Friday post doc

No, I'm not a grad student. This is about Zach and his doctor visit. Or, at least, the current assessment of the effectiveness of his meds. You see, up until now, there wasn't supposed to be any 'medicine' for Asberger's Syndrome. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Asberger's is sometimes accompanied by other afflictions which may serve to enhance or disguise the underlying ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). And Zachary has some of those. Along with the physical, social and emotional issues embodied in Asberger's, he has suffered with ADD and CAD (Chldhood Anxiety Disorder). The ADD was diagnosed first, but almost immediately afterward the Asberger's was added. The Doc began treatment for the ADD (Ritalin) and over a period of several months the med level was adjusted until an effective level was found. During that time of titrating the Ritalin, the CAD was diagnosed and the Doc started him on Buspar. A small but IMMEDIATELY effective dose. The Ritalin level was found and suddenly we had a much better adjusted boy attending school. He started Speech Pragmatics, a therapy program meant to clarify and enhance his speech, which until that time was slurred and indistinct. By the time he finished his freshman year in high school he had improve his school and study habits to the point that he was able to apply and be accepted at the Illinos Mathematics And Science Academy - where he is today. He is still dealing with Asberger's, but it is easier now that the other issues are under control.

Recently, the Doc started him on a med called Abilify. Doc's own daughter is one of those 'rare' female Asberger's kids, but her affliction has been more profound than that experienced by Zach. Her psychiatist had started her on Abilify to control some of the symptoms she was dealing with that were similar to OCD. And it worked. For her. And, apparently, it is working for Zach. He makes eye contact now. He is far more talkative now, and when he does speak, it is with more authority and confidence in his voice. He says he feels like more of a person now.

I still don't know about how this med may have affected some of the more subtle symptoms - like does he understand social cues better, does he 'get' facial expression now, does he see and understand body language now? As I write this and I think about these questions I'm willing to bet the answer is no, he doesn't. But qualify that with - not yet. These are things he still has to learn - I suppose the REAL question is - is he now more capable of learning how to pick up on those things?

Only time will tell. Only time.