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chlobo
09-25-2010, 07:15 PM
Some things have been said to my DH & I about DD possibly having some issues along the lines of ADHD/SI/Aspergers. We are currently exploring the different issues.

One of the things I've read about aspergers talks about being unable to "read" people. I think that DD falls into this category as she often does really annoying things and despite a person's body language or even them outright telling them to stop she continues the annoying behavior. I think its very possible that my dad has aspergers as well.

Anyhow, are there therapies that can help teach a person who can't naturally "read" other people how to do it?

MamaKath
09-25-2010, 07:46 PM
Not sure of dd's age, but many OT's will work with kids on social skills. The private OT place near us holds social skills calsses so they can foster interaction between the kids with multiple professional adult hands on deck (OTs, PTs, and SLPs). The only downfall to this is that insurance doesn't cover this type of class so it is out of pocket. Also don't know if you are already in the evaluation process yet or not, our local OT place will sometimes accept new clients for the class even if they haven't finished evaluation to help dx.

You can also look into things like children's books and some of the social stories series that can help.

OKKiddo
09-25-2010, 07:47 PM
Some things have been said to my DH & I about DD possibly having some issues along the lines of ADHD/SI/Aspergers. We are currently exploring the different issues.

One of the things I've read about aspergers talks about being unable to "read" people. I think that DD falls into this category as she often does really annoying things and despite a person's body language or even them outright telling them to stop she continues the annoying behavior. I think its very possible that my dad has aspergers as well.

Anyhow, are there therapies that can help teach a person who can't naturally "read" other people how to do it?

Yep, they have an ABA Therapist (Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapist I believe is what it stands for) for that. My two sons have PDD-NOS which is an Autism Spectrum Disorder as well and they have an ABA therapist who does a wide range of therapies with them for behavior and textures, etc.

daisymommy
09-25-2010, 08:04 PM
My brother has Aspergers. It has only been in recent years that there was any kind of help for these kids. One of the things that helped my brother growing up was for my mother to cut out pictures of facial expressions from magazines, and to glue them to paper. She would use them, along with books for children, to teach "this is what a mad face looks like..." etc. She would explain every nuance of social interaction such as how close to stand next to people, point out that he needed to wait for a pause in conversation before talking himself, that when people turned away from him or started to walk away he could not follow after them trying to continue engaging in conversation, and how to only say a few things on his favorite subject, rather than rattle on and on about it without giving someone else a turn to talk.

Gosh, it was excruciating watching this learning process take place for him. It took many, many years for him to get better at all of that. But this was without any therapy like there is now.

chlobo
09-25-2010, 08:14 PM
Thanks for the information. We are not in the diagnosing state yet as this has just come up recently. It hasn't affected her school work yet. She is in the first grade. However, I do believe it is affecting her ability to interact with friends. So I imagine this will all be done outside of the school setting.

So if you are not sure exactly, what the issue is, who is the appropriate person to make a diagnosis? Who are the specialists that can distinguish between ADHD, aspergers, sensory integration. I've heard that its important to get the right diagnosis so that you provide the right services.

daisymommy
09-25-2010, 08:23 PM
Just an FYI...Aspergers usually doesn't affect school work. It is more social/emotional/behavioral.
And a child can have all 3 Aspergers, sensory integration disorder, and ADHD (like my poor brother). My DS has ADHD & sensory ID, and when he was younger I swore he was going to have a diagnosis of Asp. when he grew older--but instead he outgrew most of the symptoms.

A child psychologist is a good one to diagnose these issues.

MamaKath
09-25-2010, 08:39 PM
Thanks for the information. We are not in the diagnosing state yet as this has just come up recently. It hasn't affected her school work yet. She is in the first grade. However, I do believe it is affecting her ability to interact with friends. So I imagine this will all be done outside of the school setting.
Some schools have social skills groups available during the school day. The school psychologist or guidance counselor would be able to give you more information. You could also speak with your child's teacher. They are your eyes and ears inside the classroom/school. They can watch to see if they are noticing it affecting the peer relations. The teacher is also some one who can help your dd learn some of that communication. I teach 1st and often feel that much of my job is helping my students "find the words" and work on social skills and communications. I invest time in that though, I definitely see them blossom and learn to do it on their own eventually.


So if you are not sure exactly, what the issue is, who is the appropriate person to make a diagnosis? Who are the specialists that can distinguish between ADHD, aspergers, sensory integration. I've heard that its important to get the right diagnosis so that you provide the right services.
Ime a diagnosis helps you get services. Technically ADHD and Asperger's are not dx you can accurately give before age 7. The new DSM will lump Asperger's in with all Autism when it comes out and there is concern on how that will affect some of the services. If you go for services through the public school, you have to be pretty seriously affected to get anything and it is all geared towards doing well academically- the funding isn't there. If your insurance covers therapy, you can be less severe and the therapy given does not just have to benefit you for school.

To get a dx you can call a developmental pediatrician or a child psychologist. Many children's hospitals have teams that will evaluate (dev ped, slp, ot) by working together.

catsnkid
09-25-2010, 09:31 PM
My sister wasn't dx until age 19- too late for services. It is really sad, she struggles with severe depression too.Social issues make the whole thing worse. She has done well in school but has had difficulty with getting jobs.

pakin
09-25-2010, 09:40 PM
Some schools have social skills groups available during the school day. The school psychologist or guidance counselor would be able to give you more information. You could also speak with your child's teacher. They are your eyes and ears inside the classroom/school. They can watch to see if they are noticing it affecting the peer relations. The teacher is also some one who can help your dd learn some of that communication. I teach 1st and often feel that much of my job is helping my students "find the words" and work on social skills and communications. I invest time in that though, I definitely see them blossom and learn to do it on their own eventually.


