My ASD Child

Question How can professionals tell if someone has Aspergers …and is it possible to have something in addition to Aspergers? Answer Aspergers (high functioning autism) is usually diagnosed when all other disorders have been ruled out. Individuals who have, or suspect they have, Aspergers may have been previously diagnosed with: • Attention Deficit Disorder • Autistic Disorder, High Functioning • Developmental Coordination Disorder • Nonverbal Learning Disorder • Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified • Right Hemisphere Learning Disorder • Schizoid Personality Disorder • Semantic Pragmatic Language Disorder • Traumatic Brain Injury (if one has a medical history that includes a past head injury) There are several disorders that are frequently co-morbid with Aspergers (i.e., occurs along with Aspergers). These include: • Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder • Depressive Disorder • Dysthymia Disorder • Obsessive Compulsi

Question I think my child has Aspergers. I know this disorder has a strong genetic factor, and my husband has been diagnosed with it. Now my son is starting to have some of the same Aspergers-like traits. Is there a test or set of criteria that will help me know if I need to have my son tested for Aspergers? Answer Aspergers (high functioning autism) is a neurobiological collection of behavioral differences (called a syndrome). It is classified in the DSM alongside Autistic Disorder. There is no known cause (although genetic and environmental factors are involved). It continues throughout the lifespan, but it is not a “mental illness” per say. Here are the diagnostic criteria for Aspergers... A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following: marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction failure to