Hi, my son is 22 years old and has all the signs of aspergers syndrome. He was never diagnosed, and as a child we thought he was just shy, and was told he had ocd. He is very high functioning and drives, has a part time job and has graduated from college. But he lacks any kind of social skills. He also has sensory issues. I am presently working with him on his social skills, and his sensory problems with the help of other parents on different forums I have been on. . My first question is when was aspergers discovered and used as a diagnosis, It seems like noone even heard of it when my son was small in the early nineties..He went through hell in grammer school with all the constant teasing and bullying, and in high school he had a hard time also because he didnt know how to make new freinds or to ask a girl out on a date.
I have always tried to help him with social skills, but I never knew he had aspergers until about two years ago when my nephew was diagnosed with it. It was at that time as well that we realized that my dad had it also. My dad is now 80 years old .and was also high functioning..
My son has hardly ever worn jeans, only sweat pants or very loose pants, he has to constantly be reminded to wear deodorent, he pays very little attention to his appearence and appears to be rude and stand offish in social situations, even in family situations. I have learned alot about aspergers over the past few years I wonder about what it is exactly that causes this. I am very happy that I now know why my son is the way he is and I am trying to educate the rest of my family on it as well. His friends get bored with him, even his cousins that he was once closer to as children are getting bored with him, , I dont think they fully understandhis disorder..
I wondered what causes the sensory issues (pulling back when someone tries to hug him or gets to close to him, wearing loose fitting clothing etc.? What more can I do to help him more? thanks.