Is it possible to have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and NOT be socially inept?

[keista]

Ah, yeah, this is going to get interesting. I just got off the phone with the psychologist who got the referral to evaluate DD1. She PROMISES me she will look at DD1 with a clear and open mind, BUT she was oh so curious if DD1 did this, or did that, or if I thought DD1 was on the spectrum. All this speculation, of course, is because son is on the spectrum. So OY!

She's not a neuropsychologist, but said she'll need about 3 hours for her evaluations and will also evaluate for sensory processing disorder (SPD). I'm already getting anxious about the parent forms. Never, Sometimes, Often, Almost always. Except for 'Never', these are such subjective quantifiers. And then what do I do with the symptoms that WERE chronic, but have all but disappeared like the constant lying? From age 3-8 it was non-stop. Now, almost never. REALLY. BUT the hx is there and a part of the big picture, right?

 

[Ktllc]

Yeah, those forms... weren't they hard to fill out?
The psychologist that ruled out Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) for V, had a different kind. One of the choice was "not a problem anymore" as in used to do it but stopped. Who knows, your psychologist might have one of those. If not, just ask her how to handle the question.
As far as sensory processing disorder (SPD), I did not think a psychologist could do such a diagnosis. They can suspect it (ours did for V) but then she would refer you to an Occupational Therapist (OT) for an other evaluation.
As far as not being completly inept socially, well that was our big question. She said that with higher functioning kids she had to be VERY carefull but that the tests were thorough enough that she would know at the end. She did more than one test, but it included the ADOS , supposedly the gold standart for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Good luck to you. Try to relax, breath.

 

[Liahona]

That is why I like the parent report. It has present concerns on it but also shares the history.

difficult child 1 does not look Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) at all. We have an autism specialist that comes to the house once a month since difficult child 2 was 18 months old. She knows all of us very well. She didn't see Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) with him. At the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) they were having a hard time diagnosis him. A neuropsychologist followed him around for 2-3 DAYS before diagnosis him Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). At first when told that was his diagnosis I thought they were crazy. Now I can see it better. He does fit that diagnosis. He also has other dxs that made it really hard to diagnosis the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

 

[BusynMember]

Since the main problem with ASDers is social inadequacies, I don't know, but I'd think that a socially adept kid would NOT be on the spectrum. Now socially adept means the child KNOWS how to socialize...it does NOT just mean that the child is friendly. Lots of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) kids are friendly, but they are inappropriate so that they still end up friendless.

If I had a socially able child who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), I'd probably discard the diagnosis.

When I asked the neuropsychologist how to answer questions that had no clear answers, he said to answer the best I could.

 

[TeDo]

Both my kids are on the spectrum and they are VERY social, especially when they are with kids that share their interests and/or are "followers". difficult child 1 especially tends to play with kids that have the same interests. If his interests change (his obsessions change periodically) then his circle of friends changes.

As for difficult child 2, he is very social but prefers interacting with adults or much younger children. He gets easily frustrated by the "behavior" of kids his own age. This age discrepency in preference to the norm is what makes him Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in his social interactions.

Good luck. The forms can be a pain and I would definitely ask how to address PAST resolved issues on the forms.

 

[Liahona]

Oh just some clarification: as difficult child 1 gets older it is more obvious he is socially inept. I just couldn't see it at the time.

 

[buddy]

Usually it will say in the instructions whether or not you need to just consider how they are currently. There are typically spots for comments and if not, just get a page, write the number and put a comment by it and you will then make sure you give them the big picture. Remember, everyone feels the same about these, that is how they are standardized, they have many many people do them so it takes the subjectivity into account. Dont overanalyze it. Each one is just a piece of the puzzle. Your interviews and how difficult child does on the other exams also are taken into account. I am always amazed at how closely my answers and sp. ed. and therapist answers match. The things that vary are because they only happen more frequently at home or school.

I know lots of folks with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) who are not inept socially. I dont know any who are not somewhat awkward though.

 

[InsaneCdn]

Doesn't have to be a neuropsychologist to be a good evaluator...
And there's lots of things that can only be diagnosed by certain people - but testing by someone else provides the hook you need to get the referal...

