Autism

[JimmySpangle]

Decided To Delete - Sorry

Edited February 19, 2010 by JimmySpangle

[Bookworm]

Hi, Jimmy, and welcome to the weird and wonderful world of autism!!!

 

As a parent of a child with Asperger's (which I'd say sounds more like you than "full-blown" autism), I can completely understand the feeling of relief to finally be able to put a name to whatever it was that made one feel and be different.

 

When you say pointers, do you mean discovering more about the condition? Maybe find like-minded people?

 

I suggest the first stop would be the National Autistic Society, they have helpsheets, info, links to local resources, etc... They also have a shop where you can buy books about autism, for children, for adults, for teachers, for parents, you name it. Books for help with relationship for the autistic 1/2 of the couple, but also for the non-autistic partner. It really depends on what you are looking for.

 

If money is tight, then googling and clicking from site to site, trawling the web, will take you on a more random journey where you can discover more until you've had your fill.

 

Any questions, ask away, if I know the answer, I will do my best to answer.

[JimmySpangle]

Decided To Delete - Sorry

Edited February 19, 2010 by JimmySpangle

[Bookworm]

Yes, it's called High Functioning autism, HFA for short, and the name is interchangeable with Asperger's Syndrome, some people are more comfortable with 1 term, sme with the other... another favorite is PDD-NOS: Pervasive Development Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified, which is a catch-all diagnosis when they're not sure what the hell is wrong with you, they're pretty sure you're on the spectrum but don't want to commit themselves. ;-)

 

Anyway... That thing you describe, and I don't know the name either, but it is part of something quite common with ASD. Some people will see music notes as colours for example, or describe tastes in terms of textures etc...

 

The characteristic which goes through the whole spectrum is how important it is for ASD people to rely on visual cues. I could give you a whole load of information on hypo and hypersensitivity and how it affects people, but I don't want to overload you and it's probably best to go bit by bit.

 

I personally would recommend 2 books to start with: "Asperger's sYndrome, a guide for parents and professionals" by Tony Atwood, because it has a wonderfully upbeat attitude towards AS, which is a breath of fresh air, and "Martian in the playground" by Clare Sainsburys, herself AS, and teacher at Oxford, which documents how AS people coped (or not, as was often the case) in school.

 

For you as an adult, it's more a voyage of discovery, a "oooh, so THAT's why I do that" kind of thing, because it is obvious that if you have gone undetected until now, you have found your coping mechanisms, which is great. On the other hand, if you have things which have been bugging you all your life and you thought there was nothing you could do about it, maybe finding out more will also show you some ways of coping better which you wouldn't have thought of. For example, most ASD pple benefit from having visual prompts, timetables etc to help them navigate through the day. For most ASD, the visual is the key to understanding. Even the highest functioning find they function better with visual help/prompts. If that's something you want to explore, you can easily find links on the Internet, the strict system is called PECS, but there are variations with cue cards etc... I'm sure you know all about your own routines, rituals etc, but at least now you don't have to feel you're being an awkward bugger because you like things a certain way, that is part of your genetic make-up. ;-)

 

As you can see, I am like an autism juke-box, you put 10p in and I'll go on and on, so if you need to talk... or write... well, you know what I mean... Talking of which, how are you with figures of speech? Do you take things literally or have you learned to deal with those? You know, things like "it's raining cats and dogs" or "I was so angry, I bit his head off"... Just so i know becauseI tend to use metaphors a lot, but can avoid that if it is difficult for you. Nothing wrong with that, by the way, again it's just neurological wiring. ;-)

 

Well, I'm heading for bed shortly, so I'll catch up with this thread tomorrow. Good night.

[JimmySpangle]

Decided To Delete - Sorry

Edited February 19, 2010 by JimmySpangle

[ozzywizard]

Slightly off topic but this May im doing a 5K run for Autism, I kinda got conned into it haha . . im like out of breathe If I think about going up the stairs and gots me a beer belly and everything.

The story is my sister is a super fit freak, lol . . she is like managed diet and treadmill in living room and she is doing a race for life in May (she did it last year) and I was having a bit of banter about how she wouldnt stand a chance winning me cause im her big brother and she is LITTLE sister. So now things excalated and im entered and I got to win her (Im not deluded i know this is not possible but to finish would surprise her and everyone ) .

