My cousin, Carina, and her husband, Eugene, both live in Florida and are both OTs and I would love for them to post comments to this post with any explanation, suggestions, stories from the patients, etc. I just got off the phone with Carina and we were laughing at how entertaining aspies really are. Like yesterday Eric & Ryan went to the training center with me and I brought some DVDs and Eric's L-Max. I let them sit in the back room while me and another director were decorating the center for the Awards Night event last night. It didn't take long for Ryan to play with the door, open and shut, open and shut, walk out to the front room, pull at the string lights, unscrew the lights on the strings, drop snacks all over the floor - you know the usually 2 year old busy busy stuff. Well I went to check on Eric and I peeked in the door and he had the DVD player on, playing his Lmax, and walking around in a circle. It was hilarious. When I asked him what he was doing he looked up and said, I'm playing with my Lmax. So adorable.
Well today was a busy day and it was too crazy for me not to capture it in prose. First of all, yesterday afternoon, Ryan inadvertently nailed me in the right eye out of frustration with a toy. It was a pretty close range shot too. I'm so grateful we have the best concealer on earth since I was emceeing our Awards Night last night. Anyhoo, I had a huge headache and my vision in the eye was a little blurry so I thought it might be smart to try to see the eye doctor. When I woke up this morning, my head on the right side felt like I had a second head it felt so big. So I stayed in bed (listening to voicecom so I could keep my eyes shut) until Terry went to work. Then I got up and checked my schedule for the day and such and as soon as it hit 9am I called the Eye Doctor and they said come right now. So I jumped out my pjs and washed my face, no eye makeup because I knew my eyes would water and headed over. I really didn't think it would take very long but the doc saw me and decided that he wanted to dilate my eyes (which takes forever because they are so dark) and I had a facial scheduled at my house at 11am. So I'm sitting in the chair in the dark waiting for my eyes to dilate and I text a customer and book a facial and then I get a phone call and I go ahead and answer it. It was our food delivery people who were scheduled to come between 2-6 and they want to know can they come now. Sure why not there's someone at the house and the COD check was already written and ready and I should be back in time to sign the paperwork since I had an appt at 11am right? Well at 11am I was still at the eye doctor. I'm driving home thinking no one in their right mind would purposely schedule themselves this tight, but I did and I'm not going bonkers - yet. I pull up and the food guys are done and at the end of the driveway with the papers, I sign sign and sign and notice my 11am appt was late as I was so I ran in the house and put eye make up on and with the last stroke of mascara the doorbell rings! It was like MAGIC.
Well her kids and my kids had a hay day play date with Cris and I begin my appt. I went to heat up her face cloth and Eric comes running in limping and crying. So I run in there and lay him on the couch and elevate his leg and put some ice on it and sat there to cheer him until he calmed down. My customer says, is there anything I can do? (she is sooo sweet) and I said, "yes, your face cloth is in the microwave, you can wipe off your cleanser now." Ha ha. So Eric was fine - I think he might be sore later, his knee was a little swollen, maybe from landing on it wrong, didn't get a straight answer from anyone as to what really happened.
So I finish my appointment and she is gathering her kids, and I'm filing her paperwork and payment when I hear a CRASH! and then Ryan screaming. His chair had fallen backwards from the table (he kicked it) and he was still strapped in his booster seat! So I rush to him and unbuckle him and made sure his neck was ok and then I scooped him up saying it's ok it's ok and Cris's eyes got as big as golf balls and she said no its not. He had busted his head open, and I then make the announcement, OK Shoes and Socks we're going to the hospital. I don't even remember my customer leaving! So here I am dilated eyes and all driving to Children's Hospital having ZERO to eat since last night and the kids hadn't had lunch yet and it is 12:45pm. So I call Terry and say "I'm hungry and kids are hungry can you get us some food and meet us at the Emergency Room." Great introduction to trauma huh?
Anyhoo, we got there, went through triage and came into the waiting room and I took literally 2 bites of food and they called us back (why did I not bring my food with me???). We were there for an hour before they gave him his stitches but thank goodness Terry works close by because he was able to stay and was able to help another grown man hold our 2 year old down. I couldn't have done it physically nor emotionally. Of course in the end he gets a popsicle and he's grinning from ear to ear. I asked him if he liked this place. He said "yeah." Would you like to come back? "Yeah." Those popsicles are trickery!
