**AUTISM / ASPERGERS SUPPORT GROUP**

[doll*obsession]

A safe place for all members with friends or family with ASD

Come and have a cuppa, share your joys, and vent your problems with other people who understand.

[azureline**]

:^O well, I meant as far as the girls go.Relaxed....:8}

Thank you, (I am a tad embarrassed though)...I am so happy for my family to reach this point, not that it is plain sailing, lol, she has her moments but life is so much easier now we have trained ourselves.

I am still considering the Teacher Aide thing.....

[catsnknots]

Wow.. this one fell behind.. I hope everyone is doing well....

I need a bit of advice and guidance...

Mr14 has is report and he has all D's... this was an A grade kid 2 years ago and now he is struggling.

As he is high functioning he does not have a teacher aid... he does have access to one in some classes but often refuses help as we assume he is embarrassed.

His ODD side is really showing this year, much worse than last year and I am at a real loss of what to do. He refuses to see anyone to talk about anything... I read one book on ODD and some online stuff but he is not violent or aggressive, he jsut refuses to do things.

Also his tension headaches have been really bad this year and he has had 20 days off. The doctor says they are real and that they are most likely related to anxiety or tension BUT he just blocks anything out and will not talk about anything and if I try to push a topic he gets really angry at me...

Anyone have any ideas???

Do you have any links to online info???

Does ODD and ASD go hand in hand??

[krazy.kiwi]

Catmad,

This sounds a bit like my boy last year. He has a Severe Anxiety Disorder (as well as Asperger's) and is taking medication for it.  It has helped a huge amount.

Which doctor thinks the headaches are anxiety related?  I agree with him - ask if you can try medication.

My boy had both bad headaches and nausea because of anxiety - the paediatrician prescribed Lovan for him - 10mg daily at first, but now he takes 20mg. My boy is almost 14 and is over 5'10" tall.

I am not a pro-medication person, we left this to a last resort but it is what my boy needs.

[bella_again]

(((HUGS)) Catty, my girl was very similar when she entered the High School.  She did not cope with the change and complexities of adolescence.

I have forgotten how old your boy is but I have discovered and my therapist agrees that ODD is quite common among kids on the spectrum.  In fact at the last appointment she reminded me that Miss 13 (nearly 14) is quite ODD.  I find with her that most behavioural outbursts or episodes of oppositional defiance occur at times of high stress or anxiety. She also got headaches and stomach aches when stressed

Are you able to work out the triggers? or encourage some form of self relaxation activities? Meds may be something worth looking at if his quality of life is being severely affected by anxiety.

Sending great big hugs for what must be a very hard time for you right now.:-x

[azureline**]

I read this today on a fb page, Autism Discussion Page. It is an interesting page, every day he posts heaps of great stuff, well worth a read.

Types of Anxiety

1. Anxiety of uncertainty : Fear of anything new or unfamiliar, seeks sameness; can be controlling and oppositional.

2. Social anxiety: Interacting with others, participating in social events; fear of not knowing how to act or fit in. The stronger the desire to fit in, the greater the anxiety.

3. Performance anxiety: Perfectionism; fear of being wrong; asking them questions or prompting to do something. Any demand for performance puts them “on the spot.”

4. Anticipatory anxiety: Becomes anxious over an upcoming event; either good or bad. May ruminate/perseverate on upcoming event.

5. Sensory/informational overload : Becomes anxious in settings that present strong sensory stimulation, or informational processing demands.

6. Defused generalized anxiety: An ongoing, pervasive anxiety that is not connected to a specific event. Seems to always be apprehensive and insecure.

[nouveau_retro]

Kiwi, have you heard the postulation that ASD kids are racing through developmental stages hormonally and growth-wise? My son is similar- tall for 9 just years and with the 'attitude' of a teenager - also started walking/talking early- wonder if theres any merit and/or research? 

[krazy.kiwi]

Kiwi, have you heard the postulation that ASD kids are racing through developmental stages hormonally and growth-wise? My son is similar- tall for 9 just years and with the 'attitude' of a teenager - also started walking/talking early- wonder if theres any merit and/or research? 

I have heard that it is common for ASD kids to go through puberty earlier than the average population.

His Dad & I both matured early, so it hasn't surprised us.

We do find it amusing that his younger brother is upset at not going through it at the same age as his older brother. Younger one is 12 and has only recently started the growth spurt/body hair stage. (Big brother hit that at barely 11.) What younger one doesn't see is that he is amongst the younger kids in his class, but amongst the most developed. :^O

[islandretro]

I don't think there is a connection nouveau_retro. I have done a lot of research over the years, both from a personal and from an academic perspective, and haven't found anything to suggest there is. Kids with ASD tend to be socially/emotionally behind their peers, rather than ahead, as in teenage attitudes early.

Nor is there any "connection" with ODD, other than some kids have comorbid diagnoses.I think sometimes the reactionary behaviour of AS kids can be misdiagnosed as ODD, as is the case with ADHD. Also kids with ASD can be gifted and can hit certain milestones much earlier than their peers, but again, that is a comorbid situation rather than an intrinsic part of the autism spectrum. You can, of course, fiind stuff on the net that claims this is the case, but there is no clinical evidence to support it. Sensory intergration stuff, and anxiety are very often found with AS as well, but are not a part of the diagnostic criteria.

The criteria for Aspergers Syndrome is still current, and can be found here

http://autism.about.com/od/aspergerssyndrome/f/dxcriteriaforas.htm

[islandretro]

I have heard that it is common for ASD kids to go through puberty earlier than the average population.

His Dad & I both matured early, so it hasn't surprised us.

Kiwi, this is most likely to be related to his genetic/family type, not to ASD. I can equally say my son hit all his physical milestones, particularly through puberty right on average. Except for his head size (which is the one thing that has empirical support) which was, and still is, above average.

(see this article

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2002.tb00814.x/pdf

On the basis of the results obtained in this clinical study, itwould appear that one in four to one in five of children withAsperger syndrome, but only one in 10 of those with autisticdisorder, have macrocephalus ascertained after age 16 months,which had been present from birth)

[bella_again]

The problem is there is relativley little research gone into the ASD connection.  There is a recent studdy that suggests it could be as high as 21% in 3 - 5 year olds and 27% in 6-12 year olds.

There is info on google scholar if you have time to research.  I think there is a possiblity of a link but in saying that Rae raises another explaination and that is sometimes these things exist as a seperate diagnosis or are comorbid.ie in Fragile X there is a collection of disorders that can co exist together.