The forms? If this is a good evaluator, they won't rely on one format... last round, I'm sure I had 8 or 9 forms just for me (plus school ones, plus a couple for husband). The reason was... some forms look at history, some look at current, and one or two look at trends... if you get consistent results across that kind of spectrum, its easier to draw conclusions.

If you haven't started a parent report yet - do! It will help you wrap your brain around all the details when you're not under pressure, and you can refer to it when you do the forms.

 

[HaoZi]

I back up what InC said. Kiddo wasn't diagnosis'd by her neuropsychologist, she was diagnosis'd by a psychologist. neuropsychologist here is more of a glorified medication giver that didn't even want to test her, didn't think she needed it. Neuro is an improvement over previous psychiatrist, but outside of the doctor that tested Kiddo I've been extraordinarily underwhelmed by docs here of all kind. Heck, there are psychiatrists here that refused to see Kiddo without another doctor's referral, even though her insurance company said they'd provide the referral themselves!

 

[keista]

Hmmmmmmmmm Trying to digest everyone's comments.

The forms are what they are. I'm trying not to get too anxious about it. I do have a parent report of sorts written out. There are always things I end up forgetting, so that is a good reference. I also want to focus on non-medicated behaviors, so that leaves me the last 2 months and 2 years ago. Which still kinda worries me because she's been VERY 'normal' since her last explosion at school in the cafeteria. About a month now. There have been a few hiccups, but nothing I would consider extreme, intense, or abnormal - very much mild typical teen stuff.

I'm just really curious what this doctor will find (if anything) regarding Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). I'm so open to the idea it's not even funny, but I just don't think it's there. All her 'Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) traits' are better explained via anxiety. Eh, we'll see. The appointment is Monday.

The biggest concern, as always, is DD1's cooperation. She still doesn't like to talk or think about these things. This doctor made a big deal about how she needs DD1 "at her best", so we'll see. I don't think I can ever give any of these docs a DD1 at her best.

 

[HaoZi]

If she was "at her best" she wouldn't need the doctor, you'd think they'd understand that.

 

[buddy]

If she was "at her best" she wouldn't need the doctor, you'd think they'd understand that.

Good point! I actually was thinking get enough sleep, eat breakfast, etc. to just reduce the issues but it is silly to say that. With my difficult child, it is all hit or miss, some testing days he cooperates, some he doesn't. Last re-evaluation he just flat out refused so the testing took every day of the 30 days.

 

[InsaneCdn]

This doctor made a big deal about how she needs DD1 "at her best", so we'll see.

<sigh>
You wouldn't believe the lengths I'm having to go to, to present difficult child at his WORST for various tests - because, at his "best", they don't see any of the symptoms and think its all in MY head.

Don't worry about getting her to her "best"... a wee tad of cooperation would be nice, but anything more than that is just going to cloud the issue.

 

[SearchingForRainbows]

difficult child 1 and difficult child 2 both have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). While difficult child 2 is socially inept, difficult child 1 might be a bit socially awkward or inappropriate at times but is definitely not socially inept. If you didn't know, there are many times when he appears to be just a "typical" young adult.

It is common for those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) to have anxiety disorders too. SFR

 

[GoingNorth]

I'm 51 and on the spectrum myself. I wasn't diagnosed until I was in my 40s as the only form of autism recognized when I was growing up was classical autism.

When I had my evaluation done they couldn't determine if I was an Aspie or High-Functioning Autism (HFA) because I had so many learned coping mechanisms.

I can function socially but prefer one on one or two at a time; more than that and I get extremely anxious and my autistic behaviours come to the fore.

I also am bipolar. My sister is bipolar. My mother is a classical Aspie but functions well within her limits. We both are loners.

Both of us also have sensory problems.

 

[DammitJanet]

Billy is an Aspie but he has never been diagnosed. I have no doubt about it though. I wish I had known about the disorder when he was younger. I really dropped the ball with him. I just thought he had some learning disabilities and was a really quiet and quirky kid. The fact that he did what he was told in the sea of madness that was my household just made him sort of fall into the background.