We came home around 3:30pm. I talked to my sister all the way home, then Carina called, then my customer called to check in on Ryan (she is soooo sweet) and then I typed this up and now it's 6pm. So now I realize I still haven't eaten much so ta ta!
OTs in the family and our crazy day
Back from Dallas
We flew to Dallas last week and the kids did fantastic!!! The plane engines didn't bother Eric's ears like I thought it might but he still put his fingers in his ears. He was afraid of crossing the crack between the plane and the skyway and he wouldn't descend the stairs. But all in all nothing major. They both were sooooooo excited about flying in an airplane. And Eric rode the moving sidewalk and loved it. I was surprised but Cris hopped on thinking Eric would too because that is what Ryan does, but Eric stopped in fear and Cris pulled/dragged him onto the sidewalk so he didn't get left behind - thank goodness! That might have been disastrous if we were all stuck on the moving sidewalk and left Eric standing in fear alone - you know how long those sidewalks are!
The ah-ha moment we found with Eric this week was with his button hole fear - He wouldn't even hug Terry until he took his tux shirt off, and as soon as he did he said, "Daddy I can hug you now!" Then again in the airport on the way home he was complaining of being cold and I didn't have a blanket so i took off my jacket (kind of a lightweight cotton button up jacket) to warm him up and he wouldn't accept it so I put it on because it was indeed cold and told Eric I would just hold him to keep him warm and he wouldn't let me do that until I took the jacket off. He was willing to freeze (and he was literally shivering) over being near my button holes. HOWEVER he doesn't seem to mind single buttons. He will play with a book that has a big button and he will button and unbutton it with no problems. And he will wear pants with a button and zipper (haven't tried a button fly but I don't think they makes those in 3T) - we will continue to test this.
We got the paper work to fill out for Child Find to get him into a new therapy group and I had just left unchecked the "excessive reactions to changes in routine" because although he would question the change and seemed bothered by it, he never really had full blown out tantrums. Well yesterday I switched the lids on the sippy cups and he about had a cow yelling, "That's not right! That's not right!" He refused to drink from it and threw it across the room and when I didn't react he picked it up again and threw it again and then a third time. Dr A suggested that his recovery time needs to be between 5-10 minutes and if he is agitated longer than that then it is counterproductive and it had been a few minutes already so I gave both sippy cups to Ryan who could care less which lid was on which cup and let Eric cry in my lap until he calmed down. So I started a conversation with Ryan and he said "Thomas DVD" and Eric bursted out laughing in a big belly laugh. So recovery was quick especially when Thomas entered the conversation.
Oh and this is what else I found out in Dallas....Ryan gets home sick!!! The 2nd day we were there he would say "back...home...please" with his little lower lip pouting out. It was adorable and heartbreaking at the same time.
The Research for the Day
I had an overwhelming therapeutic need to post this excerpt from the following source about Aspie Adults (about 4/5th down the webpage): http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Asperger_syndrome_and_adults?open
Common issues for partnersMy intention for posting that is not to get sympathy. It was affirmation for me that I'm normal to feel the things they listed and that it is healthy for me to continue talking to people who have experience with AS (or just Terry and Eric's specific issues). I have found an overwhelming support here, as it is more prevalent that we think. I had never even heard of it before summer.
An adult’s diagnosis of Asperger syndrome often tends to follow their child’s diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. This ‘double whammy’ can be extremely distressing to the partner who has to cope simultaneously with both diagnoses. Counselling, or joining a support group where they can talk with other people who face the same challenges, can be helpful. Some common issues for partners include:
* Feeling overly responsible for their partner.
* Failure to have their own needs met by the relationship.
* Lack of emotional support from family members and friends who don’t fully understand or appreciate the extra strains placed on a relationship by Asperger syndrome.
* A sense of isolation, because the challenges of their relationship are different and not easily understood by others.
* Frustration, since problems in the relationship don’t seem to improve despite great efforts.
* Frequent wondering about whether or not to end the relationship.
