Aa
austism
hello,
My son is 23 months old and he is not saying a word. he is babbling and he is saying mamama and dadada and nonono. when he was about 16 to 18 month he used to pick up my cell phone and said hellloo, byebye and nonono and baby. Now he is barely saying one word. He is currently in speech therapy 3 times a week. He likes to stare at my chandelier and spin around. I saw a development specialist and she said that he is showing signs of austism. and No one can tell me what causes it? What can I do? and where do I stand? Somoene should be able to tell me why my son was talking at 15-18 months and suddenlly stopped?
My son is 23 months old and he is not saying a word. he is babbling and he is saying mamama and dadada and nonono. when he was about 16 to 18 month he used to pick up my cell phone and said hellloo, byebye and nonono and baby. Now he is barely saying one word. He is currently in speech therapy 3 times a week. He likes to stare at my chandelier and spin around. I saw a development specialist and she said that he is showing signs of austism. and No one can tell me what causes it? What can I do? and where do I stand? Somoene should be able to tell me why my son was talking at 15-18 months and suddenlly stopped?
Unfortunately the answers are not out there.
Some children diagnosed with autism do acquite some speech and then regress and lose it. My son just didn't get that explosion of vocabulary at the age of 3+ that other children do. Instead he started repeating things he heard from TV.
There are many disorders that are not present at birth, but become active in childhood or even adulthood, especially the mucle wasting diseases.
I personally don't think vaccines are responsible, because my son was showing signs of autism before he had his MMR vaccination.
I think there may be a genetic weakness or mutuation, but no-one has identified it yet.
Where are all these autistic children coming from? Again no-one knows, but something is definately happening because diagnosis rates are going up and if that had always been happening then where are all the autistic adults??
Do not waste your time or energy on bizarre therapies that promise the earth. There is no cure or recovery. There are ways to help them improve and develop and some children do so well that they are considered to be outside of the diagnostic criteria. But that is for a few, not for all (although all do develop and improve and gain skills as they get older).
As your son likes to look at the chandelier and likes to spin, I would suggest he is assessed by an Occupational Therapist who has experience of Sensory Integration Disorder as well as autism. Many (if not all) those on the autistic spectrum have sensory differences meaning they do not perceive things as we do. Some noises, smells/tastes/textures/touch can be too much for them to tolerate. Or, if they are undersensitive they may spin, or stare at visual stimulus, or appear deaf, or appear not to feel pain etc. It is important that you begin to get a understanding of this and how this will affect your childs development and social interaction because it will help you make the right choices about the kinds of supports he needs.
When he is a bit older I would suggest he is screened for Irlen Syndrome (google that to see what it is). This affects the visual sense and can be rectified just by wearing Irlen tinted lenses in glasses. Those with problems with visual perception sometimes do not see things as we do.
Balance and co-ordination are also senses. Some children might appear to have poor balance, or be clumsy or they may be almost like untaught gymnasts. I know a boy who joined the county trampoline team having never had a lesson in his life, but he can do all the movements immediately, it is amazing to watch.
As he is so young I would also ask the OT to give you advice about the kinds of activities that can improve brain development. These will be things like crawling eg. buy those fabric tubes and play hide and seek with him.
As he is not verbal you need the Speech Therapist to show you how to use symbols and for you to use them to show your son the daily routine. This will be something like a timetable, but the structure and routine should help him understand and cope better with change.
As your child grows try to get him involved in as much one to one stuff as you can. Anything he is interested in get him to do it with something eg. lego, swimming, drum lessons, fishing etc etc. They tend to do much better in one to one situations and really struggle in group or team work. Use any interests or obsessions to teach concepts and to encourage social interaction.
I know it is a bombshell to get a diagnosis. And you will need time to grieve for the child you thought you had and for the future you thought was infront of them. That is natural. You will have some really dark days, but it will pass and it does get better.
My son is at a mainstream school that has experience and expertise in autism. He is in a class with 20 other children. He can talk and communicate. He can make jokes and tease me and even lie convincingly! He likes to play (although he needs adult support sometimes or structure to do this). He is assessed as being above average intelligence.
If I were you I would be wanting him assessed by an OT and a psychologist. I would also be looking around at nurserys and infant schools that have experience of teaching those with autism.
I would also recommend joining a parent support group because you will get lots of information and advice from other parents who have already been through what you are going through now.
Some children diagnosed with autism do acquite some speech and then regress and lose it. My son just didn't get that explosion of vocabulary at the age of 3+ that other children do. Instead he started repeating things he heard from TV.
