I have posted this on another board and they referred me here. I am concerned that my ADD child may have a form of high functioning autism or Aspergers' . Pedatrician mentioned it and we are going to a nuerololgist in a couple of weeks. Anyway here is the post. Sorry it is so long.

This is my first post...I'm new.:p
I have a 7 year old son who I have known for quite a while was a bit different. (My suspisions started when he was about three years old.) We thought at first he couldn't hear (because when in a group of people who wouldn't respond when called to) and that turned out not to be the problem. He has always been extremely verbal. But most of all of his conversations are very one sided. He wants to talk about Science and leaves very little room for others to interject. In Pre-K and 2 years of Kindergarten (We held him back after the first year of K hoping it was a "maturity" issue.) His first year K teacher explained him as being a puzzle that she couldn't figure out. She would say that we might be dealing with a gifted child, then she would think that there may be some learning disability, and she always agreed that there were severe attention problems. (He is however, so so so NOT hyper or impulsive at all! He is the King of LAID BACK.) We held him back for another year of K hoping it was maturity...... Obviously we know now it wasn't. This year the K teacher explains him as if he has a movie running in his head at ALL times. She says that he will stare off into space and smile and then widen his eyes and laugh just like he is watching some fascinating movie. I had a behavioral specialist come and observe him. She said that he could not focus for over a 20 second stretch. The teacher would repeat the directions 5 times each. (He has a wonderful and caring teacher.) Then the children would chime in trying to give him directions. Then he seemed to snap out of it and in a panic try to figure out what was going on. The behaviorlist suggested seeing a pshychologist. We went to the pediatrician with parent and teacher filled out the Connor's scales. He scored very high on both scales on the ADHD Index section of the test. The Dr said he thought he was ADD but wasn't comfortacble saying that he was that exclusively. He has borderline abnormal to abnormal behaviors, such as jumping around and flailing his arms from time to time and mild facial tics. He also has poor gross motor skills, somewhat hard time making eye to eye contact and he does not interact with his peers. (He will play with kids in a one on one situation but not in a group.)
The DR said we need to see a nuerologist. He mentioned that there are many forms of autism. ...Asperger's??? that may be a possibility. He put my son on Adderol to see how he did. That worsened his facial tics...REALLY BAD so we had to take him off after just 5 days. (Didn't really see a big change in attention either.) My son is very smart (it has been suggested that maybe he is gifted) so some people say that maybe he is just "bored" in his 2nd year of K. I don't think so...he has SEVERE attention problems in every arena of his life...karate, baseball, Sunday school, etc. The teachers say something has to figured out by first grade or he is going to sink. Not because of his intelligence, but because of his inability to attend.

Sorry for the long post but it breaks my heart that my sweet, smart boy is having such a diificult time. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas. What should I do? Where should I go? What do you think that this may be? :confused:

I'd say go with your doctor's advice about getting your son tested further. Once you know exactly what your dealing with you can start to not only educate yourself but those around your son.

On a brighter note my son has a very high functioning AS. boy in his class and he's wonderful!!! The kids grew up around him so do not expect him to be any different and they accept him for who he is. He is bright and successful in his school work, kind, considerate, adorable his only draw back is that he takes everything literally I've met "normal" people who do that. So, don't lose hope for every flaw our children have there are uncountable characteristics that make them incredibly special.

Thanks for the encouraging words. I try to really focus on my sons strengths, because he has so many of them. (funny, smart, caring...etc.) We are lucky as you are because we do have a tight nit wonderful school community that is truly like a family where his peers will likely be his lifelong friends. (We have him in a small 1A rural school where he is surrounded by family and friends. ) But I want so desperately to understand him. I feel so guilty about all the times I gave him spats and spankings for "not listening to me" or "deliberately ignoring what I say!" I get so frustrated when I have to tell him 15 times to get his shoes on in the morning. Then I think about how he must feel and I get sad! Thanks for listening!

You can focus on feeling sad or you can focus on changing the way you parent into a more positive direction. If I spent all my time feeling bad for the spankings I gave my son when he was younger for not sitting still or for speaking out of turn O' goodness I'd get nothing done.

So, your first step in this life mommy is to focus on the positive. You have a son and he sounds like a great son to me. Don't underestimate the power of positive thinking and the effects it can have on your life and the lives of those around you.

Big hugs,
I'm here anytime you need me just a pm away
Cherity