*******Warning. This might be a controversial post******
So Kaleo was diagnosed a couple of weeks after turning 2. During that fateful visit I asked the doctor where on the spectrum he fell. She couldn't answer me. Instead she said "time will tell". Kaleo is now four and has had countless therapy sessions. He's extremely verbal now which is completely the opposite of where he was when diagnosed. Today during his neurology appointment I again found myself asking the doctor if she would be able to tell me where on the spectrum he is. Once again I heard "time will tell". She said that he's so verbal, he can sit nicely and play w a toy, he makes pretty good eye contact and interacts extremely well with her. All these signs she says are good ones. They're signs for me to be optimistic about him long term. Signs that he might possibly be able to manage his autism as he gets older.
Now I say this is a controversial post because I see many people on autism forums claim their child has Aspergers or how they are awaiting a diagnosis but that the doc is leaning towards Aspergers. During their posts they seem to try and separate themselves from the rest of the group by using the term Aspergers. As if it is easier to accept or easier to deal with if your child is higher functioning and the rest of the poor souls who have to deal with a child who is simply "autistic" is someone they're not connected to or in the same boat shall we say.
Autism is referred to as a spectrum for simply that reason. So many different levels or degrees of autism fall within that spectrum. All under the autism umbrella. So your child having Aspergers or potentially having Aspergers doesn't make it an easier pill to swallow.
OH you say your child doesn't really speak, stims constantly, will not interact with others, prefers to be in his/her own world, and won't look you in the eye ? But yet the doc is leaning towards an Aspergers diagnosis? And your doctor isn't saying "time will tell".
OH you say your child doesn't really speak, stims constantly, will not interact with others, prefers to be in his/her own world, and won't look you in the eye ? But yet the doc is leaning towards an Aspergers diagnosis? And your doctor isn't saying "time will tell".
Do I need a better doctor or do you?
For a little while my sister in law would try to separate autism and aspergers because my nephew has Asperger. One day his doctor explained that they are both on the the same spectrum but asperger kids are factual and literal, while autistic kids are more carefree and whimsical!!! My daughter was re diagnosed from having autism to having Asperger Syndrome with Impulsive Hyperactivity Disorder.
ReplyDeleteI have known your family for a while now. You do what u have to do to care for ur son the way u know how. Let other people make their ignorant comments because it just shows u how much they DON'T know. That's what I do. And I am content and happy with how my child is progressing.