ASD Diagram

I designed the (hopefully) simple graphic below to help people understand the family of Autism Spectrum Disorders — as outlined in the DSM-IV — and how they relate to one another (click on the image to see a larger version). I did not include Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, as they usually receive their own diagnoses apart from an ASD.

As you can see, much of the confusion comes from the duplicative use of terms like PDD and ASD at both the category and sub-category levels.

It's important to note that the just-approved DSM-V subsumes both PDD-NOS and Aspergers into one category called, quite simply, Autism. In addition, a new category called Social Communication Disorder has been created to hopefully account for children who don't meet the new ASD criteria but still have deficits in the key areas of communication and social skills.

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Let me know what you think on Twitter: @1asddad

The Tambourine

Tonight C walked up to me, holding a drum in one hand and a tambourine in the other. Smiling, he thrust the tambourine toward me and said, quite clearly, "You play it, Daddy!" I was so shocked, I nearly forgot to take the damn tambourine from him. This was neither scripted nor prompted; this was a genuine request, directed at me, in the form of a verbalized desire to interact.

And interact we did: I shook the tambourine in time to his drumming for a good two or three minutes, and every so often C would look at me and smile as we played together.

Hope.

Questioning Autism? App is Available!

I’m proud to announce that our iOS app Questioning Autism? is available in the App store!

Questioning Autism? is an iOS app designed to help concerned parents understand the signs and symptoms of autism, and to convey their observations to their pediatrician. The app features 12 simple questions, and the ability to share the observations with notes via email. Parents and caregivers can track a child’s progress over time, and save their observations for multiple children. Also included are helpful resources and the ability to share the app socially.

Questioning Autism? was inspired by our own difficulties explaining our concerns to our pediatrician, and the delays in getting help for our son that ensued. My hope is that this app can help some other parents avoid these problems. The app was built by Netsoft-USA in collaboration with one of their long-standing clients, Active Health Management. Ideally, Questioning Autism will be built for other platforms, in multiple languages, and possibly include a Web-based version as well.

So far, feedback on the app has been incredibly positive, with some parents saying they wish an app like this had been available before they got their diagnosis, others suggesting it would be a great tool for friends and family to help them understand what their child is going through. An ABA therapist even mentioned that the app could help raise awareness among clinicians and doctors in other countries who are unfamiliar with the signs of autism.

If you are curious, or know someone who might be having concerns about their child, I'd be grateful if you'd share the app with them. And, if you can take a moment to rate or review the app, even better!

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Let me know what you think on Twitter: @1asddad

Labeling It

Here's a moment of pure, unadulterated joy. The twins (C on the left, M on the right) seem to be growing closer lately. Part of it may be more intensive group play during C's ABA therapy, but I suspect another reason is that we've begun to explain to M what is happening with his brother.

We've identified it simply as "C's ASD," and it's a label we use to explain things both confusing and wonderful. In some ways, M seems to be adopting the role of big brother (even though he's actually four minutes younger): he's become more affectionate and attentive toward C and, at times, intensely protective. Giving C's autism a label, without going into too much detail, seems to be demystifying it for M, turning a frightening unknown into an understandable known.

It raises the question, of course: how and when do we introduce this label to C? When would he even understand it?

Trying

A quick thought my wife shared today: "There are days when I really see how hard this boy works to focus his brain enough to hold the spoon and bring it to his mouth with cereal on it, to sit still and put his feet through his pant leg, to bring his face towards his father's and say 'bye daddy.' I watch him trudge off to school so trustingly on the school bus, the noise of the world and the street so hard on him. My love for this boy just slays me."

I have to constantly remind myself how hard C is trying, even when it appears outwardly that he is not. His inability to focus, to settle, to attend, to listen, to respond, is not indicative of a desire to be disconnected, but an inability to remain connected.