* Difficulties in accepting that their partner won’t recover from Asperger syndrome.
* After accepting that their partner’s Asperger syndrome won’t get better, common emotions include guilt, despair and disappointment.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Asperger's_syndrome?OpenDocument
I thought this was a great concise explanation of AS in case you've not been able to read all of the links.
All of this is affirmation to me that Eric is normal (under the umbrella of SI and SPD at least) - that there is nothing seriously wrong with him (or me for that matter). I really began feeling like I was an inadequate parent and that no matter what I did I didn't have control over my kids. But every person that I have confided in here has been so supportive and given me resources and networking me with other moms who are going thru the same thing and given me exercises to do with Eric until he starts therapy again in the fall and what to look for and what to work on and what's important and what isn't a big deal etc etc. One mom and preschool teacher even suggested the gluten-free diet. Had never heard of it, then googled it and sure enough they are trying it with autistic kids. Well Eric isn't autistic, but we thought what the heck let's try it. We have a seen a huge difference in his ability to focus. Now he still is 4 so his focus ain't that great! But has definitely becoming more age appropriate.
Other great FREE articles to download are on http://www.superduperinc.com/handouts/handouts_allbynumber.asp
I wanted to link these so family could get an idea of how Eric has been getting help with in his therapy since January. Check these out: #110, 114, 119, 121, 130, 132, 133, 134
Disclaimer that I haven't read all of these in its entirety. I just skimmed and then downloaded for me to read later but I thought I would go ahead direct everyone to the links.
Re: #110
We have seen a great improvement. As a matter of fact on Monday, for the first time EVER, he asked me "Why?" I don't even remember what we were talking about (We were opening his birthday presents) but I was so excited and was praising him. I'm not sure if I ever answered his question though. ha ha. And then today we were putting together some train tracks and I was thinking about the design, and Eric asked me "What are you looking for?" I was sooo proud of him. His speech lady has been working on this (his WH questions) with him since March (the beginning) and I think he may have finally gotten it!! The true test will be the next time he asks Why but in a different scenario. He's gotten pretty good with asking Where - I think that was his first one. He's always said "What are you doing?" but that was from rote memory of me constantly asking him that-tee hee.
Today I was at a baby shower and I started talking to other parents of older kids about some information about kindergarten (because Dr A wants him to go next year versus holding him back a year). Overwhelming response that we should hold him back because boys are more immature. I have heard that and thought that was what we would do. Also have heard that with out a Pre-K class, the kindergarteners are very unprepared. So one brilliant mom said that many parents with bright children will send them to Pre-K to learn the social skills and then send them straight to 1st grade. So I'm going to talk to his dr about this. Anyhoo, I explained to this particular mom that I was afraid to throw him in Kindergarten next year, but his IQ was too high to keep him back which might lead to behaviorial issues. I caught myself saying that he had a learning disability, which in some respects is true - if you can't listen you can't learn (see handout #114) . But that got me thinking for those of you who love and adore Eric and see him as just a normal kid and nothing more - how is it different than an LD, say dyslexia? I have a friend who is dyslexic and I keep forgetting and I keep calling on her to read stuff aloud. But she has learned to cope sooo well that as long as she reads slowly (or has read it before) then it gives her time to rearrange the words. No one would ever know she has an LD, because she appears "normal." That is how I want people to see Eric. Yes we are darn proud of his IQ which by no means is normal, but I intend to help provide him with a normal social life and the ability to communicate effectively to the masses.
OK its late. Good night.
Terry Speaks
Thanks Terry for your insightful comments. It is nice for you to contribute to our understanding and I hope that you leave comments often. I know how hard you are working to make this work for us and to be a good father and I appreciate it so much.
