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My son is obsessed with letters and numbers

My son Mikey will be three years old in December.  Before he turned a year old, I knew something was very different about my son.  He didn't like to touch certain things, didn't like messes, could not and would not play on playground equipment, and struggled greatly with transitioning.  He would have fits that were so bad, people often thought he was a problem child.  Mikey is very smart as well.  He knew his ABC's and 123's long before he turned a year old.  He was able to read about 150 words by the time he was a year and a half.  Numbers and letters fascinated him.  He didn't like sounds, or certain lights, and if the emergency broadcast system came on to do their weekly test it sent Mikey into a fit.  Mikey is like a parrot, he repeats almost everything.  Mikey also rocked, rolled, and threw himself around at night while he slept.  This was extremely difficult, as he would get bruises all the time no matter how padded his crib was.  He also had what seemed like terrorizing dreams, where he would wake up with screams at some horror movie, and cling to me as if he was afraid for his very life.  Mike wanted to be around people, but yet he didn't.  He was anti-social to the point it was difficult to take him anywhere.  

After months of pleading with the Dr. as to what could be going on with my son.  She thought it would be best to put him on melatonin.  Other than that, she didn't see anything wrong with him.  It wasn't till he had an episode at the Dr.s office where there was no calming him.  This episode went on for about 45 minutes.  Finally, the Dr. determined that something was indeed wrong, because the fit my son threw was over nothing that I could see or anyone else for that matter.  That doesn't mean he did it for no reason, it just means we didn't know what the cause was.  We went to visit an OT specialist, among many other specialists and our journey was just beginning.

From birth till Mikey was 7 months old, we never had any issues with him.  After he became very seriously ill with the H1N1 virus and a week long fever of temps up to 105, Mikey was no longer the same child.  After just 3 weeks with OT (going twice a week) we saw huge differences in Mikey.  He has been tested for Autism (although they say he is still to young to say for 100%) it's pretty certain he does not have that.  He may have Aspergers, but we won't know for awhile.  One thing is certain, he has sensory deficiency disorder.  He is overly sensitive to touch, and sound.  We started with brush treatments and they worked well in the beginning.  However, they no longer help.  Massages help at times.  Talking with him constantly about what behavior is expected of him is something we strive to do anytime we leave the house or get involved in an activity.  This only works part of the time.  He is going for genetic testing later this month.  Mikey is no longer afraid of playground equipment, although there are times he is reluctant.  Making some messes is ok with him too now.  He is slowly improving in some areas, but it seems other problems are beginning to surface, or perhaps we are just noticing them.  

My question is this.  My son is so obsessed with letters and numbers that we have to place them everywhere.  He picks up on words all the time, even though we may not say what they are.  He is learning to sound them out on his own.  He can read around 250 words now without difficulties, although he struggles with sentences.  He is learning to add and subtract, and he can count beyond 100.  He can say what numbers are in the tens, 100's, and 1000's, which is simply just insane for a child of his age.  He is also fond of shapes.  It is difficult to get Mikey to transition, and follow directions.  He tries to be helpful, and appears to want to learn.  We battle with him daily on baths, eating, and sharing.  Of course a lot of parents think Mikey is just like every other child.  They don't see or deal with what we do each and everyday.  We also have a 1 1/2 year old son and he has no signs of this, other than occasionally mocking his older brother.  My son is very troubled and I'm greatly concerned for him.  I think he has figured out that he is different and that he doesn't like it very much.  How can I address these issues with my soon to be 3 year old?  What more can be different (not wanting to say wrong) with him?  


This discussion is related to 3-year old OCD and Sensory Integration Issues.
3 Responses
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535822 tn?1443976780
I do not mean your parenting ...I meant in general ..
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535822 tn?1443976780
I would say he is a gifted child but so many come here on this forum to say No they have a disorder ...non stop .. I do not think children have disorders to this extent it has become ridiculous...Its an excuse in my opinion for lax parenting...good luck  
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171768 tn?1324230099
Honestly, it sounds like your son is on the autism spectrum. To me, based on what you describe, it sounds like it may be more than Aspergers.  The sensory issues are often a part of this, but he may need more than what OT is providing. Is he also getting speech and PT? I wouldn't be surprised if he needs those as well.

Who did the testing? I am a preschool teacher and we have received a lot of training about autism. One of the best presenters was from an organization that provides support to local families affected by autism. It is a non-profit organization, and I would hope that your area has one too. Several parents stood before us and told us how long their journey was. How pediatricians dismissed them when they knew in their hearts something was wrong. How they received other diagnoses that didn't tell the whole story. This organization provides support for parents looking for answers. They give resources and places to go, which doctors to see. I encourage you to see if there are any similar organizations in your community.
In the mean time, I suggest you make sure the right doctors are evaluating your child. The presenters suggested parents see either a pediatric neurologist or a developmental pediatrician. They often have a better understanding.

It sounds like your son is very gifted in many areas. Hopefully, with proper therapies, he will improve greatly. Early intervention is key. If you haven't done so already, you may also want to contact your local school district for an early intervention evaluation.
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