Asperger's or severe neglect?

Question

I have a foster child who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. I am interested to know if anyone has any experience with children or adults who maybe appear apspergers because of severe neglect and lacking social interaction for a number of years.

Am I just in denial that this child has autism or is there a chance that I'm right? Thanks for your responses.

Alex is 7 but operates at about a 3-4 yr old level. He has been in foster care for 2 yrs and before he came here he was bumped around to several relatives (since birth) while his mother slowly died from a brain disease.

Alex has ticks (raising eyebrows) and weird hand movements (but not quite flapping) He is not inteligent or bright at all and does not have a specific interest.

But is he lacking these things because he is aspergers and was neglected. Or was he just neglected. KWIM-- Thanks again.

Answer 1

First off, there's no reason you should need to be in denial about a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, because the prognosis for kids with this sydrome is very good, and most people with Asperger's go on to live a productive and fullfilling life. This is particularly true in todays society that tends to value intellectual talent over social skills.

Second, Asperger's is a purely clinical diagnosis. It describes a set of symptoms, not a cause. The cause, or causes of the disorder are still largely unknown anyway. So even if prolonged neglect is the cause of the child's symptoms, it's still Asperger's. But like I said, that doesn't mean he won't be able to function in normal school and work environments, and ultimately be quite successful (actually, people with Asperger's tend to be quite bright, so they are often successful in today's world). Asperger's is a relatively new diagnosis - before that they were just called nerds.

Answer 2

Hmm, if he was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, then I would assume that he has it. There are ways to distinguish between Asperger's and reactions to neglect and abuse, as other people have already indicated. One thing that might be interesting, though, is that many people with Asperger's seem to be able to recover emotionally from bad situations fairly easily. There's some kind of emotional disconnect or something, I'm not sure exactly where it comes from. For example, my father (whom I suspect has Asperger's) was emotionally and physically abusive to me, my brother, and my sister. My brother and I have Asperger's and we have been able to continue our lives without too much problem. Yes, we have some severe misgivings about what my father did when we were younger, but we decided that we would try not to be like how he was. My sister, on the other hand, does not have Asperger's, and had become so emotionally scarred by everything that happened, that her childhood still haunts her to this day.

Your foster child may be "behind" in social skills by a number of years, but this is all too common among those with Asperger's. Past neglect and abuse will probably make the child more wary and scared to experience new things and to open up, so you'll need an incredible amount of understanding and patience in order to help the child. But the fundamental hurdle to overcome is the Asperger's, whether the child has experienced neglect or abuse or not. If you allow the child to explore *while maintaining a sense of safety for the child*, your child will surely open up! The biggest thing that seems to cause the social problems associated with Asperger's, is that the person is afraid of what he or she does not know. It leads to a host of different reactions, including violent outbursts and meltdowns, withdrawal and avoidance of other people, hating being touched, and even stuck-up or prejudicial behavior. These reactions can all be controlled if the person learns and understands; after all, if you understand a situation, then there is less to fear, and you feel safer. Also if the person gets gradually used to a certain situation (for example hugging), then he or she understands more, and will tolerate things that used to bother him or to cause a meltdown. :)

Answer 3

I worked with Asperger's children and also abused children, and there can definitely be similar behaviors. First though, how old is the child? How long have they been in the foster system, or how long were they with their original parent (whoever could have implemented the neglect)? and also who diagnosed them? Neglected children may have strange social behaviors (not too obvious to normal social cues), sort of a "glazed" over empty look. Asperger's/Autism though, you'll see the repetitive movements (hand flapping, head bobbing, rocking, twirling), tantrums, fixations and strong attaches to objects (more than a normal child), lack of speech and eye contact...I'd get a second or even third opinion if you're concerned though. you can experiment on your own too if you have the patience, see if you can draw the child out of their shell through games and speech games, get them to play with others, just see if they seem to improve at all...good luck!

Answer 4

You are deserving of a crown in heaven for caring for an Asperger's syndrome child. My nephew has diagnosed full Asperger's, plus ADHD. Asperger's IS a form of autism.

My nephew's problems manifest in inability to process open ended questions, inability to deal with change of any kind, insistance on routine and consistency, flapping his hands in frustration, screaming instead of being able to calmly ask anything, and not developing speech skills because of the screaming. He stutters, emotionally "melts down" when frustrated and can be physically destructive. He is also very intelligent and loving, but like autistic people, cannot handle much physical touch. Steady noises (dripping water, for instance, or tapping) and pulsing lights can drive him crazy.

In contrast, children who have been physically neglected and lack social interaction can respond in time to counselling and a nurturing environment. They seldom demonstrate the hand flapping and screaming of Asperger's or are made crazy by dripping, open ended questions and can handle change as they develop.

Since your foster child has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, check out your state's resources for handicapped children. The Disability Act provides for their education, and there should be other services available, depending on which state you live in.

Answer 5

I have a nephew whom I am very close to and he is also seven, and was diagnosed with Aspergers,I know he was not neglected and based on the details you have given they have a lot of the same symptoms,, Does he still wet the bed or have bowel movements in strange places like the closet or even where you walk frequently like the hallway, And does he make strange faces when he meets strangers Make eye contact or have very sneeky violent tendancys??? These are some other symptoms my nephew has, and like I said I know he was not neglected.

Answer 6

Accept the diagnosis, because professionals made it. But so what, Asperger's is a very mild form of autism, so why not lose the label and treat the kid as if he is a normal healthy child. I know because I have it too, have done well for myself and now have a family with 3 kids and have been married 20+ years. Lots of people have hardships or disabilities, but if they and their families look past them they often are forgotten.

Answer 7

Sadly autism is becoming more & more proment in the US. Doctors expect 1in 20 boys that will be born this year will diagnosed with some degree of autism. But if you are unsure see more doctors, don't go against your instinct!!

Answer 8

Check for other asperger's signs. These would include narrow and intense interests, odd sensory issues (only eating foods of a certain texture, not liking to wear certain material shirts, sensitivity to certain sights/sounds/smells), and not liking to be touched.