Asperger’s Disorder, Delusions and Hallucinations

Reader’s Question

My 15-year-old son is currently undergoing assessment for Aspergers, and 80% of what I see fits the diagnosis — except that he has very recently started to mention mild delusions or hallucinations of a type. Can this be due to him trying to figure out why he is so different?

The last two years have been tough on him, never really getting relief from therapy or getting any answers. His anxiety is off the scale at times. Also other than being a shy child and never forthcoming with articulation, there weren’t any alarm bells for me. Is that odd?

Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

As you describe, youth with Asperger’s Disorder have difficulty articulating and describing what they are experiencing. They also have difficulty recognizing what experiences are appropriate and inappropriate for their age. When we experience something for the first time, we often ask ourselves “Is this normal?”. Because we have talked to friends and family over the years, we have a pretty good idea about what is a normal experience…and what isn’t a normal experience. This is not true for people with Asperger’s Disorder.

His report of what sounds like delusions and hallucinations may be a misinterpretation on his part. This is especially likely if you have not noticed a significant change in his behavior. True delusions and hallucinations are neurochemical events. They would have additional symptoms that would be quickly noticed by those around him.

I would recommend that you bring this issue to the attention of the professional providing treatment and assessment for his Asperger’s Disorder. If these experiences are creating emotional distress, psychiatric consultation would be appropriate.