Asbergers? Really? No?

[lacyndarella]

Posted on Asbergers board, but suggested post here as well...

My 14 year old neice has been in counseling this summer for problems that have really started to come to a head. She also has seen a psychaitrist because we feared it might be bi-polar. The psychaitrist confirmed her previous diagnosis of ADHD...big relief, but both the counselor and the psych have put forth the possibility of Asbergers. Personally I don't see it. True she has an unrational fear of needles...so do millions of people. True she misreads some social cues...duh, she's 14. True she can be inappropriately flirtatious...again 14. True she is very volatile with her family...she's the only adopted child in a home with 2 other natural children and has ADHD and again, she's 14. True she has trouble finishing her homework and organizing her work...ADHD, 14. She's also immensely intellegent, at or above grade level in all subjects, highly religious and faithful, and social above and beyond the average teenage girl (or child for that matter)... In grade school, she would walk through the elementary school and every teacher spoke to and was spoken to by Kelly...everyone knows Kelly. When she was 4 and lost in a mall, she walked calmly to an employee and appropriately provided all the information and asked for a page for her lost parents...they were the ones missing, she was fine. She has always had to be the center of attention. She sings and dances and acts...well by the way. Of course I am not any kind of expert, but I don't see her at all on the autism spectrum...and they also suggested PDD...what? PDD. My friend's son has PDD, and she is so typical where he is so not. Yes she has some obsessive behaviors, obsessive picking at scabs and sores, mostly. And she has some social challenges. But I am flabbergasted at the suggestion. Where can we find information on Asbergers and how does this very intelligent, social, somewhat immature teenager fit?

[Lara]

G'day Lacy,
I just replied on Asperger's Syndrome forum. :) We were posting at the same time I think. I suggested you come over here too.

__________________

G'day Lacy,
The teen years and just as he was going into the teen years was probably the most difficult time for my son. Much more so than all the other children his age. It was as if a huge gap widened up between himself and his peers at that time and he found it very difficult.

I'm not really sure how to answer your post because I'm not really sure what you're asking. I see a lot of things you've written there could certainly fit in a child who is diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Is it particularly her very social side that you see doesn't fit??? You said "and social above and beyond the average teenage girl".

How affected is she on a daily basis with her organizational problems or her OC behaviours or any phobias or mood or any other issues she's having right now. Obviously there's been a problem for her to have been in counselling this summer.

Regarding PDD or Pervasive Developmental Disorder, well it is like an umbrella term and covers a number of conditions and Asperger's Syndrome is one of the PDDs.

http://www.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/autism/pddinfo.html

What is the difference between autism and PDD or PDD-NOS?

Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) is a category designated by the American Psychiatric Association to indicate children with delay or deviance in their social/language/motor and/or cognitive development. A child may have delays in social development and delays in one or more of the other categories. The profiles of children with a PDD can vary tremendously. PDD is not one disorder but a category that encompasses a wide range of delays of different magnitude in different domains. Autism is the most severe of the pervasive developmental disorders. Autism indicates a primary disturbance in the individual's ability to relate to others. Language delay and cognitive delays are also common.

PDD-NOS represents Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified. This is a diagnosis given to a child who exhibits impairment in the development of reciprocal social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, or when stereotyped behavior or activities are present. However, the child does not meet the criteria for any specific pervasive developmental disorder.
I guess the important question is how is she functioning on a day to day basis and if she does get a diagnosis of some type is that going to help her. Does she need any extra direction in school. Lots of children can be super intelligent but that doesn't mean they're not experiencing some types of difficulties learning in class.

Anyway, I just wanted to reply to your post as well. What Lizard has written is great and I can't say much more than that. Come on over to Autism forum if you can. It's much more active. We all tend to hang out there.

http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/aswhatisit.html
What Is Asperger Syndrome? - Barb Kirby

http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/
OASIS:Asperger Syndrome Information

http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/aspergerpapers.html
some Research Papers and Descriptions of Asperger Syndrome

[Lara]

http://www.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/autism/asdiagnosis.html#definition
Categorical Definition and Clinical Description

from

Asperger's Syndrome
Guidelines for Assessment and Diagnosis
by Ami Klin, Ph.D., and Fred R. Volkmar, M.D.

[Lara]

This is my son's doctor.
http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/
There are some excellent articles and reading on his site. There's also a good research section and research archives section if you're looking for specific articles. All those links are on the left hand side of the page.