Clinic Notes: Asperger's and ABA

Without question Asperger's is often misdiagnosed as ADHD or bipolar mood disorder and children are given psychotropic medications that do nothing for the conceptual problems and the social problems that are the core of Asperger's. It wasn't that long ago that in my clinic children diagnosed with Asperger's did not usually present until their preteens or teens. But now I am getting children referred with a diagnosis of Asperger's at a much earlier age, often 5-6 years of age. This makes it much easier to run Discrete Trial Training (DTT) on stimuli and concepts that will cause problems later in school. Socialization drills can also be started much earlier when children are kinder to children that are different.