**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.

[catsnknots]

All going good here.. Mr12 seems to be handling things pretty well but he has had lots of appointments and stuff that has allowed him extra time off school.. Mr 12 will actually be Mr13 in two weeks..

Good to hear things are going well for others too. :-x

[catsnknots]

Just a heads up for those that are interested. The American Psychological Association have changed the criteria for diagnosis and Aspergers will be merged with Autism.. I do think they will be removing the Aspergers term altogether..

This was pointed out to me last week at the Mental Health Unit and i have not done any research into it in great depth but did manage to find this little bit..


The DSM-5 will merge the disorders now commonly referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders into one diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and will divide that spectrum by severity levels. The severity levels are Level 1 - Requiring Support, Level 2 - Requiring Substantial Support, and Level 3 - Requiring Very Substantial Support. Intellectual Disability, as expected, is not mentioned in this classification scheme even though it is obvious that Intellectual Disability will be common amongst persons with Level 3 Autism Spectrum Disorder and non-existent in the Level 1 ASD where most persons currently diagnosed with Aspergers will be reclassified.

http://autisminnb.blogspot.com/2011/01/severity-levels-in-dsm-5s-new-autism.html

[sheepy_1-4]

lol - I've got Miss 10 turning 11 on the 8th March, Mr 12 turning 13 on the 9th March and Mr 14 turning 15 on the 19th of March.....(so that's 11, 13 & 15 on the 8th, 9th and 19th of March) plus both our cars were born in March as well......

There used to be a joke in our family that for your second birthday you got a baby - Miss nearly 11 got a doll.

[islandretro]

Just a heads up for those that are interested. The American Psychological Association have changed the criteria for diagnosis and Aspergers will be merged with Autism.. I do think they will be removing the Aspergers term altogether..

This is correct Catmad, the diagnosis of Aspergers will be removed. You may have noticed that when changes were made to funding and support by the govt a year or 2 ago they did not refer to Aspergers but ASDs, I assume this is a precursor to the change in name for the diagnosis. My son's original dx was Aspergers Disorder/Autism Spectrum Disorder/Pervasive Developmental Delay, so I suppose he already has an "official" ASD dx. I am not sure how older kids and adults will be dealt with, though, in terms of a label
Here is a link http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=97#
I note that the comment " ‘Asperger-type’, like ‘Kanner-type’, may continue to be a useful shorthand for clinicians describing a constellation of features, or area of the multi-dimensional space defined by social/communication impairments, repetitive/restricted behaviour and interests, and IQ and language abilities." appears right at the bottom of that rationale.


cheers
Rae

[azureline**]

Just back from appointment for assessment, it was interesting, will update later but it appears there is no doubt. Due to her high function in speech, IQ and development, there will be no need for intensive therapies in those areas.
Apparently we are doing all the correct things to help her. 🙂

[bella_again]

Bella, this happened to us as well. When big fella started his new school in grade 4 they told me point blank after telling him to his face that he was not autistic that he had a behaviour problem.

This was despite a folder three inches thick of all his therapies and tests etc documented and all his medical reports including one from Tony Attwood.

They couldn't equate his high functioning with an autistic child - he was their first, so they just went off what the text books said.

It took his breakdown and then his shrink in class with him to get through to them. Then in year 5, he got a brilliant teacher who had extensive experience with kids just like my boy and the tides began to change.

Their letter of apology still makes me smile just a little.
Oh wow Sheep, must have been so stressful for you and DS at the time 😞

I got a call from the pysc yesterday, she will speak to the school. In fact I think she has. I'm just letting it all ride for now there really is no point in becoming stressed out over it.

She is happier, still emotional but we are managing. There is so much going on atm that it just has to be one step at a time.

[bella_again]

Just back from appointment for assessment, it was interesting, will update later but it appears there is no doubt. Due to her high function in speech, IQ and development, there will be no need for intensive therapies in those areas.
Apparently we are doing all the correct things to help her. 🙂

Hi azure 🙂
How reassuring that you've been told you are doing all the right things, that's great!

Would love to hear an update when you get a chance 🙂

[bella_again]

All going good here.. Mr12 seems to be handling things pretty well but he has had lots of appointments and stuff that has allowed him extra time off school.. Mr 12 will actually be Mr13 in two weeks..

Good to hear things are going well for others too. :-x

Catty glad to hear Mr 12 nearly 13 (gosh they grow up so fast) is doing so well 🙂

[azureline**]

Great news Catmad! 🙂
The assessment was about 2 1/2 hrs, a long time when we were told it would be an hour but time well spent. I think I was still holding out hope they would say it was not the problem.....:(
They asked questions of all 3 of us, tried to engage miss in conversation, observed her playing, did little "tests" with blocks, pencils, toys, observed her interactions with us.......took copious notes......asked what we were hoping for from today's appointment and what our expectations and long term goals were.
With my hubby's thoughts in mind, I asked if we might be making things harder for miss or if we were pandering to her, by accommodating her behaviour.....the paed assured us we were not doing that, we are helping her adapt and reduce her levels of anxiety.
The specialist also asked if we wanted to pursue therapies OR proceed to a diagnosis......(that was a bit confusing and not what we were expecting to be asked) so her mum said, can we do both?
Apparently, we can. They were on their way to a meeting with the group of therapists as we left, to discuss miss, so we will hear from them as soon as they decide on a plan for her. I asked when that might be and the Paed said, a matter of just a few weeks.
We left feeling a bit flattened and not sure about what might happen but after a chat, we realised all 3 of us had "heard" different things that all added up to a positive.
My main difficulty was, I found it really stressful. I was exhausted afterwards and feeling guilty for putting it into words.
The good news is, playgroup was great yesterday but art and craft lesson was not....1/2 hour in, she began to get anxious, put her hands over her ears and said "the sound is making me cross" so....we went for a quiet corner and she was ok. 🙂
Thanks for listening.

[timeless_beauty_australia]

lol - I've got Miss 10 turning 11 on the 8th March, Mr 12 turning 13 on the 9th March and Mr 14 turning 15 on the 19th of March.....(so that's 11, 13 & 15 on the 8th, 9th and 19th of March) plus both our cars were born in March as well......

There used to be a joke in our family that for your second birthday you got a baby - Miss nearly 11 got a doll.

Wow sheep March is a very expensive and exciting month for your family!!!