Well we have an official diagnosis of ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) for Zeno. I had been thinking of the Aspergers label but the Paediatrician was very cautious about giving any label other than ASD and said he was reluctant to define it any further, although he said we could also call it 'High Functioning Autism'. "Don't get carried away with thinking 'high functioning' means Zeno is not much affected. He may be very much affected and have extreme difficulties in some areas, which we should be ready to recognise."
I wasn't sure how to take that really. Stefan also said that Zeno found it hard to know what is going on in other people's heads, which is something that everyone else (everyone not autistic that is) begins to grasp in a rudimentary way from babyhood. This can cause problems with communicating with people - just having a conversation can be frustrating for both parties. Also it might make the world a scary place sometimes if one is unable to understand other people or empathise with them.
It was an interesting meeting. I vaguely recall the psychologist (there were 3 doctors there) saying we could have an 'educational psychology' assessment which I am really keen on. We talked briefly about some of the problems of educating someone at the high-functioning end of autism, eg the difficulty they sometimes have with simple maths or learning to tell the time from an analogue clock despite high intelligence, and concentration problems, amongst other things. It's always such a relief to find someone who doesn't furrow their brows and look worried when you tell them things, but is really blase and tells you "oh yes that's quite usual in these cases".
Anyway, nothing is really static alhamdulillah. Right now Zeno is sitting at the table doing maths worksheets which up to now he has really passionately hated, but he actually asked me for them and is enjoying doing them. they are only simple addition (3 rows of double figures) but anyway that is what the psychologist suggested at the meeting - go back to the basics. He's a whizz at fractions and some other more complicated maths masha'Allah but if the basics aren't covered you always run into problems. He's almost nine years old, and I have to admit that I sometimes tie myself in knots worrying about his education and the fact that he is so behind 'schooled' children in some areas (even though he is way ahead in others). The areas in which he is ahead are those which interest him, and I stress about the fact that everyone needs to knuckle down sometimes and work at things which may not interest us - if he can't do that, is he disadvantaged? Should I be more tyrannical about covering the national curriculum, making him write, etc.?
Educationally, there are a few things I want to cover in the next month or two:
Go over maths basics again: addition, subtraction, multiplication tables
Arabic reading - sight reading of 'fatiha' and the 3 'quls'
Qur'an - Stick with the 15 or so short surahs he knows by heart and revise them regularly
Islamic Studies - continue with the textbook
English - carry on with the present programme which alhamdulillah is going well
Science, history, geography - these subjects interest Zeno and he reads a lot by himself, which is fine for now.
I intend to do some cooking together with the kids insha'Allah as a way to encourage Zeno to broaden his diet.
I would like to make a point of taking him to every scout meeting (unfortunately they're only every fortnight anyway), and finding some other regular group to attend other than the informal home-edders get-togethers (without structure and a common aim socialising can sometimes end in tears with Zeno).
