I want to thank all who offered input. It helps so much just to hear from others who have experienced some of the same issues.
Karate has been on my radar for a few months. There are one or two places that offer it that aren't too far from us. He hasn't been exposed to it at all, so I don't know if he will care to take lessons. If it might help him with focusing and disciplining his mind, then we may just give it a try.
When two of you mentioned Asperger Syndrome, I opted to look at the symptoms list just to refresh my memory. I was really surprised at how much of the list did describe him. But at the same time, many of those same things seem to overlap with what we've thought were his OE issues.
I did take him to his pediatrician last year and I described all of the issues we were having. The ped. told me that he was atypical for his age in how he interacted with people. ("People" being the staff at his office.) He felt that IQ testing was in order. I had just reached the place a few months earlier where I was allowing myself to consider this as an option, so hearing that was a relief.
So, my ds was evaluated by someone who deals exclusively with children and has done so for over two decades. He did screen him for ADD, but quickly dismissed it after speaking with him and getting a history from me. He assured us that he was just fine, that there were no disorders, and that what we were experiencing was attributed to his high intelligence. Unless they both missed the AS, I'm going to assume right now that this is an OE issue.
Do children with Asperger Syndrome have communication issues with ALL people, or just certain groups? Mine only has trouble with children his age. One symptom that did jump out at me was the tendency of those with AS to take words and phrases literally. I find that I am always explaining to others that "he takes things literally." Do highly gifted children do this too?
I'll stop for now, but do know that I appreciate ALL of the input. I have been reassured that we are not alone, and I now have ideas of how this might play out in the future.
