Anjuluh76 - New member

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Hello,
I joined this group because my 11 year old son was diagnosed 1-14-13 with Asperger Syndrome. I was surprised because he doesn't show some of the typical symptoms, and the symptoms that he does have I overlooked because I didn't know enough about it.

My son is very articulate and aware of his feelings. He has an extensive vocabulary for an 11 year old and has never had trouble letting me know exactly how he is feeling and why. I think this is probably why I didn't recognize that he was on the spectrum and also why I was so surprised when he was diagnosed. He is incredibly bright and affectionate.

I started taking him to a councilor about 2 months ago because he was acting out at school. He has always struggled with staying on task and had occasional outbursts at school, but this school year things seemed to get increasingly worse. He broke a dry erase board over his knee because he had an argument with one of his classmates. When he didn't finish assignments his teacher would keep him in from recess to give him extra time to finish, but my son became defiant and would break pencils to avoid doing the work.
His teachers have been very compassionate, and have kept me informed on his actions and have asked me for suggestions. Then I didn't know the reasons for his behavior, but now that I have a diagnosis I am finding relief in knowing that there is a rhyme and reason to his behavior and most of all there are resources for helping him cope and feel a sense of normality.

I'm glad to have found this community!
Through reading so many of your experiences I can better recognize and understand my son's symptoms and find solutions.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Anj

Welcome to WP!

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Welkome to WP

Mick

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Hi Anjuluh 76...

My heart goes out to your son, and to you as well. I remember like it was yesterday the frustrations and difficulties of middle school. It's a tough time for anyone, but for a kid on the spectrum - (and their parents) it can be pure hell.

Hopefully, you'll get good support form the school - sometimes though, this does not always happen. Depending on the training and attitude of the professionals in your school system, your son may be shunted off with an IEP that does not fit his needs, but is what the diagnostician or the system wants. Also, depending your son's level of self awareness and insight, he may also benefit from good social counseling and social skills building - learning to recognize the subtle signals his body will send when he's 'had it'' with something or someone, and how to handle these issues...but mostly it's just time and growing up and growing inside as well that helps.

And one last note - not everyone who claims to be an expert is an expert. Use your common sense when it comes to recommendations about drugs and various other radical treatments for behavior that is merely unique, perhaps annoying, but not dangerous. AS kids really do hear a different drummer and they are going to march to that beat! Be prepared to help your son cope with a diagnosis that might make him feel even more 'out of it' for a while...Just make sure he learns to focus on his personal strengths and the gifts, learning how to compensate rather than see himself as disabled, or merely learning to cope with what a lot of NTs feel are disfunctions

Last but not least...perhaps most important of all - he is still the same kid he was before you got a diagnosis - bright, funny, articulate and on the path to becoming a self aware adult.

Welcome! Have you found the parents sub-forum yet?

Middle school was hard for me. I eventually dropped out in ninth grade. I hope your son does better.