS disorder, I suppose I am talking about Asperger's. I don't really know whom to turn to for help. Should I go to the GP? Should I take my son? Perhaps the answers are obvious to you but I'd be grateful for any help, as I am not sure where to start. 

He has always been very good at reading, maths, etc., but his handwriting is still barely legible and his fine motor skills are not that good. He will never answer a question about an emotional matter. He can't get the hang of not interrupting - he simply doesn't seem to register that anyone else is talking. He likes to give a long monologue on his favourite subjects and doesn't really care whether anyone is listening or not. And he flaps his hands a lot when he is excited. He doesn't have any close friends. 

I am thinking that we need some help, particularly as I am becoming really impatient with him recently. I find him very hard to deal with sometimes. I could do with some help and support. 

Thanks for listening. 

  • Note of warning.

    'aspecialist', under the same username, has previously been banned from other autism websites I belong to for their promotion of "Dr. Sundardas" and his unproven therapies.  I have reported this to the moderators.

  • @Evelyn.

    I'm not aware of any more recent conclusive evidence either way.  However, from reading the experiences of other autistic people, it does seem that gastro-intestinal problems might be more prevalent among autistic people.  Having GI problems on top of autism could very well make a person more tired and run-down, which could reduce their tolerance to stressful situations, and lead to more melt-downs etc.

    Whether this is caused directly by autism is very uncertain, as other co-morbid conditions are very common for autistic people.  And there are other factors that might come into play, too.  For example, when I was little, I often did not chew my food properly, and I also found it very difficult to tell whether my internal "gurgles" were because I was ill, or just very hungry.

    What I would suggest in such a case, is to talk to your GP about seeing a qualified nutritionist.  They would be able to do tests to see if there are any deficiences due to nutrients not being absorbed properly, and could advise whether there are any supplements or dietary changes that would be beneficial.

    Some supplements are potentially harmful if over-dosed, and there is a lot of misinformation put about by people trying to take people's money for "magic cures" - so it is wise to be cautious.

  • Hi Muminmama! Autism is often characterized by varying degree of difficulties in social interaction and in communication. As parents, the most important thing to do is to recognize the early signs of autism. That way, appropriate interventions can be provided as soon as possible. Note that there are also some natural ways of making your son feel better. Take time to learn more about this by visiting leading naturopathy exper DELETED web sites.

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  • I looked on the site a couple of years ago to see if vitamins or special diets were recommended for small autistic children.At that time there was insufficient evidence to support this. Has there been new evidence since then?

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Hi and welcome,

    A lot of your description does fit with Autism/Aspergers. Particularly the bits about interrupting and not getting the hang of turn taking and listening to others. There is enough in what you say to make this worth pursuing in my opinion.

    His teachers ought to have an opinion as he is likely to stand out from others in his class. If he has a severe problem and is having problems, such as with his mental health or if he becomes very difficult to manage, then the GP should be consulted. MH problems sometimes follow from AS issues as the inability to  handle social interaction can lead to bullying, isolation and problems that can follow from that. If he is handled well then there should be no need for things to get out of hand but a lot of kids end up with problems because noone recognised the problem and dealt with it sympathetically.

    There is a course that might help you deal with him http://www.autism.org.uk/earlybirdplus - I'm not sure if you need a formal diagnosis for this.

  • Thanks for replying. I did speak to his teacher but, although she is a great teacher, she was not particularly helpful on this and said i would need to speak to a medical professional. I guess at least that means it didn't appear clear cut to her. 

  • Have you spoken to his school to see what they think