To go back on topic she has an Autistic son of 4 and helps out in loadsa things towards Autism, she goes to big conferences in London. On a good note it is good their is such an awareness of this now.

Jimmy, glad you have found an answer to put you on the right path, the hardest part in life of anything "differant" is the diagnosis and the agony of not knowing.

[Bookworm]

Thanks again so much. I have no real problem with 'cats and dogs' etc. I am away for a week from later this morning and will have no internet access, so please don't think I am ignoring you for that week.

Likewise, I am off to Venice on Wednesday and won't be around much, so catch up the week after!

[Bookworm]

Slightly off topic but this May im doing a 5K run for Autism, I kinda got conned into it haha . . im like out of breathe If I think about going up the stairs and gots me a beer belly and everything.

The story is my sister is a super fit freak, lol . . she is like managed diet and treadmill in living room and she is doing a race for life in May (she did it last year) and I was having a bit of banter about how she wouldnt stand a chance winning me cause im her big brother and she is LITTLE sister. So now things excalated and im entered and I got to win her (Im not deluded i know this is not possible but to finish would surprise her and everyone ) .

To go back on topic she has an Autistic son of 4 and helps out in loadsa things towards Autism, she goes to big conferences in London. On a good note it is good their is such an awareness of this now.

Jimmy, glad you have found an answer to put you on the right path, the hardest part in life of anything "differant" is the diagnosis and the agony of not knowing.

Ozzy, well done.

 

Can we sponsor you somewhere? Latty did it last year for the Breast Cancer one, DMD has posted for his, I'd love to do one that helps towards autism. Best thing is to start a new thread in the Bear Garden, with a link to where we can sponsor you online, and update the thread regularly, with what your goal is etc... ;-)

 

It's amazing really, when my son gt diagnosed I felt so isolated, like we were the only family affected... Now, as soon as the word gets mentioned, you find that virtually everyone knows someone on the spectrum one way or another... and those who don't actually probably do, just haven't realised it yet! LOL

 

Ozzy, your sister sounds wonderful, please giver her my regards from me.

[ozzywizard]

Thanks heaps for the support Bookie, I will get a thread going in the beer garden so as not to hijack Jimmys thread any longer lol.

However Im not sure I would be able to do a link or ask for sponsorships etc through this site without the site teams permission, ive never done anything like this before so not sure, dont want to get myself banned from here lol.

 

I really (my sister more than me ) understand the isolation and lack of knowledge dispair that comes with finding out your child is autistic... I know my sister first found out when he was about 2ish and she used to come visit me and say "im sure there is somthing wrong" and all family inc me would say "no he just a slow starter nothing wrong with him" etc . . then one day she had to tell us all he was autistic and best reaction from family is "are you sure he look ok to me" .. . It is difficult and it does come down to awareness. Hoever with the correct support and love for the child it can and does have a huge impact on their development. . ok over to beer garden we go for a continuation of my rant lolllll.

[ozzywizard]

Here ya go Bookie

[JimmySpangle]

Decided To Delete - Sorry

Edited February 19, 2010 by JimmySpangle

[JimmySpangle]

Decided To Delete - Sorry

Edited February 19, 2010 by JimmySpangle

[cab1ne]

Hi jimmy

pleased to hear that you have finally been diagnosed correctly good for you now you can happily do some research and happy reading it will be. As bookworm as said there will be alot of things that you have done, said and thought that will make sense and will even make you laugh, because you will say "thats me":)

I have a daughter with Aspergers Syndrome & A.D.H.D (attention deficite hyperactivity dissorder) she was first diagnosed aged 8yrs and is now 21yrs and is still set in her daily routines, certain materials she will not wear, food she will not eat because of the texture, airfresheners she will not buy because of the smell and the majority of her clothes are black, white, silver or grey.

I know you have said that you are in receipt of dla if you dont mind me saying please contact them and let them know what your gp has diagnosed and always put the aspergers syndrome down first that is what my daughters specialist told us to do, as they maybe medication for any underlying conditions but there is NO medication for Autisim.

I could tell you many a story that would make you laugh at some of the antics she used to get up to when she was younger, oh hey happy childhood memories:D

wishing you all the best

 

cab

[JimmySpangle]

Decided To Delete - Sorry

Edited February 19, 2010 by JimmySpangle