Hope I can transfer content from another board. . .

[Orthodox6]

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif Not a question, but a psychologist's observation. . .


This is not a question, but a psychologist's observation which I found interesting.

This morning, dh, dd, and I met (at length) with a Ph.D. psychologist who is going to work with dd and us, primarily with CBT therapy for dd. (Good news -- no, the wonderful news -- is that dd likes the woman, and opened up to her more than she has spoken with anybody thus far.)

While discussing the "situations" of other family members, we touched on our son with Asperger's. The doctor commented, in a passing observation, that she personally believes that Asperger's should be taken off of the "autism spectrum" and reclassified with -- and my memory already balks -- (I think) the anxiety spectrum. We were discussing how the diagnosis for ds was unclear whether he also has OCD, or just Asperger's. (This professional felt that our descriptions indicated that ds and I actually have both.)

I always have thought it very strange to classify Aspergers with what "John Q. Non-Specialist Public" thinks of as autism. I never tell anyone that my son has a form of autism, because I think it is so misleading. In a practical, everyday life perspective, Asperger's connects markedly with anxieties and with OCD. So I agreed with this psychologist.

Anybody else here thinking along these lines too ?

(http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1034938)

[8FillTheHeart]

Yes and no. My ds definitely suffers from high anxiety. He also has OCD.

However, neither fully describe his full set of issues. His lack of awareness or ability to perceive reality is abnormal. He thinks that kids that are making horrible fun of him think he is cool. He has no friends and thinks he is the most popular kid around. He takes toys out in public at 17. He bites his fingers, picks at scabs, twists holes in his clothes with pencils........things that are repetitious behaviors that comfort him. He lacks many appropriate conversational skills (like not knowing what is inappropriate or when other people are tuning out, etc)

CBT did not help his behavioral issues at all. (I recognize you are discussing a different child here......but CBT should help with anxiety and OCD issues. After months of CBT there was no change in our ds at all.)

For us anyway......anxiety does not in anyway encompass his full spectrum of behaviors. FWIW.....many of them have only become more pronounced as he has become older b/c you expect him to outgrow some of these behaviors and they continue. The older he gets, the more "obvious" they become.

[Misty]

Interesting topic...

Mostly I would agree that anxiety is pretty much the fuel behind the disorder (along with sensory issues).

But like the above poster, there are a few autistic characteristics that just can't be chopped up to anxiety alone... Like my son who obsessively lined everything up before the age of 2, his lack of imaginary play... my daughter spinning or walking in circles (seeking stimuli)... the hyperactivity and inattentiveness, the working memory deficits, the fine and gross motor delays, the social cluelessness, lack of social language, etc.

But just about everything else I would say is just pure anxiety along with sensory issues.

That's wonderful that you guys found a great psychologist that your daughter loves! We're still looking. :tongue_smilie: