Asperger's Syndrome

[trishka]

its not that it goes undiagnosed, its that people are misdiagnosed

Agreed. Aspergers and other forms of autism are only recently getting attention and therefore actually getting diagnosed. The concern now is that some people will be diagnosed with autism/aspergers and it will actually be something else.

[i_forget]

Agreed. Aspergers and other forms of autism are only recently getting attention and therefore actually getting diagnosed. The concern now is that some people will be diagnosed with autism/aspergers and it will actually be something else.

Well, the good thing about Autism is that it encompasses several different deficiencies.

So, if a child is misdiagnosed, they still receive the interventions that they need to help them.

Plus, once diagnosed, they are followed by teams of Health Care Professionals who know the in's and out's and are able to get them the help that they need for their Non-Autistic symptoms.

As well, with Autism, there is a likelihood that there is a secondary issue, like ADHD, bipolar, Schizophrenia or Anxiety. These secondary issues can also mask the signs of Autism.

I have more concern about the people that are slipping through the cracks because their families do not get them help because they are in denial, do not know what to look for or just accept the child as who they are and never get them the help they need.

Autism is also very prevalent in families. Odds are that if a child in the family is Autistic, that there is another person in that family with it as well.

[trishka]

This is true. At least they will be getting some help. The problem would become when someone was not treated for any secondary issues in that they are diagnosed with autism when they actually should have been diagnosed with something else.

As for your comment about people who are slipping through the cracks, I have personal experience with that. My cousin was diagnosed with autism years ago, but her mother refused to believe it and get her any kind of help. She is still in denial about it. My cousin is now 30 and has not received any sort of help despite what the rest of our family has been saying. She cannot function on her own and will likely never be able to live on her own and unfortunately, her younger brother will likely have to take care of her for the rest of her life. There is assistance out there but my aunt refused to believe that she functioned differently amd now it may be too late to get her the assistance she needed and still needs.

[i_forget]

I am sorry that your family has had to deal with that.

There are ways to help to make life easier.
Taking workshops and furthering my education has been very helpful for me.

[trishka]

I am sorry that your family has had to deal with that.

There are ways to help to make life easier.
Taking workshops and furthering my education has been very helpful for me.

Thanks. I think the biggest struggle is getting both my aunt and my cousin to both stop denying it. There is nothing I can do until both of them accept it. I've talked with my friend who has AS and he's said he'd have no problems talking to both or one of them and supporting them and helping them but my aunt and cousin just won't.

[i_forget]

Thanks. I think the biggest struggle is getting both my aunt and my cousin to both stop denying it. There is nothing I can do until both of them accept it. I've talked with my friend who has AS and he's said he'd have no problems talking to both or one of them and supporting them and helping them but my aunt and cousin just won't.

That is too bad. They won't even listen to a doctor?

In situations like that, your hands are pretty much tied unless you want to go through the court system to deal with things, which is stressful, expensive and may not even work out.

As long as she is safe and there is someone out there who is taking care of her needs....

[trishka]

That is too bad. They won't even listen to a doctor?

In situations like that, your hands are pretty much tied unless you want to go through the court system to deal with things, which is stressful, expensive and may not even work out.

As long as she is safe and there is someone out there who is taking care of her needs....

I'm actually not even sure when the last time my cousin saw a doctor was. The court system would be pretty useless at this point right now for the reasons you said. I think she has secondary issues that have not been diagnosed. I think she may be bi-polar or manic. She also has severe paranoia.

[i_forget]

Well, this is what your choices are if a crisis situation arises:



http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health/fam.../#.Uqnb35Fn1AQ


If your family member poses an imminent danger to themselves or to others, then you must act for everyone’s well-being. Call 911 and tell the police what is happening; your description and their assessment will determine whether or not your relative is taken to a hospital for assessment. Provincial mental health legislation is not standard across Canada, but in general, the law allows a physician, judge, police officer or justice of the peace to force an individual to undergo psychiatric assessment if one of the following criteria is met:

• If the person is a danger to themselves, suicidal or self-harming
• If they are a danger to others or homicidal
• If they are unable to care for themselves to the extent that they pose a risk to themselves

Subsequent admission to hospital and treatment are up to the physician. Your observations are important and can assist the physician in determining the right approach.


People do not like to do these things, but in the end, she is the one not able to care for herself, and if others are not doing it properly, having her put into the hands of people who will help her or make the family get her adequate care is the best choice.

[trishka]

Thanks for the info.

[Natalka]

Dan Aykroyd reveals he has Asperger's and Tourette's

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...ed-ghosts.html

[gryphon]

Dan Aykroyd reveals he has Asperger's and Tourette's

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...ed-ghosts.html

That's actually been known for a while. He's kind of an inspiration for me since he is very successful.

[gryphon]

Another thing to remember is that people with Asperger's are creative in different ways than other people. Instead of viewing children with asperger's as problem children, we should help them learn in their own way

[gryphon]

Ive been speaking to some people more and more about the need for awareness and removing the stigma from Asperger's syndrome