The "C" Word

I am not referring to that big bad word I have used on occasion to describe a woman that has stared as A has a meltdown in the store. Not that word.

While A is diagnosed on the spectrum he also has other diagnosis'.

These are called comorbidities.

These can be hard to diagnosis because many comorbid traits overlap with autism.

They can range from ADHD to epilepsy.

A has a handful of comorbid diagnosis' that can make determining issues difficult at times.

• ADHD - Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

I feel as though nowadays a lot of people have heard of ADD or ADHD. Basically if your child is hyper and won't sit still, they probably have ADHD. WRONG!!! Many kids (and adults) that are ADHD are not hyper. They may have difficulty paying attention or focusing on one thing for a length of time. A has a combined type. He has difficulty focusing, is fidgety, talks excessively and doesn't know how to play quietly.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

A worries.  He worries about not having friends. He worries about if they decide to change the lunch at school from pizza to something he hates. He worries if mom goes away. He worries that he won't be able to get through the school day without getting in trouble. He worries. He worries a lot.

• Sensory Processing Disorder

Do you go to Target and open packages of socks to try on till you find the right brand? Does your kiddo wear noise cancelling headphones in the lunchroom? Maybe they don't hug anyone other then you and dad because the touch is uncomfortable. A loves the color orange...specifically neon because it is visual appealing and gives his senses a good feeling. He needs to jump or crash a lot. It makes him feel good....almost complete.

So while autism is a big part of our life, we acknowledge that there is so much more going on in that beautiful mind of A.