Autism - somewhere in the middle

My daughter is five years old. She is in Kindergarten in a regular education class with an aide to guide her. She is very smart. She can read anything she can sound out and seems to understand what she reads. She can count and add simple numbers. Academically she is at or above her grade level in most skills. She does not do well on timed tests and sometimes does not understand the language we use. She does not have conversational speech. She can label and request almost anything. I am posting this video because not all children are high functioning, many are somewhere in the middle, and even though no one has said this to us, that is where I feel she is....in the middle of the spectrum. Without the early intervention at 2 years old I know we wouldn't have come this far. She is what drives my day on many days. I love her just the way she is, but will do whatever it takes to make her life easier in the longrun.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• autism
• spectrum
• middle
• 5years
• old
• ASD

[loveridden2002]

have you read anything about Aspergers syndrome? If she has a normal or above average IQ... that would def be something to look into.

[jlmlorimer]

My understandiing of Aspergers Disorder is you have to have early or normal speech by the age of two. Brie didn't start speaking until 2 1/2. Her teachers have rated her as "severe to moderate" on the CARS but I think she is "Mild to Moderate". I completely understand about the battle with the schools, we are moving and I will have to fight all over again. She is currently in a first grade general ed. class with and aide. Good luck!

[beastlyonion]

just.. communicate with her.. don't force her to think about what you want her to

[robynsteward]

re the HFA and AS debate, The way I see HFA and AS present is that generally speaking those with HA don't want friends or people, other ten for a purpose and people wit AS are more conscience of fitting in wanting friends etc

[robynsteward]

@jlmlorimer the speech thing is a bit silly really and not an accurate indication of weather someone has Asperger's or not because one can have a speech delay for many reasons , IQ however is a far better indicator for example I spoke at age 3 but have aspergers for sure

[mightyboysodapop]

So I have aspergers and I can recall being put on the spot at a young age as well. One of my beleifs is that alot of it isnt as mysterious as people make it out to be. Its partly a personality trait. You see.... the kid under the surface might be thinking get out of my face and stop asking me dumb questions while feeling kinda rebellious while not wanting to offend you too much either. Believe this. They DO recognize that you are puting are putting them under the microscope. No want comply.

[littlelily613]

Or maybe he does have HFA since he did not talk until he was 2 1/2....but he has not undergone treatment, and seems quite mild today.

[littlelily613]

@jlmlorimer I think that is probably correct about the AS and HFA, at least for people with more milder forms of AS. Well, I was diagnosed with AS (but I am pretty sure that will be switched to autism next month) but I did not know I was different. I thought I was completely normal (I was to me!...) but the other kids pointed it out endlessly to me (hopefully today they are a bit more open to differences). My nephew has AS and has no clue he is different though.

[littlelily613]

@jlmlorimer AS is ASD. Well, ASD is the term coming out in the new DSM. I don't know how I feel about it, but I think it could be more encompassing for people who are clearly autistic, but don't necessarily fit into the boxes they have in the current DSM.

[jlmlorimer]

@BrainDeadIntellect I think you are both right. Some people believe there are huge differences in AS and HFA, but in adulthood they present very similarly. I believe in general that children with AS are very aware of there differences from others while children with ASD don't know that they are different or even give it much thought. I know my daughter has no modesty and has never been embarrassed. The new DSM will blur the lines and be more confusing, but we will see.

[littlelily613]

@BrainDeadIntellect Also, I do think in her NEWER videos (not this one), that Brie seems more HFA after all her therapy. I am sure, you must realize though that there are different levels of even HFA. More mild cases resemble AS, more severe cases are a bit different.

[littlelily613]

@BrainDeadIntellect There is not HUGE difference between AS and HFA in the adult years. I'm sure her mother would be pleased that you concur with her daughter's doctors on her diagnosis. I really have no idea where Brie is, but I think her mother who has firsthand experience with her own child knows a bit more about her condition than a stranger who has never met her and who just happens to know some other autistic children.