Now as an adult everything is much more obvious. He will not go to get dxd though. Too much anxiety. He didnt learn to drive until he was 26 I think. Dating was something I thought was never going to happen. He had some friends in HS that were quirky like him but when he moved up here he lost touch with them. Getting him to go to community college wasnt all that hard because it had to do with computers. The big problem was I had to take him. He didnt get along that well with the other students though he did make one friend that he still talks to and actually went out to dinner with just last week, but he got along pretty well with the computer teachers. Not so well the other teachers because he was just one of the crowd and he isnt good at english and writing is so much of other subjects.

Getting him to actually get a job was so hard. He would try and rejection after rejection. That is still his life. The first real place he worked was layaway at a Kmart at Xmas time. We hoped they would keep him on but nope. Then he moved to Jamies not too long after that and he got a job at a convenience store and he worked there pretty well. Surprised us all but Jamie did know the guy who ran it and it was at the main gate of the base at Quantico and all the MP's wanted Jamie's brother to get the job so they kinda pushed the guy to hire him. Then when Jamie moved to another apt, he was able to transfer to another branch of the same store.

When he came down here, he attempted to find work with the degree he has but to no avail. He got the part time job at Radio Shack and went to school to get whatever it is in air conditioning but he has never done anything with that either. he got some kind of certificate or whatever is less than a diploma. I know he went one year. He has been with radio shack for at least 3 and a half years now if not longer. Most of that time has been part time but it is supposed to be full time now. He has tried and tried to get another job. Every time he goes to an interview I think he blows it. Though for some reason he seems to be able to sell quite well at radio shack. His sales numbers are normally in the top 5 to 10 in the state. Makes no sense. He also has customers who will come back and look for him and if he isnt in they will leave the store and come back when he is working. I dont get exactly why he cant get from y to z. I think if he would go get dxd and then use Voc Rehab, he could actually get into a better job because they could do a job coach.

 

[InsaneCdn]

I think if he would go get dxd and then use Voc Rehab, he could actually get into a better job because they could do a job coach

I agree. In fact, even just getting the diagnosis helps - because employers are not supposed to discriminate based on disabilities.

I CAN tell you why he does well at RS... the typical customer coming in there is going to be at least a semi-tech-head. These people want ANSWERS. Not gobble-de-gook or go-figure-it-out or I-don't-know. With his computer training and techie bent... he KNOWS an awful pile of stuff, and can figure a raft of other things out fast. (could I use X to accomplish Y? well... how about T plus M - its cheaper or its in stock .... or whatever). RS doesn't pay well enough to get "real" tech-heads, usually. Tech world pays well enough. But Billie's disability holds him back.

 

[DammitJanet]

Exactly. He knows everything about everything they sell or could possibly sell. And if they dont sell it, he will get on his smartphone and look it up for a customer and find out where they can purchase it online if they cant order it from rs.com. Yesterday someone wanted a nannycam that didnt look like a real nanny cam, she wanted one that looked like a shaving cream can. Someone told her they thought RS would sell them. Well they sell wall clocks and some other types but no shaving cream cans. He did find one for her online though. He actually found one that looks like a key fob and bought one for himself...lol.

This is why customers like him. If I go into Office Depot and ask them if they sell something and they dont, they No. They dont try to help me figure out who might sell it even if I ask. I know because I have done it. I have tried running around town lots of times looking for things and retail places dont want to help you find things that they dont sell. Its just a flat no.

Billy has gone to peoples houses to install TV's or dvd players people have bought...or set up computers. Especially older folks. Some times they dont know how or its too big or heavy and he will tell them to park around back and he will put it in their car and then he will go to their home and take it inside for them and set it up. This isnt his job.

 

[InsaneCdn]

This isnt his job

No, but... it could be.

Does RS allow him to do work for himself on the side?
If so, could he set himself up as a part-time "geek squad"?
These guys (usually guys!) go to your house, and set up or trouble-shoot your system. Get rid of viruses, fix email set-ups to work smoothly, set up routers and servers and so on...
They make pretty good money at it around here - but its mostly evenings and weekends.

 

[DammitJanet]

He does do that for people he knows but he doesnt know how to set himself up as a business. He has no idea how to charge. He just takes whatever people give him. I have tried to help him with that but he just shuts down.