Autism

[sm8]

I haven't been on in quite a while so i'm not sure if many of you will remember me.  Right now we are going through a difficult time.  My DD pediatrician has recently brought up the subject of autism.  He has felt for quite a while that she has been showing several symptoms.  Within the next few weeks she will be seeing speach and hearing specialist at childrens hospital and will be evaluated by nuerologists.  I was just curious if any had any advice of what to expect or any useful information.  Thanks in advance, I can use all the support I can get right now.

[Still_AndiJ]

How old is your baby? Most doctors will not even toy with a dx of autism until the child is at least 18 months old.

Andrea

[Stacie30]

my son has a high functioning form of autism called aspergers syndrome. he was dx at 5 years old, although now they are saying that the earlier a diagnoses is made the better (some kids are able to completely adjust and show almost no symptoms by the time they enter school). although i think what Andi said about the 18 month thing is right.

its good that if your child does have autism (or a form of it) that you have a pediatrician that is on it now. it will be better in the long run to get an early dx and treatment.

there are several support groups out there and i'll try to answer any questions you have.

hang in there. it isn't the end of the world. just a really challenging road. :o)

[sm8]

My DD is 2 1/2.  She has had so many problems in her short little life (none of which are connected).  When she was born she had 2 knots in her umbilical cord.  The doctor refused to do an ultrasound so we did not know until after she was born.  She was tongue tied so at 6 months she had surgery to correct it.  Right around her first birthday she had a bout with lukopenia.  Her older sister is 4 1/2 now and by her first birthday she was speaking in complete sentences.  I have always tried to not compare my kids to eachoter or other children.  DD only has a vocabulary of about 10 words.  She sometimes has really good eye contact but other times she seems to stare right through you like your not even there.  She has an appointmen this morning with our local audiologist.  This is a 6 month follow up from her diagnosis with hearing loss.  I wen't through infant and todler program to get help with speach therapy and she has her 6 month re evaluation coming up for that too.  They said she seemed to be not too far behind so wanted to hold off on any kind of therapy.  All of the testing she has had so far was before her pediatrician had mentioned anything about autism.  Sorry if I am rambling but wanted to give alittle background info on her and am typing realy fast before the girls wake up.

[Stacie30]

it really does sound like autism to me. how is she with schedules and routines? notice anything "different" about fabric preferences or body movements (rocking back and forth, playing with eyelashes, eyebrows etc..)?

[sm8]

She passed her hearing test today with flying colors.  I just don't understand why every other one she fails than passes.  With her behavior she seems to get stuck on things like once she starts lining blocks all she wants to do is line blocks and if she gets interupted she has an all out tantrum and ends up hurting herself.  She does have a blanket she has to rub while she's asleep.  Right now the way I feel is if she is diagnosed it won't change who she is or how she will be treated.  My only concern is to get her therapy if she needs it.  Weve learned to cope and I deal fine with her tantrums.  I just focus her attention on something else.  Other people have a hard time dealing with her and think she is just bad and needs her but beat, so that makes it so I never leave her with anyone as a babysitter.

[cinnamonheart]

Its strange how things can turn out with children, But some how they are all blessings in disguise. I think things happen for a reason (not that we ever understand) maybe its to learn a lesson, see things a new way, understand, or appreciate
Hope your little one makes out okay

[Stacie30]

i went through this same thing early on. seems like everyone around you accuses you of being a bad parent because of your child's behavior... i was actually relieved when my son was diagnosed because then I could say "see- i'm really not bad at it". might seem selfish but it was a big relief.

what you say about your daughter sure sounds alot like my son when he was that age. it's not that he couldn't hear- it was just that he didn't understand or necessarily care that you wanted a reaction from him. he also hated to be touched (hugged-kissed-cuddled) by people he didn't see all the time. the block thing and the blanket thing were both things he did early on. you could completely forget about getting him to stop something before he was ready to- it just caused a tantrum.  to this day he still refuses to sleep with sheets on his bed. he says they are "itchy" so we cope and he sleeps with a blanket on the bottom and a blanket on the top...

do an internet search and check on Aspergers Syndrome. There isn't any medication but research now is saying that early intervention with group "play" therapy is bringing remarkable results by "teaching" autistic kids things that other kids learn automatically at an early age they are able to help them function more acceptably in school by kindergarten.

i wish we could have been diagnosed early with my son, but he was my first and I listened to my family and let them make me think i was just a bad parent because i couldn't "control" my son.

[sm8]

It's good to know I'm not the only one.  I have three children now one older and one younger.  I totaly understand what you are saying about the diagnosis being a relief.  I don't wan't her to be autistic or aspergers but if she is and diagnosed I can explain to others there is a reason behind her action.