Is My Musically Gifted Son An Aspie?

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Hello, I'm new so please forgive if I'm in the wrong discussion. I have a 14 yr old son and he is different (wonderfully so in my opinion). I have known he was different since he was about 18 months old. He has three older siblings, all who were babbling away coherently at 18 months...Ed could sing, but he couldn't talk. I had him in speech therapy until he was four, with some progress.

I put him in Head Start at the age of 3, but he wouldn't interact with the other kids and seemed distressed when forced to do so. In kindergarten, he would scream if anyone sat too close to him. This "hands off" behavior continued, and no one but me seemed to take it too seriously. He also developed a really bad fear of flying bugs...not because he was afraid of being stung, but because the sound "freaks him out". It makes it difficult for him to even go outside, even tho I have gone and sat with him, tried to help him be calm, breath and focus.

By fifth grade, we finally convinced the school that he needed help and arranged an IEP. The local "one-size fits all" mental health facility had on-campus counseling, and we agreed to that. After no feedback from the counselor we requested a copy of his file, only to find that they had diagnosed him with Aspergers. We wanted a formal test, and requested that his teachers fill out an ASDS. Two of the three came back with scores showing a likelihood of Aspergers, so we took him to "a licensed psychological associate". She did a BASC-2, and determined that he did not have Aspergers, just general anxiety. So we let it go, and tried to help him deal with that. For three years he was in counseling, with no real progress.

This year, his first in high school, I went in for his annual ARC for his IEP. The first thing they asked me was if I was sure he didn't have Aspergers. I only know what I've read, and what I have observed in my son. I am his mother, I know I'm subjective, but here goes:

Ed is extremely bright; at 14 he's testing at college level in math and reading. However, he has difficulty with processing in both areas.

He often can't find the "right" words, and gets aggravated. He often has a hard time understanding what is being asked of him. You can almost see the wheels spinning in his head.

Sarcasm goes right over his head; we can't tease him because he thinks we're serious.

He can make eye contact but it's like a staring contest. He will hug, but it's like the aunt you rarely see kind of hug, if that makes sense. He flinches a little when he's touched.

He speaks in a monotone most times.

He's very routine-oriented. Given the choice he'd eat the same thing every day.

He's a bit clumsy.

He blurts things out in class that have nothing to do with the subject.

He withdraws from group activity.

He gets overwhelmed and weepy, especially when he thinks he's being unfairly treated.

He doesn't really have any friends, but he thinks that if someone says hi to him they're his friend, and if they don't they hate him. He's very black and white.

It's almost painful to watch him in social situations because he's so akward.

He's amazingly gifted in music...he can play by ear most any instrument he picks up.

I'm not afraid of an Asperger's diagnosis...I just want to know so I can find tools to help him help himself. Does any of this sound familiar to any of you, and what are the better diagnostic tests specific to Asperger's? Thank you in advance for your patience with this long post, and for your help

speakergirl, you posted this as a reply to an existing thread about another topic. You'll want to use the "new topic" button to create your own thread about this.

topic was split to a new discussion. thanks MrXxx!

NP!

Hi Speakergirl,

I can't really help you with a diagnostic test but if this was my son I would get him tested. Certainly, all children with aspergers are different but he definitely seems to have some 'markers' which are strong indicators.

In my case I was advised by my son's speech therapist to make an appt with a child psychologist for an assessment but I am not sure whether this would be same for an older child.

Sorry, not much help but all the very best on your journey

I'd get him tested also if its just to put your own mind at ease. You clearly have done some research into this and debaiting if he is or isn't.

Hi Speakergirl

I obviously can't tell you whether your son has an ASD or not. However, I would be inclined to say not Aspergers. You mentioned a significant speech delay, which would rule out that as a diagnosis, but he could very well have high functioning autism, just not Aspergers in particular. Maybe that's incorrect, but that's how I read the diagnostic criteria. There would be no harm in asking for him to be tested.

Good luck

The test you're looking for is the ADOS (autistic diagnostic observation scale). It has a module specifically for teens/adults. Look for a developmental psychologist or develomental pediatrician who is trained on administering it.

Since diagnosis is always going to have a subjective component, it is impossible for anyone to be sure he does not have ASD, especially with so many people seeing indications suggesting he does.

I think the answer I would look for in your situation is this: what gets me the most of what my son needs right now? If an AS label means the school will provide your son with more beneficial services, then embrace it, at least within the school paperwork. If not, the answer is a pragmatic dead end.

I thank you all so much for your input, especially for the name of the diagnostic...I need all the help I can get While Ed couldn't speak coherently until he was 3, he could sing entire songs before he was 2. His speech therapist said it was because music comes from a different part of the brain. He was also late potty training...he would pee in the toilet, but if he had to make a bowel movement, he'd lay down toilet paper and poop on it, then cover it up with more toilet paper and come tell me. This continued until he was almost 4...anybody recognize this? He was diagnosed with Gaucher's Disease at 1 yr old; when he was having social problems in Head Start I questioned his doctor, who said that since he'd had invasive, traumatic procedures done on a regular basis, it might be affecting his acceptance of others in his space. But that was eleven years ago, and we've had him in counseling for the last 3+ years for general anxiety disorder with no real results. Are there cog/behavioral methods specific to Asperger's?

We live in Kentucky; apparently there's a high rate of autism here.