can i ask..is this possible

hi there can i just ask is it possible at all for a child age 5 to be diagonased with aspergers,dyspraxia and adhd all at the same time?how long does in take for any of this to be diagonased and how likely is it that this child has all of the above...thanx

sorry for my spelling

I believe Asperger's has many overlaps with parts of ADHD & Dyspraxia...I am definately hyperactive a lot of the time with poor coordination and a high tremor, and I have been diagnosed AS. But...I'm not a psychologist so I wouldn't know the medical definitions.

MISSY J wrote:hi there can i just ask is it possible at all for a child age 5 to be diagonased with aspergers,dyspraxia and adhd all at the same time?how long does in take for any of this to be diagonased and how likely is it that this child has all of the above...thanx

sorry for my spelling

dyspraxia is fairly easy to diagnose. it's also a very common condition to find with AS. of the three, i'd be most sceptical about ADHD. if you find that the child is able to focus intently on things that interest them it's likely this is wrong. children with autism often live in their own world so may appear to lack attention and perhaps be considered hyper-active too if they are that way inclined, though i think there's a slight contradiction between ADHD and dyspraxia in that regard. children with dyspraxia have poor muscle tone and are therefore less likely to be hyper-active as well.

From the way that you've phrased your post, I'm guessing that the child hasn't actually been diagnosed with an of these yet, right? Whatever the case, I agree with what that others have said. Asperger's syndrome usually has secondary syndromes/disorders associated with it, such as ADHD, OCD, Dyspraxia, Depression, and Anxiety. The point is not to view all of these labels and think that your kid is 100% a hopeless case. Rather, use the information to give them a better life.

i'm not sure how long a diagnosis would take but, at 5 years of age, my honest opinion is that you should wait a few more years to see how the child develops first before thinking that there is something 'wrong' with him/her.

Kevin

thanx for your replies...i believe this child was diagnosed with a matter of weeks but is on no medicion what so ever...would they need some kind of medicion??

MISSY J wrote:thanx for your replies...i believe this child was diagnosed with a matter of weeks but is on no medicion what so ever...would they need some kind of medicion??

i'm unaware of any medication for AS or dyspraxia.

AS is a developmental disorder and can become less severe with time.

dyspraxia can be treated through exercises in balance and co-ordination.

ADHD can supposedly be medicated. but i would strongly caution you against this. it is now known that medications that are qualified for adults can have detrimental effects on children because of the rapid development of the brain that takes place in childhood. if i were you i'd seriously look at diet as a potential cause as there is a well known link between ADHD and additives in processed foods.

Oh, so, I take it that this kid isn't your own? There is no medication for Asperger's - like shock_the_monkey has said - but there is medication for the secondary disorders. For example, I took an anti-depressant called Lexapro for my depression for 4 years. I only came off it around 2 months ago.

I am of the opinion - strongly - that children so young should not be medicated. They need time to develop further before any such diagnosis (which can affect the rest of their lives) can be made.

Kevin