Autism, Aspergers, PDD/NOS, ADD/ADHD

[BeardedChick]

Quote:
I just can't imagine what you are going through, but want to give you a hug

WrongPlanet is a site that has an area for parents. Not sure if you have been there yet... My husband says it's a good place to discuss issues.

 

[okiemommy]

Thank you very much! Both for the hug and the suggestion for a website to go to!

No, I didn't know about the website thank you! We are gathering every bit of information we can. The early intervention program hasn't given us all that much info yet, and he has about two months until he ages out of the program

 

[Wifezilla]

You are lucky to find this out now. 19 years ago there was almost NO information. I would have done so many things differently had I known...the main things being vitamin D3 and fish oil supplements.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

okiemommy, I just answered your pm and then read your post. How old is your son?

 

[okiemommy]

He's almost 3. Going to read your pm now

 

[Amyable]

Quote:
My DH complained of the nasty fish taste when trying different brands of fish oil for his eye health. Now he uses Nordic Naturals brand, and no aftertaste or smell at all. They use an oxygen-free process to make it; apparently oxygen makes fish oil go rancid. It's one of the pricier brands, but worth it.

 

[coloradochick]

I'll check it out. Thanks!!

 

[ursusarctosana]

I have autism. Perhaps a lot of people, professionals included, would not be able to tell or could say by looking at me from the outside that I appear neurotypical, but that doesn't change the fact that I process the world differently no matter how well I have learned to adapt. I will always feel and know I am different, though people may think I am standoffish or just irritable (due to noises, smells, etc.) it will always be because I have autism and I think in the way a person with autism thinks.

The best thing for me has been living close to people who accept me for who I am and take a lot of my eccentricities and verbal comments with a grain of salt. Also it can be difficult having autism and, at the same time, appearing neurotypical because people often assume I understand what they mean when I don't. They also mistake many things I do or say for rudeness when rudeness is not my intention.

I've never thought of autism as a disease. A disease is something that can be cured. When a well-informed autism specialist makes the decision that a person no longer has autism it will mean that they did not have autism to begin with; it was a misdiagnosis. That's why it's always good to have a second opinion. If a person is told that autism symptoms have gotten better it will be due to the child/adult's ability to cope, mimic, or modify his/her behavior so that the outside world does not notice. I know that what appears on the outside does not always indicate what conditions are like on the inside. Some of us (people with autism) are better at 'faking it' than others. We simply learn what is acceptable and adapt, but we, if we have autism, will always have certain feelings and ways of thinking. This does not mean we cannot pretend to be like people around us. The question is 'how painful and exhausting for the person with autism is it to pretend day in and day out'? I've found it's too much for me, so I've stopped trying so hard to fit in and it makes a huge difference when I stay home and do what makes me most comfortable.

 

[Wifezilla]

The question is 'how painful and exhausting for the person with autism is it to pretend day in and day out'?

Exactly. You should check out my friend's blog. She has taught me a ton about autism and that really helps me with my non-verbal son.
http://autism-rocks.blogspot.com/

Some days she can handle face time with people, many times not. We communicate almost daily via IM. No "social calculus" to worry about.​

 

[PostalChick]

Quote:
I would like to ask your opinion, as a person with autism. I have a 12 year old son who has rather eluded diagnosis, for lack of a better term. The one actual visit with professionals we managed to get, when he was 8-they told me he has 'austistic features' and sensory issues, but didn't meet the criteria for diagnosis. Then they said had I brought him in at age 3 or 4, based on his history, he would have been diagnosed as very high functioning autism. (he was also found to have a genius-level IQ of 140). They told me that the autism had 'faded'. The whole process was rather unhelpful.

Because some of the 'autistic features' that had faded, are becoming apparent again as he becomes a teen-he was just recently screened for ADHD and determined to not have that. He's defenitely 'different' and he knows it, and talks about it sometimes now. I wonder if a diagnosis would help him, so he could understand and accept it. Or, if we should let it go and just try to help him learn ways to cope (I work with him all the time to learn coping skills, I want things to go well for him).

I'm not really sure what to do, and since I don't usually think like he does (although, sometimes I do) I'm not sure how it comes across to him.