I read in one article (no reference now but will try to find it-I might have already referenced it, let me know if I did and you read the link) that aspies are better at writing down their feelings than speaking them. It encourages aspie to keep a journal that they can refer back on to study themselves and their emotions. Even as his wife of 11 years, I don't always know what is going on inside. I used to joke that I would go to read his blog to learn about what's going on with him because he wrote there daily and I'd be lucky if we had even a conversation, and when we did, of course I was the one who started it. It really made me feel like a bad wife and friend. And even when the big D crossed my mind I would always think that no one would understand why I'm not happy, because no one knows how it is behind closed doors (except maybe for his mom since she raised him). They see the happy go lucky, witty and charming, smiley Terry. Not that that Terry doesn't exist, I just didn't see that Terry very often at home - even though I knew that that was the Terry he really wanted to be. I am truly happy for Terry (and me) that we are learning how to handle the communication gap. It has been liberating for both of us. We still have good days and bad days, but the good days lately have grossly outweighed the bad ones.
Could it be something other than Aspergers?
I started doing more research and stumbled across an interesting webpage when I googled "Hyperlexia vs Aspergers" and found this link: http://pediatricneurology.com/autism.htm
Now it doesn't give much insight on the difference between the two, but it did go further in describing expanded ASD which are not included in the DSM-IV, which basically means they are "unofficially" considered on the spectrum. According to the summary chart, Eric looks like a blaring NVLD candidate, but when I click on the resource link provided on this webpage, I got about halfway through and realized, nope, this isn't him. He does have a follow-up appointment in 6 months with the neurologist when they are going to do an EEG, we should be able to rule this out. He hasn't had any trauma to his head so though he is delayed in his motor skills, it is not to the extreme of what I was reading.
Here is another good resource that explains the Spectrum: http://www.freewebs.com/calnaa/autismspectrumexplained.htm
The other possible diagnosis is Semantic-Pragmatics Disorder (SPD). Here are articles solely on SPD that describes Eric and Terry very well: http://www.hyperlexia.org/sp1.html and http://members.tripod.com/Caroline_Bowen/spld.htm . I intend to ask his doctor why Aspergers with SPD versus SPD as a stand alone. My intellectual deduction are the quirks (finger twisting, awkward gait, the "da da da di di" type sounds he makes for no apparent reason), and according to this article, http://www.mugsy.org/spd4.htm, it appears that another difference is the superior intelligence. SPD does not mean necessarily that the patient has above average intelligence.
Here is a great graph (you know me, miss visual...) from the Bishop article at http://www.mugsy.org/articles.htm. The author also suggests that because Eric has obsessive and ritualistic behaviors that he should retain the diagnosis. I know from talking to a teacher/speech pathologist friend of mine, an Asperger's diagnosis is a good "label" because he will get what he needs for early intervention through the school system because it is more widely recognized. I still want to ask his doctor what is the significant difference though.
Update on Eric
Here is the original email blast that I sent with some names altered so I can't be accused of slander.
Interesting enough I looked up OCPD and it doesn't describe Eric or Terry, but fits me almost to a T! Ha ha!
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jennifer P Higgins;
Date: Jun 29, 2007 9:00 PM
Subject: Update on Eric
To: Terry Higgins;
Hey! I know that each of you have gotten bits and pieces of the "saga" we've gone through this past year, and I'm happy to say that we finally are at a point where we can move forward!
Background on psychologists: Dr A is the most well respected child psych in East Tenn, so much that he is very difficult to get in to see (and his office is over an hour's drive away). When we found out that Eric may have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder in January, we call his office to get on the waiting list in February (we waited because we were in denial that Eric's quirkiness could be anything less than 3 year old quirkies). At that time they gave us a time frame (not an appointment) of "June-ish" - that they would call us then when his schedule opened up. Geez! So we waited and waited and waited and then Eric's therapist suggested another psych Dr. L who used to work with the KCS for like 11 or 12 years and had access to the ADOS testing which is the "official" test for Autistic Spectrum Disorder. We got into her office almost immediately. She saw Eric for a total of 3 hours of testing and finally came to the conclusion of nothing really. The GADS testing scales are specifically for Aspergers testing. On that he scored "High/Probable" and "Borderline." But she confidently ruled out Aspergers because the ADOS said so (no real explanation), she ruled out ADD, ADHD, and ODD (oppositional Defiant disorder). She did say that based on his intelligence testing, his Verbal and Non Verbal reasoning was above and well above average and his Spatial reasoning was on the low end of average which would contribute to frustration and therefore behavioral issues. We were probably looking at a personality disorder like OCPD, but that cannot be diagnosed until he was an adult. She referred Terry and me to other psychs for parenting help and marriage counseling.
