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Is my son autistic?
My 3 year old is being evaluated by a preschool Thursday and I am terrified they will say he is autistic.
He is 3 and has only a few words. Stop, no, go and mama. The rest is initelligeble babble.
He understands a lot of what you tell him and follows instructions but won't answer questions like "are you hungry"? By shaking his head. I think this is my fault for not asking enough questions though. But if he doesn't want to do something or doesn't want something you are giving him he shakes his head no.
He waves points, returns smiles, imitates, etc. He has good eye contact and like playing a game where I cover my face and each time I remove the cover my facial expression changes. He knows how to give high fives and fist bumps.
The thing is he is very hyperactive. He cannot sit still. He is constantly on the go. Running, jumping playing very loudly. He babbles to himself very loudly and is always squealing and laughing loudly while doing this.
He also likes to climb things. The stairs, furniture, etc. Once he used a crutch leaning against a bookshelf as a ladder to get some candy I put on the top. If he wants it he'll find a way to climb if I won't give it to him.
I'm worried because I read that hyperactivity combined with speech delays is almost always autism or pddnos...
But he does not seem to have sensory issues. He doesn't have a problem with any textures, sights or sounds or get upset at a change in routine or anything like that.
I don't know how he is socially. He has never been around a child his age and doesn't meet strangers often. Although when he does he doesn't seem to have issues with them. Sometimes he is overly friendly . He has tried to kiss strangers he meets.
I was worried he might have glue ear because he often acts like his right ear is itchy and sometimes he whines and holds it. He is also congested and breaths out of his mouth. His moth is always open so he drools.
But when I took him to his ped she said his ears looked fine. Plus as I said he follows instructions and responds to his name almost 100% of the time.
When he wants something he leads me and his father to it, brings it to us or points.. is it possible this is a sensory process disorder or adhd. I was diagnosed with adhd when I was around his age.
He is 3 and has only a few words. Stop, no, go and mama. The rest is initelligeble babble.
He understands a lot of what you tell him and follows instructions but won't answer questions like "are you hungry"? By shaking his head. I think this is my fault for not asking enough questions though. But if he doesn't want to do something or doesn't want something you are giving him he shakes his head no.
He waves points, returns smiles, imitates, etc. He has good eye contact and like playing a game where I cover my face and each time I remove the cover my facial expression changes. He knows how to give high fives and fist bumps.
The thing is he is very hyperactive. He cannot sit still. He is constantly on the go. Running, jumping playing very loudly. He babbles to himself very loudly and is always squealing and laughing loudly while doing this.
He also likes to climb things. The stairs, furniture, etc. Once he used a crutch leaning against a bookshelf as a ladder to get some candy I put on the top. If he wants it he'll find a way to climb if I won't give it to him.
I'm worried because I read that hyperactivity combined with speech delays is almost always autism or pddnos...
But he does not seem to have sensory issues. He doesn't have a problem with any textures, sights or sounds or get upset at a change in routine or anything like that.
I don't know how he is socially. He has never been around a child his age and doesn't meet strangers often. Although when he does he doesn't seem to have issues with them. Sometimes he is overly friendly . He has tried to kiss strangers he meets.
I was worried he might have glue ear because he often acts like his right ear is itchy and sometimes he whines and holds it. He is also congested and breaths out of his mouth. His moth is always open so he drools.
But when I took him to his ped she said his ears looked fine. Plus as I said he follows instructions and responds to his name almost 100% of the time.
When he wants something he leads me and his father to it, brings it to us or points.. is it possible this is a sensory process disorder or adhd. I was diagnosed with adhd when I was around his age.
My son's diagnosis was what helped him overcome things. It was such a smart move on our part to address the issues. I wish that for any parent and their child. I'm also pleased that awareness is growing so that parents can get the help their kids need. good luck to all
it is difficult when kids are hyper or inattentive to learn as quickly. I know many boys who have been the same as yours and Id say a good chunk of them were diagnosed with something. its pretty easy to get a diagnosis. I would work on the issues and not let anyone else define my child.
