🚀 go-pugleaf

(Posted from alt.support.tourette)

MJKNPETER wrote:

> I'm intrigued that you are also dx with Asperger syndrome.  I still have a gut
> feeling my 8 year old son has TS (confirmed) and also Aspergers.  His doc won't
> confirm the latter.  Would you elaborate to me?  When did you know that's what
> you have?  What traits should I look for in my son?
> 
> My son, Neil, was originally dx at age 3 as "autistic traits".  Then at age 5
> his TS really came out (well, it was there all along, just became more
> classical).  So now his dx is TS, but, hey, I'm TS too and he's a lot different
> than me.  So this is hard for me to understand.  I think his doc wants to wait
> until he's older to really dx Aspergers.
>
> Anyway, from your postings you alsways seem like an intelligent, reasonable
> person, so I would really appreciate your feedback in this.
> 
> Janice

	I keep running into people who are TS + AS, or people with both in the
same family.  It seems that for many, Asperger Syndrome is the first
diagnosis and is later changed to Tourette.
	Asperger Syndrome is an "autism spectrum disorder"; that is, it is
considered to be closely related to autism.  The main difference between
autism and Asperger syndrome is that with autism there is a delay in
language development in the early years, whereas with Asperger there is
no significant delay.  Though autistics start off slowly (at least in
some areas of functioning) some of them may later develop quite rapidly
or they may develop unusual skills in highly specialized areas.
	Aside from developmental delays vs no delays, the DSM criteria for
autism and Asperger are almost identical, and include:

	*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 develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental
level
	[Many Asperger children are described as being more interested in
interacting
	with adults than with other children their age.]

	*a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or
	achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing,
	or pointing out objects of interest to other people)

	*lack of social or emotional reciprocity

	*encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted
	patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus

	*apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines
	or rituals

	*stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger
	flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)

	*persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
	[we like to take things appart]

	Note that only three of the above criteria (in addition to other
criteria) are required for diagnosis.  Some of the criteria for Asperger
seem similar to Tourette Syndrome, while some seem opposite, and I
believe those of us with both can appear quite different then "pure"
Touretters or Aspergerers.
	Sometimes reading exampls of autism and Asperger Syndrome can present a
much clearer picture than the list of criteria.  Though it's a bit dated
now, my favorite book on autism and Asperger Syndrome is "Autism and
Asperger Syndrome" by Uta Frith, which is very informative.  Perhaps
someone from the autism newsgroup will post some more reading material.
	It seems that most, if not all, Aspergerers and high functioning
autistics do not see themselves as "disordered" just because they have
Asperger or autism.  They often have problems associated with Asperger
and autism, but otherwise it is more of a culture than a disorder.  Some
of us even consider many normal people to be sheep, blindly following
eachother with no other motive but to be "a part of the crowd".

		BradHAWK