Meanwhile, Dr A's office called us and we decided to go ahead and go see him as a second opinion since we finally got "in" and he was so reputable. After that appointment, we really liked him as a doctor, he made us feel validated in our concerns and he didn't make me feel like I was an inadequate parent. As for Eric, he immediately didn't suspect Aspergers based on observation of interactions and did all the testing that Dr L did except for the GADS and ADOS. He didn't have any background information from Dr L or the therapist when evaluating him so completely unbiased of previous evaluations. Today we went for the follow up (after all the test scores were compiled) and he was positive and optimistic about Eric. He went into a little more detail about his IQ, in nonverbal he scored 98th percentile (7 years and 4 months age equivalent) and IQ of 130 (127 is the cut off for giftedness). However one category (which I can't remember the name of it) he scored in the 68th percentile but what Dr A showed us was that is a composite score of basically his listening skills and his speaking skills which had a very wide margin, so the composite score was misleading. Basically his listening skills were low and speaking skill were high. In other words he could clearly tell us about an event (if it originated in his own mind to tell us) but if we asked him to tell us about an event, he couldn't process that to be able to tell us. Dr. A pointed out that that was an unusual pattern that usually people have stronger listening and comprehension than speaking (for example when we learn a foreign language, we tend to understand it better than we can speak it at first). So in combination of that, some sensory observations he made in his first evaluation, his high intelligence, some quirkiness he observed (hand flapping, for example), and Eric's intense focus on Letters, Numbers, and Trains, he concluded that he does indeed have Aspergers. Fortunately Eric's social dysfunction is very mild and he believes that with occupational and speech therapy that by kindergarten Eric will be totally integrated (for most it takes until 2nd-3rd grade). By that time, the only thing that Dr A predicts will be obviously aspergers will be his IQ.
So we are pleased to have a solution and a next step. I'm personally pleased that I don't have to feel like the bad parent who let's her children run wild. We know things could be worse so overall this is a good thing and I feel like we can close this chapter and move on with therapy and feel positive about our son instead of frustrated knowing that SOMETHING is going on but not know what it is nor how to handle it. We have already seen improvement since he began therapy in January and again in the last month (i think as he is "maturing" as next weekend he will be 4 - sniff). Gratefully Eric doesn't have a clue, he thinks therapy is "school" and with his speech improvements he did wonderfully in VBS and getting along in the classrooms! Who knows - he may fully integrate this year instead! =o)
Thanks for prayers!
Jen & Terry
For more information on Aspergers, Dr. A recommended the book by Tony Attwood.
299.80 Asperger’s Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria for Aspergers Syndrome
- Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
- Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors, such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
- Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
- A lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
- Lack of social or emotional reciprocity
- Restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
- Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
- Apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
- Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
- Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
- The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
- There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).
- There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.
- Criteria are not met for another specific pervasive developmental disorder or schizophrenia.
Since Eric's diagnosis, I literally have been liberated. I think because of the validation in my feelings and frustrations I've had in the last 6 months of "not knowing" as we were waiting to see a reputable child psychologist. I feel like I can move forward, especially knowing that it could be a lot worse. Eric is such a joy and though it is hard to believe at first glance that he is an aspie, when you look at the diagnostic criteria, it is obvious (on paper) that he is. I'm just going to go through the criteria and describe Eric in those context...
A1. Eric is described as "serious" by Cris our Au Pair. He also has an incredible ability to relax every muscle in his body which makes him extremely flexible but also make it extremely hard to move him as it is dead weight! He tends to slump over as if he is disappointed in inappropriate times. Like I'll say, aren't you excited about ____, and he'll just slump over like he's depressed and he may or may not answer. We do have problems with eye contact UNLESS it is something that interests him, namely Thomas the Tank Engine, or his favorite board game, book, etc. When I do get eye contact it is hard to maintain it through a sentence. However the "impairment" for this criteria I'm not sure I would describe as "marked." I lot of observations in the past year I have written off as "childish ways" until I began my research once his OT saw his ASD tendencies.