10% of boys have a speech delay of significance. I think eventually we will get to something like 5% autism because its been thus redefined. Autism diagnosis in the case of ASD not classical autism is a matter of OPINION. One doctor can say autism another can say speech delay. You have to decide what you want. I think there is a significant group of kids with sensory issues and speech and neurological delay but they usually catch up, some in 2 years some in 4, it really can take time. I know social people with poor eye contact and I think its nuts to pathologize kids as is being done and freaking parents out. But again, Im in a minority. There are autism support groups up the wazoo and a whole industry of professionals who are overpaid to remedy this. Then the kids need support when theyre older and dont have it. My advice always is to enjoy your child. If youre concerned about speech you can get free speech services from the state or privately through insurance. You can do ALOT yourself. The first step is always communicating needs. You can do this with body language or words/sounds. Place something he WANTS out of reach. Dont dangle it. Say the word or the movement you want and repeat this. It works phenomenally. Love is what make kids great not interventions. L
10% of boys have a speech delay of significance. I think eventually we will get to something like 5% autism because its been thus redefined. Autism diagnosis in the case of ASD not classical autism is a matter of OPINION. One doctor can say autism another can say speech delay. You have to decide what you want. I think there is a significant group of kids with sensory issues and speech and neurological delay but they usually catch up, some in 2 years some in 4, it really can take time. I know social people with poor eye contact and I think its nuts to pathologize kids as is being done and freaking parents out. But again, Im in a minority. There are autism support groups up the wazoo and a whole industry of professionals who are overpaid to remedy this. Then the kids need support when theyre older and dont have it. My advice always is to enjoy your child. If youre concerned about speech you can get free speech services from the state or privately through insurance. You can do ALOT yourself. The first step is always communicating needs. You can do this with body language or words/sounds. Place something he WANTS out of reach. Dont dangle it. Say the word or the movement you want and repeat this. It works phenomenally. Love is what make kids great not interventions. L
When I said "his" connection is wonderful, I was referring to your son from what you described in your post just to clarify.
Yes, shell is right. The spectrum is very wide and there are more severe cases and mild cases. Each child is different in how autism affects them.
I know when a child is evaluated, it is very scary for parents. I've been there. Allow the school to do their evaluation with an open mind knowing that if he is diagnosed with autism or something else that it is the starting point for getting him services to help him overcome challenges!
I would also recommend that you follow up with a developmental pediatrician as well on top of the school evaluation. Any supplementation to therapy that he may need that you can offer will help him that much more.
Now, I will tell you that my son has sensory integration disorder which is a developmental delay that affects the nervous system and can often look like adhd in some kids. The hyperactivity you describe is similar to my own son when he was younger and was related to his 'sensory seeking'. Sensory seeking is actively trying to get input into the nervous system through movement, crashing, etc. It can have to do with different aspects of the sensory system--- it can actually be an impulse related attempt to calm down or it can be due to not knowing where the body is in space due to processing issues where the brain isn't communicating with the muscles via the nervous system (why this is a nervous system delay and different from autism) so the 'crash' is direct input to send that information to the brain.
Occupational therapy really helped us with the sensory seeking. We were giving activities that regulated the nervous system. My son would do those activities (they were games, exercises, things you did at the playground, etc. that he LOVED) and he'd be nice and noticeably calm. These activities are things like swinging, hanging off of monkey bars (he couldn't do this much by himself at first so I'd put him up, have him hang for 2 seconds and catch him and then he'd do it longer and longer until he became the monkey bar king!), laying on the ground face first and rolling a ball over him from head to toe (we called that the steam roller), doing wall push overs (stand at wall and try to push it over), rolling him up in a blanket like a burrito, jumping on a mini trampoline (we got a cheap one at k mart that is one of those in the house exercise kind or you could pull a matress on the floor), swimming (one of the most perfect exercises for the sensory system . . . at 10, my son now swims on a US competitive swim team as he took to that so well after lessons as a toddler), marching on a hard surface slapping the feet down as he went, put books in a laundry basket and let him push it across the room, have him 'help you' by moving some chairs/furniture, etc. Here is a web site that has so much information that you may find helpful.
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/
As I said, that when my son did these things, he was noticeably calmer afterwards and sometimes things like swimming lasted two full days for the total calmness. That is still the case. My son really relaxes and can now verbalize to me that he FEELS better, calmer, more organized, can think clearer when he's had physical activity.
Now, my son had some articulation problems when he was little. he was evaluated by a speech pathologist at a large children's hospital and he fell within normal for articulation and above average for receptive and expressive language. That is a big difference between sensory and autism. Some sensory kids do have issues with speech to some extent but they don't follow the patterns of autism. This is where you will need to look further into a diagnosis of PDD NOS.
His connection is also wonderful. Is he making eye contact? Is he affectionate? Does he play in an imaginative way with his toys? All of those things helped rule out autism with my son. My son always engaged in pretend play, showed empathy, was affectionate, made eye contact and was emotionally/physically connect to the family. He had social skills things to work on with peers related to his sensory integration disorder but the hallmark signs of autism were not there for him.
Anyway, I know it is hard. I was really scared and worried about my son's evaluations when he was young. But once he got an accurate diagnosis, we ran with it and I just can't tell you how much they can do to help kids. My son has straight A's through his own hard work, plays different sports and some at a high level, has friends, varied interests, is in our school orchestra and plays violin, etc. He can sit just fine now. ;>) Through the accurate, on target diagnosis--- we got him help and he thrived.
