So I kind of wonder if our son had Aspergers wouldn't he have picked it up by now? Although he only sees us 2 or 3 times a year for about 20 mins each time.
Then someone mentioned that some people are not diagnosed with Asp until they are older - teens to adult so now I am just plain confused.
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Witches, it is true some people are not diagnosed until they are older, but I think you will find most people are picked up as kids these days. However, it is still a really fraught area with some professionals still not having a clue. I would be getting another opinion if you have any doubts.
An example of how some professionals REALLY can stuff things up - my now 18 yr old was diagnosed with Aspergers when he was 7, by a consulting psychiatrist at CYMHS here in Qld. His diagnosis was confirmed over the years by psychologists (including Tony Attwood) and by developmental paedatricians including experts in ASD. He received various supports through his school life, social skills training etc outside of school.
When he was turning 18 I went to our GP to see who would continue his management as an adult, he referred him to the psychiatric dept of a local public hospital who referred him back to CYMHS as he was still 6 mths off turning 18 at the time (who knew the public system could move so fast!) At CYMHS he had to be reassessed; he saw another psychiatrist, who after 20 mins talking to him turned to me and said - he certainly isn't a classic Aspergers case - I think he is just shy and had anxiety! well you can imagine my fury to be faced with this after 10 yrs of battling for this kid.
At any rate to cut a long story a bit short, he ended up being referred for Neuropsych testing to sort out specific problems - and guess what - the report came back saying his results over a wide battery of testing were totally consistent with a diagnosis of Aspergers Disorder. In other words his dx was confirmed, in fact he is even more obviously ASD now than at 7, as the differences in his problem areas and those areas in his peers has grown, as they finished developing normally and he lagged even further behind. However, to counterbalance this he has learned a lot of coping strategies that he is able to utilise to function well with appropriate supports
I guess my point is that some professionals don't know their elbow from their ankle, and sometimes the neurological differences the kid has don't become fully apparent until they get older.
Anyway - good luck with getting an appropriate and correct diagnosis for your son, and particularly in getting the right supports for him