A2. I don't think that this describes Eric. He has 3 friends that he will mention by name when asked to name his friends and those boys love Eric just as much. His only drawback was that he bit his best friend several times before we physically separated them for weeks until he got evaluated for behavioral problems back in December 2006.
A3. This totally describes Eric up until a few weeks ago. Eric was so content to be by himself, play by himself, not needing social approval (and his Dr noticed this too in the evaluation). Now he points out Thomas or trains or racecars or anything with wheels at the drop of a hat. However I've begun to notice lately that he asks me to play with him, sit with him, etc and also asks his dad to as well.
A4. This is probably the most difficult thing to deal with for me. I am the kind of person who needs feedback and conversation and Eric (nor his dad) are naturally inclined to do this. (His dad has learned that that is what I need and has adjusted, sometimes with prompting, nicely to my love language!) However, with Eric, in order to get feedback from him, you often have to pose it in a multiple choice fashion. Ask a questions and offer choices of possible answers. When there isn't a choice, then I usually end my words with "ok?" and repeat that until he says "ok"back. What is hilarious is that now that he is talking more (Speech Therapy is amazing) he ends all of his sentences and requests with "ok?", for example, "Mommy, we gotta play Clue, ookay?" Imagine it drawn out-cracks me up!
So he meets 1 and 2 halves of these criteria in my opinion.
B1. See A3. Anything with wheels (we've caught him watching NASCAR on TV) but mainly trains. Thomas and Friends is his favorite but any train will do. His other obsession is Letters, Numbers, and signs or warning labels especially with the red universal "no" circle with the slash through it, but if it is a sign he HAS to stop to read it. It began with Stop signs at age 2, then went to No Parking signs, to Exit and Enter signs, Men and Women restroom signs, to aisle numbers at the grocery store, to anything that has a Letter or Number on it. Pretty impressive to see a 3 year old read.
B2. He has his routines and rituals that he enjoys. He used to be inflexible and get really stressed out and throw tantrums when he was thrown off schedule, but now with proper explanation and logic he copes much better.
B3. Finger twisting is his thing. I like the way his OT described it....Imagine crumpling up a piece of paper or crumbling a piece of cake, but there is no paper/cake there. (His dad was a hand flapper as a child and as an adult when we first got married but he adjusted - I must have fussed at him enough about it, because I viewed it as rude, but now I know it was a neurological reaction.) He also does complex body movements but I can't honestly say I think it falls under this criteria.
B4. Two things come to mind when I read this. Eric's obsession with strings - pulling and picking them out of clothing, bedding, throw pillow, furniture. Drives me mad! We have fluff falling out of every pillow and my jacquard comforter is "hairy" from all the broken strings hanging out of it. The other thing is his intense fear of buttons, though his dad and I just realized that it might be the button holes he dislikes. We might have to test that theory.
C. The main thing that impairs Eric is his sensory integration issues. He refuses to eat or touch certain colors, textures, patterns. It's like it gives him chills or sometimes makes him gag. He has supersonic hearing and can hear a train miles away but he cannot stand public restroom's loud toilet flushing and hand dryers or anything else that is "too loud." We bought him earplugs but it "tickles my ears, mommy, I'll just use my fingers." I am not seeing a lot of social impairment right now but I can see that without therapy, how it could really be affected later in life especially the adolescent years.
D. True. We actually didn't start seeing "issues" until a few months before his 3rd birthday. The month before his 3rd birthday is when the biting started happening and then shortly afterward it became ridiculously challenging. The only things he really said where repeated words, or sentence structures that we taught him but he didn't start developing his expressive language skills until he started Speech Therapy in March, which worked wonders.
E. True. Very bright at a very young age. We actually would "show him off" to friends and family..."Look what Eric can do..." Even now, his nonverbal reasoning is at the same level as a 7 year and 4 month old (98th percentile of children his age).
F. True. He doesn't meet the full criteria of another PDD. There is a lot of overlap, like with OCD, but typically there isn't a fear attached to not having his routines.
There is so many different nuances about the autistic spectrum and I'm learning them slowly. The good news is that he has had 6 months of therapy and his dr sees him fully integrated by kindergarten!
See A More Down-to-Earth Description by Lois Freisleben-Cook on the OASIS Website at http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/
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