So, this is your opportunity to do this for your son. peace and hugs. Contact me if you have any questions or need support.
I know when a child is evaluated, it is very scary for parents. I've been there. Allow the school to do their evaluation with an open mind knowing that if he is diagnosed with autism or something else that it is the starting point for getting him services to help him overcome challenges!
I would also recommend that you follow up with a developmental pediatrician as well on top of the school evaluation. Any supplementation to therapy that he may need that you can offer will help him that much more.
Now, I will tell you that my son has sensory integration disorder which is a developmental delay that affects the nervous system and can often look like adhd in some kids. The hyperactivity you describe is similar to my own son when he was younger and was related to his 'sensory seeking'. Sensory seeking is actively trying to get input into the nervous system through movement, crashing, etc. It can have to do with different aspects of the sensory system--- it can actually be an impulse related attempt to calm down or it can be due to not knowing where the body is in space due to processing issues where the brain isn't communicating with the muscles via the nervous system (why this is a nervous system delay and different from autism) so the 'crash' is direct input to send that information to the brain.
Occupational therapy really helped us with the sensory seeking. We were giving activities that regulated the nervous system. My son would do those activities (they were games, exercises, things you did at the playground, etc. that he LOVED) and he'd be nice and noticeably calm. These activities are things like swinging, hanging off of monkey bars (he couldn't do this much by himself at first so I'd put him up, have him hang for 2 seconds and catch him and then he'd do it longer and longer until he became the monkey bar king!), laying on the ground face first and rolling a ball over him from head to toe (we called that the steam roller), doing wall push overs (stand at wall and try to push it over), rolling him up in a blanket like a burrito, jumping on a mini trampoline (we got a cheap one at k mart that is one of those in the house exercise kind or you could pull a matress on the floor), swimming (one of the most perfect exercises for the sensory system . . . at 10, my son now swims on a US competitive swim team as he took to that so well after lessons as a toddler), marching on a hard surface slapping the feet down as he went, put books in a laundry basket and let him push it across the room, have him 'help you' by moving some chairs/furniture, etc. Here is a web site that has so much information that you may find helpful.
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/
As I said, that when my son did these things, he was noticeably calmer afterwards and sometimes things like swimming lasted two full days for the total calmness. That is still the case. My son really relaxes and can now verbalize to me that he FEELS better, calmer, more organized, can think clearer when he's had physical activity.
Now, my son had some articulation problems when he was little. he was evaluated by a speech pathologist at a large children's hospital and he fell within normal for articulation and above average for receptive and expressive language. That is a big difference between sensory and autism. Some sensory kids do have issues with speech to some extent but they don't follow the patterns of autism. This is where you will need to look further into a diagnosis of PDD NOS.
His connection is also wonderful. Is he making eye contact? Is he affectionate? Does he play in an imaginative way with his toys? All of those things helped rule out autism with my son. My son always engaged in pretend play, showed empathy, was affectionate, made eye contact and was emotionally/physically connect to the family. He had social skills things to work on with peers related to his sensory integration disorder but the hallmark signs of autism were not there for him.
Anyway, I know it is hard. I was really scared and worried about my son's evaluations when he was young. But once he got an accurate diagnosis, we ran with it and I just can't tell you how much they can do to help kids. My son has straight A's through his own hard work, plays different sports and some at a high level, has friends, varied interests, is in our school orchestra and plays violin, etc. He can sit just fine now. ;>) Through the accurate, on target diagnosis--- we got him help and he thrived.
So, this is your opportunity to do this for your son. peace and hugs. Contact me if you have any questions or need support.
The spectrum is so wide you can't exactly pinpoint what symptoms are okay and what's not.
My son just turned 2 in Jan. And just diagnosed with autism. I went to a Neurodevelopmental pediatrics because of his head size and speech delay. At the end of that appt she was able to say she thought he was clearly autistic. He only says mama. Not great eye contact, loves to spin wheels on trucks. Just has a very distant look sometimes. I hope everything works out.And to me that just sounds like a severe speech delay not autism. BUT every child is different and it could be a very mild case.
My son just turned 2 in Jan. And just diagnosed with autism. I went to a Neurodevelopmental pediatrics because of his head size and speech delay. At the end of that appt she was able to say she thought he was clearly autistic. He only says mama. Not great eye contact, loves to spin wheels on trucks. Just has a very distant look sometimes. I hope everything works out.And to me that just sounds like a severe speech delay not autism. BUT every child is different and it could be a very mild case.
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