Another Diagnosis

On September 29th I learned that Carter has high functioning autism.

I already knew that because I had been doing my own research ever since I saw a piece ESPN did on a surfer named Clay Marzo. In August, Benn emailed me a video clip telling me to watch it. It was about a 20 year old surfer who had Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. I watched it and watched it again. Over and over I watch this 12 minute video. Carter was so much like this surfer. My heart started racing, my eyes started tearing up and I knew that this was what Carter had. This made sense. For several days, I did research on the internet, talked to whomever I could about what to do for your child when you suspect such thing.

Back in the spring, I had already sought out someone to help me and Carter with some of his "quirkiness." The paperwork was enormous and I was playing the waiting game all summer just to be able to get an appointment with this particular doctor. But, when I saw this video clip, I had a sense of urgency and a feeling that I was headed in the right direction.

Asperger's or autism is not something that is curable (at least that is my belief, who knows Jenny McCarty may one day change my mind). With help of a therapist, those that with Asperger's or high functioning autism can be more aware of their limitations and work around them. I was told that in order to get the therapy that might be needed, I needed to get a diagnosis first by a neuro-psychologist.

After many phone calls I finally found a doctor that would give the appropriate tests in order to diagnosis. And so he was tested and a week later I met with the neuro-psych to discuss the results. The doctor said that most people would categorize him as having asperger's but because he was speech delayed and developmentally delayed at the age of three, he did not fit into the asperger criteria.

Here is my thinking... from what I have read most of his symptoms point to aspergers. Austism is such a large spectrum of many different behaviors and to me, the lines are fuzzy and I've heard such from other doctors and research I have found. I'm fine with the label of Austism. As the psychologist we met with stated, "It's just a label. It just means you are different, like being tall or short. Shy or outgoing. Just another label." And since we are a label kind of people who like to make sense of things, this is Carter's new label. Just add this to the list of:

Smart

Silly

Awesome at riding his bike and scooter

Loves P.E.

Tennis player

"Wipeout" watcher

Kind

Easy going

Amazing wii player

Skinny

Pancake eater

Will let his Mom smother him with kisses

Blue eyes

Prefers athletic clothes

And the list goes on and on!