Aspergers autism

I am wondering if any adults with Aspergers or anybody married to someone with Aspergers can contact me privately? I need some info.
Thanks in advance
breezy

[Silver Girl]

I have a teenage son with mild Asperger's... Don't know if I can be of any help....

Silver Girl

Thanks for responding. I am wondering if you would be willing to talk to me about how your son was diagnosed and what follow up there was to the diagnoses as far as therapy or behavioural counseling? What age was he diagnosed at? I will understand if you dont want to answer these in public or if I am being too nosy just let me know .
thanks

[Silver Girl]

My son was diagnosed when he was 3 years old... He was seen by a child psychiatrist at Primary Children's Hospital in SLC back in 1996...

Back then he had some very peculiar behaviors, such as constantly lining things up (matchbox cars especially), constantly climbing everything, disappearing a lot , very limited vocabulary, constant vocalizing (meaning making moaning and humming noises)... He even set a fire once (and thankfully only once)... 45 minute screamimg tantrums until he threw up.... Throwing fits when he would be undressed... Screaming in the bath tub (or anywhere near water)... Having to wrestle him down to comb or wash his hair... He wasn't potty trained until 5 years old, just 6 months before he started Kindergarten... Wow!! I have forgotten how fun it all was! LOL

He was sent to a preschool for special needs kids in Provo, UT... He responded pretty well... We never really worked much with the doctors after his diagnosis, but worked quite closely with the schools and special needs teachers...

He is on the mild end of the Asperger's/Autism spectrum... Now, at 15 years old, he is doing GREAT!! He is a sophmore in high school (regular public school)... He is very bright, even tough he gets pretty average grades, and struggles in school... He is a FANTASTIC mechanic... In fact, one of the members of my Branch won't allow her husband to touch her car without my son there!! LOL He gets his driver's license in August, and enjoys participating in Band (plays Tenor Sax), and runs Cross Country... We have been blessed that he is mild, and most people don't know he even has a problem...

I don't know if that helps... I don't have all the answers, but I am happy to help in any way I can...

Take Care, Silver Girl

Thanks for replying. I suspect my 73 year old husband has Aspergers. I had him take 2 different online tests recommended by an Aspergers online group and he scored very high on both tests. The tests show him to be more on the moderately severe end of the spectrum. It answered a lot of questions for him as all his life he has felt "out of sync" with the rest of the world and it explained a lot for me. Now we are just trying to decide if getting an "official " diagnosis is worth the time, effort ,stress, and money. He is 73 and is battling cancer. I am wondering if getting the diagnosis is going to do anything for him other than enlighten him as to why life is such a battle for him? He keeps flipping back and forth with it

[gwozz]

Originally Posted by Breezy

Thanks for replying. I suspect my 73 year old husband has Aspergers. I had him take 2 different online tests recommended by an Aspergers online group and he scored very high on both tests. The tests show him to be more on the moderately severe end of the spectrum. It answered a lot of questions for him as all his life he has felt "out of sync" with the rest of the world and it explained a lot for me. Now we are just trying to decide if getting an "official " diagnosis is worth the time, effort ,stress, and money. He is 73 and is battling cancer. I am wondering if getting the diagnosis is going to do anything for him other than enlighten him as to why life is such a battle for him? He keeps flipping back and forth with it

I'm sorry to hear the struggle that I'm sure you're both having. I'd recommend you go see a psychiatrist. Autism has common symptoms with many other behavioral/psychological disorders. IMHO, it would be wise to get evaluated, as he may have something slightly different, and be able to find help/treatment/support for it. It sure can't hurt, but it has great potential to help. My best to you both.

[vegasbay]

Hi there!

I'm new here, but your title caught my attention. I'm a 20 year old female with moderate Asperger's Syndrome. I was never officially diagnosed, but I bounced around between some counselors and doctors and other autistics. For me, it wasn't worth the hassle of getting a diagnosis. I was 18 at the time and there would be no advantage to having an official diagnosis - the college I'm at has few accommodations for it and even with equal rights for disabilities, there's no way I would get into vet school if the admissions board knew I was autistic.

But like your husband, it explained so much about my life and the way I am and why it is so hard to just live sometimes. The depression and the anxiety that go along with it can be overwhelming, but just focusing on small goals to make it through the day keeps me going.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, I'm more than happy to talk about my AS to people who want to learn more.

[MorningStar]

My nephew has autism. He is amazing and is about to go to high school math even though he is in elementary school still. He is math obsessed and an excellent reader too. When he was born, we knew something was up. His mom was criticized for giving up on breastfeeding, but when I saw the way he drank from his bottle, I knew there was no way he could possibly breastfeed. He had a very weak suck and it took him a long time just to drink a bottle. By the time he was 2, he was singing the alphabet backwards while I played it on the piano and he was reading. He has had a terrible time behaviorly, but he is so gifted and wonderful. He also gets really down as he is aware he has a hard time controlling his emotions. Recently someone called him a retard and he tried to pick a fight with them.

[Topspin]

I think I have a form of that condition, it caused great anxiety and fear and confusion about life.

Thanks to all who responded. He has decided that getting a diagnosis isnt that high on his priority list as he has other concerns right now. The more I read about it the more my head just swims. Its amazing that he is 73 and NO ONE ever picked up on this till now and that includes me . I have been with him since 1983 and I always knew he was different......... just didnt know how different