Ime a diagnosis helps you get services. Technically ADHD and Asperger's are not dx you can accurately give before age 7. The new DSM will lump Asperger's in with all Autism when it comes out and there is concern on how that will affect some of the services. If you go for services through the public school, you have to be pretty seriously affected to get anything and it is all geared towards doing well academically- the funding isn't there. If your insurance covers therapy, you can be less severe and the therapy given does not just have to benefit you for school.

To get a dx you can call a developmental pediatrician or a child psychologist. Many children's hospitals have teams that will evaluate (dev ped, slp, ot) by working together.

:yeahthat:

DS has Asperger's. The school psychologist suggested that we have him evaluated when he was in first grade. We were referred to a developmental pediatrician by our pediatrician. He was diagnosed when he was in second grade. Since then, DS received all the services (speech, OT, social skills, one-on-one help with some tasks) from the school.

DS also attends a social skills group at a local hospital. Fortunately our insurance covers it.

There are some good books related to this topic. I recommend "Can I tell you about Asperger Syndrome". http://www.amazon.com/Can-Tell-About-Asperger-Syndrome/dp/1843102064/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285465076&sr=8-1

For teaching social skills the book "The Social Skills Picture Book" is pretty good. http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Teaching-emotion-communication-children/dp/1885477910/ref=sr_1_4?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285464980&sr=8-4

HTHs.

Pakin

DS 4/2001
DD 6/2005

MamaKath
09-25-2010, 09:49 PM
There are some good books related to this topic. I recommend "Can I tell you about Asperger Syndrome". http://www.amazon.com/Can-Tell-About-Asperger-Syndrome/dp/1843102064/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285465076&sr=8-1

For teaching social skills the book "The Social Skills Picture Book" is pretty good. http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Teaching-emotion-communication-children/dp/1885477910/ref=sr_1_4?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285464980&sr=8-4
:yeahthat:
Here is one of our favorites too. "All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome"
http://www.amazon.com/All-Cats-Have-Asperger-Syndrome/dp/1843104814/ref=pd_sim_b_6

chlobo
09-26-2010, 07:09 AM
:yeahthat:

DS has Asperger's. The school psychologist suggested that we have him evaluated when he was in first grade. We were referred to a developmental pediatrician by our pediatrician. He was diagnosed when he was in second grade. Since then, DS received all the services (speech, OT, social skills, one-on-one help with some tasks) from the school.

DS also attends a social skills group at a local hospital. Fortunately our insurance covers it.

There are some good books related to this topic. I recommend "Can I tell you about Asperger Syndrome". http://www.amazon.com/Can-Tell-About-Asperger-Syndrome/dp/1843102064/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285465076&sr=8-1

For teaching social skills the book "The Social Skills Picture Book" is pretty good. http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Teaching-emotion-communication-children/dp/1885477910/ref=sr_1_4?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285464980&sr=8-4

HTHs.

Pakin

DS 4/2001
DD 6/2005


:yeahthat:
Here is one of our favorites too. "All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome"
http://www.amazon.com/All-Cats-Have-Asperger-Syndrome/dp/1843104814/ref=pd_sim_b_6

Thanks for the information. I'll have to check out those books.

egoldber
09-26-2010, 08:03 AM
Just FWIW, last year my older DD's teacher was very convinced she had Asperger's and that we were in denial about it. OTOH, we've had her evaluated a couple times and her therapists (one of whom runs a social skills group for children with Aspergers) does not think she has Aspergers. So teachers may be knowledgeable, but sometimes they enough to just be a little dangerous.

Also, as PP have noted, it can be difficult when kids are young to sort out various things. My older DD is quite quirky with a broad variety of issues that can be seen through the lens of Aspergers, ADHD, SPD, anxiety, etc. They feel right now that the best diagnosis for her, and the one we took to the school to get a 504, is anxiety. Many of these conditions can overlap and the picture does not always become clear until children get older and school and the social landscape becomes more complicated.

She is taking a social skills class right now and we are finding it very, very helpful for her.

chlobo
09-26-2010, 10:08 AM
Just FWIW, last year my older DD's teacher was very convinced she had Asperger's and that we were in denial about it. OTOH, we've had her evaluated a couple times and her therapists (one of whom runs a social skills group for children with Aspergers) does not think she has Aspergers. So teachers may be knowledgeable, but sometimes they enough to just be a little dangerous.

Also, as PP have noted, it can be difficult when kids are young to sort out various things. My older DD is quite quirky with a broad variety of issues that can be seen through the lens of Aspergers, ADHD, SPD, anxiety, etc. They feel right now that the best diagnosis for her, and the one we took to the school to get a 504, is anxiety. Many of these conditions can overlap and the picture does not always become clear until children get older and school and the social landscape becomes more complicated.

She is taking a social skills class right now and we are finding it very, very helpful for her.

Thanks for this information. It's us, not the teacher, who is concerned. I think I will look into a social skills class (which I'd never heard of before) while we're trying to sort this thing out. Whatever ends up being the issue, I know she could use practice in that area.

pakin
09-26-2010, 12:55 PM
Just want to add that our local YMCA also offers social skills group/class. It's not very formal or expensive. Maybe you can start there.

Pakin

DS 4/2001
DD 6/2005

cchavez
12-14-2010, 11:09 PM
check out socialthinking.com