Confused mom/autism

[zamorana]

Hi i would really apreciate if anyone can help me figuring out what is going on with my son. He'll be 2 next month and has always been fascinated by wheels and everything that spins. Lately he is been showing other form of "stimming". He would get really close to the door or window and stats going up and down, he also follows vertical lines with the corner of his. He isn't very sociable with his kids his age but would start bubbling and taking to older kids. He says around 20 words that he uses like Milk, kaka, mami etc.

so I belivee these are signs of autism but on the other hand he is very sociable with us, his parents, and likes to play peek a boo, and hide and seek. he pretends he is a monster and say "Ouhhhhhhh" everytime he sees me so I follow him. He also pretend he is talking on the phone and cooking and would put the spoon on my mouth as if he is feeding me. He gets really happy when he sees me and would run to me and hug me(only for 2 sec). He has good eye contact when he is playing with us.

I got him checked out, we did a test called (ADOS) and here is the result:
Hadi's age(my son) does not allow a diagnosis.In addition the symtoms are not severe and intense to engage the diagnosis into psychopathological profile. However, the poverty of his social interaction and the unusual sensory intrest in material added to the underdevelopment of his communication skills are in favor of autistic traits. While, the level of play and existence of communication will are in favour of language delay.

So basically the test didn't help me at all finding out what is my son's problem, instead it made me get even more confused than before. Honestly Im not that conserned about his speech and social development since My son is only 2 years old and isn't around kids since he is a first and only child. Plus lately he's been saying few new words. What Worries me the most is the stimming. So I was wondering if anyone knows if stimming does always go hand in hand with autism. Isn't there kids that stims but are not autistic. And what do u think is the case with my son?

I would really appreciate ur help because all this is driving me crazy, I can't handle it anymore. It is so hard to wait to find out what's wrong when it has to do with ur kids.

[specialmom]

Hi,  it is so hard to tell if anything is going on with a child of your son's age as kids all differ so much and many of the things you describe are just normal for that age.

As far as stimming and having not the greatest social skills with other kids, there are many reasons besides autism which could cause this.  (your son doesn't sound autistic to me just from this post, by the way----- )  There are delays that affect the nervous system that can do this too.  Delays can be severe or mild and general or specific.  Time will tell if any delay is present.  My son has sensory integration disorder and has spent  a lot of his young life spinning.  We've addressed his delay (starting at 4 and he is now 5).  He had some minor signs at 3 and maybe before that in retrospect but it took awhile before we knew for sure what was going on.  

So, I'd wait and see.  In the mean time, work on his language with him.  Make silly faces and freeze them, stick out the tongue and move it all around, drink thick liquids (smoothie, milkshake) or applesauce through a straw, chew chewy things, lick lollipops, blow bubbles and cotton balls through a straw.  All help motor muscles in mouth and help with speech.  Read to him and talk to him tons.  Model conversation.
I'd also keep his physical activity high.  Run, jump, skip, swing, climb as much as possible.  Don't try to stop the stimming as this is how he is trying to soothe himself.
Good luck!!!  And early intervention is the key, but at this point-----  I don't see anything as a huge red flag.  Just wait and then if you are still concerned, see a developmental specialist or occupational therepist.

[jdtm]

Just because your son was not diagnosed with autism does not mean he does not have some autistic traits.  Our nephew has been diagnosed with PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified) because he did not meet the criteria of asperger's.  Frankly, I feel our nephew does have asperger's but because his mother intervened so much in social and educational endeavours when he was younger, today his progress is so remarkable that he does not meet the "criteria" of asperger's.  By the way, he is a grown man with a young daughter.

So, as the above poster said - continue with verbal and language efforts and add many social interactions (whether or not your son suffers from autism is irrelevant - helping him to "become the best he can be" is always a mother's goal).  The young brain is very pliable and can be "trained" to think and react in different ways.  My sister did not know this but I suspect this is what occurred in my nephew's case.  I wish you the best ...

[zamorana]

thank u so much for responding to my post.
I totally agree with both of u, in fact I started speech therapy last week and I alreday feel that my DS is getting better with his language. I hope he keeps getting better and that with time I'll find out that it only a speech delay issue and not autism. To be honest, sometimes my son seems like any other kid to me especially when he calls me and smiles to me. but then when i see him spinning or walking beside the walls I get worried all over again.

[specialmom]

Hi,  I'm glad that speech therapy is already helping!  Try not to worry----  first of all, kids of all sorts like to spin.  I have two boys that spin-----  my sensory son can spin forever though and NEVER gets dizzy.  But doing that and walking by walls, like I said could be something besides autism or nothing at all.  I will tell you that if turns out to be a delay, it is NOT the end of the world.  I don't wish extra challenges on any child, but have seen that kids can learn to do amazing things regardless of where they started from.  So please try not to worry----  it will be alright.  Good luck, again!