does my son have asp?

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hi i am new..not sure what to post..i think my son (11) may have asp...it is all spinning out of control...this may sound naive but what does a diagnosis do..i do not want to medicate him..how do i approach it with him..ie why are we going to a psych..please sheck out my blog i have givin an example of a behavior..i just am going nuts and dont know what to do..he is having friend problems...anger issues...it just seems like what used to be little quirkys to work around have now taken over our lives..well thanks for listening

I think that you should take him in for an evaluation, right away.

\Welcome to WrongPlanet.

so how do i explain to him what we are going there for?

For starters thank goodness you are seeking help early. My daughter is undiagnosed but started seeing a psych for an unrelated reason and she didn't question the visits at all. I simply said she had a doctors appointment. I told her on the day a few hours before and it was no big deal.

If he questions, you could just say that you want to be the best parent you can be and this appointment is for helping both of you understand each other better.

The parent forum here is a blessing where you will get lots of support.

Glad to meet you, beatle - and welcome to the Wrong Planet forums. You might want to check out W.P.'s Parents’ Discussion Forum: http://www.wrongplanet.net/forum19.html
All the best to you and your son.

A diagnosis identifies a condition. That's all a diagnosis ever does. Nothing else.



If Asperger's Disorder is his condition, medicating him would be wildly irresponsible, as there is currently NO MEDICATION EFFECTIVE FOR TREATING IT. Its a congenital (present from birth) neurological (within the brain) condition (not a 'disease', just an alternate set of thinking processes).



Judging from the hysterical and uninformed nature of your post, I'd say you should not mention it to him, as you clearly think it means he's BROKEN and DEFECTIVE, and its never healthy for a parent to send that message to their children.




Only you know that...



First, you check out the DSM and read the diagnostic criteria. When you read it, does it sound like it was written by someone who was specifically describing your child? If not, you're likely looking at something else.

Try this link >: Asperger Checklists

If AS is what he has, virtually everything on these lists will ring a bell. EVERYTHING.

Ultimately, see a psychologist. Strangers on the Internet cannot diagnose your child through you, even if they were qualified and licensed.

If he's having 'anger issues', the solution is: Discipline. He's the child, you're the parent. He can't grow up and go into the real world thinking that uncontrolled displays of anger and temper are acceptable. Period. If you love him, you'd better get that across now, or be ready to see him in prison. You brought him into this world, take responsibility and don't whine that you can't control him. In another year or two, you physically won't be able to.

Friend problems. If AS is what he has, he'll deal with that all his life. He won't ever have many friends because he won't be able to relate to regular people, nor they to him. You think its a social problem at 11, just wait until he enters the workforce and tries to make a living. Of course, that's assuming AS is his condition, which can only be determined by a psychologist and a battery of tests. Seek professional help.

Willard, you sound bitter, cynical and cruel.

thank you to the helpful responses..to willard i DO NOT think he is broken i think he and i do need help dealing with this and i was just looking for input as to how to approach him with this because i DO NOT want him to think exactly the things you posted...i have read the checklists and they do seem to apply to him which is why i am here...i understand he needs discipline but as i understand with asp traditional methods ..that i have tried...do not work..i do not think my post was hysterical and uninformed...maybe i am just tired and looking for a little support...so thank you to those who are that and to those who are not..dont bother posting if you cannot be helpful

Hi, beatle. I can't tell from your blog what exactly might be your son's problem. A psychologist should know a lot about the possibilities. I don't think psychologists can prescribe, so meds probably won't come up. I got my own diagnosis in writing so I won't get re-diagnosed by every person I meet (even teachers!). As for what to say to your son about why you are going to a psychologist, you could say that you don't know how to help him and a parent needs to be able to help their kids.

That sounds a lot like Asperger's or autism. I suggest you let him take the Aspie Quiz. The Aspie Quiz is a quiz composed of 150 mixed questions. At the end of the quiz, it tells you if it thinks you are NT (neurotypical or non-aspie) or Aspie. As for medications, don't give him powerful meds unless you absolutely need to. Some mild meds are fine, such as Concerta (like Ritalin, Concerta is composed of methylphenidate hydrochloride). I take Concerta and it helps me with my ADHD and lets me focus more easily.