There are many disorders that are not present at birth, but become active in childhood or even adulthood, especially the mucle wasting diseases.
I personally don't think vaccines are responsible, because my son was showing signs of autism before he had his MMR vaccination.
I think there may be a genetic weakness or mutuation, but no-one has identified it yet.
Where are all these autistic children coming from? Again no-one knows, but something is definately happening because diagnosis rates are going up and if that had always been happening then where are all the autistic adults??
Do not waste your time or energy on bizarre therapies that promise the earth. There is no cure or recovery. There are ways to help them improve and develop and some children do so well that they are considered to be outside of the diagnostic criteria. But that is for a few, not for all (although all do develop and improve and gain skills as they get older).
As your son likes to look at the chandelier and likes to spin, I would suggest he is assessed by an Occupational Therapist who has experience of Sensory Integration Disorder as well as autism. Many (if not all) those on the autistic spectrum have sensory differences meaning they do not perceive things as we do. Some noises, smells/tastes/textures/touch can be too much for them to tolerate. Or, if they are undersensitive they may spin, or stare at visual stimulus, or appear deaf, or appear not to feel pain etc. It is important that you begin to get a understanding of this and how this will affect your childs development and social interaction because it will help you make the right choices about the kinds of supports he needs.
When he is a bit older I would suggest he is screened for Irlen Syndrome (google that to see what it is). This affects the visual sense and can be rectified just by wearing Irlen tinted lenses in glasses. Those with problems with visual perception sometimes do not see things as we do.
Balance and co-ordination are also senses. Some children might appear to have poor balance, or be clumsy or they may be almost like untaught gymnasts. I know a boy who joined the county trampoline team having never had a lesson in his life, but he can do all the movements immediately, it is amazing to watch.
As he is so young I would also ask the OT to give you advice about the kinds of activities that can improve brain development. These will be things like crawling eg. buy those fabric tubes and play hide and seek with him.
As he is not verbal you need the Speech Therapist to show you how to use symbols and for you to use them to show your son the daily routine. This will be something like a timetable, but the structure and routine should help him understand and cope better with change.
As your child grows try to get him involved in as much one to one stuff as you can. Anything he is interested in get him to do it with something eg. lego, swimming, drum lessons, fishing etc etc. They tend to do much better in one to one situations and really struggle in group or team work. Use any interests or obsessions to teach concepts and to encourage social interaction.
I know it is a bombshell to get a diagnosis. And you will need time to grieve for the child you thought you had and for the future you thought was infront of them. That is natural. You will have some really dark days, but it will pass and it does get better.
My son is at a mainstream school that has experience and expertise in autism. He is in a class with 20 other children. He can talk and communicate. He can make jokes and tease me and even lie convincingly! He likes to play (although he needs adult support sometimes or structure to do this). He is assessed as being above average intelligence.
If I were you I would be wanting him assessed by an OT and a psychologist. I would also be looking around at nurserys and infant schools that have experience of teaching those with autism.
I would also recommend joining a parent support group because you will get lots of information and advice from other parents who have already been through what you are going through now.
A related discussion, autism and asphergers was started.
Regarding communication with your child, you need the Speech and Language Therapist to be showing you how to use symbols and words. Ask them to do that.
Regarding vaccines. My son was showing autism before he had the MMR vaccination because he had the injection later than usual. If he had had it on time then the onset of his autistic behaviours would have started at around the same time. Most children are diagnosed at 3+, which is the age the MMR vaccination is administered. So I think it is just a co-incidence.
I used a private Play Therapist for my son which helped him want to communicate and socialise alot more. But you need to find one that has experience of speech and communication disorders as well as autism.
You might also find the following link useful. http:// www. icdl.com/dirfloortime.
Regarding vaccines. My son was showing autism before he had the MMR vaccination because he had the injection later than usual. If he had had it on time then the onset of his autistic behaviours would have started at around the same time. Most children are diagnosed at 3+, which is the age the MMR vaccination is administered. So I think it is just a co-incidence.
I used a private Play Therapist for my son which helped him want to communicate and socialise alot more. But you need to find one that has experience of speech and communication disorders as well as autism.
You might also find the following link useful. http:// www. icdl.com/dirfloortime.
Thank you very much,
He is currently seeing a speech therapist in combination with a physical therapy 3 times a week. I would like to know what I can do to help him be as normal. I have a 36 month old and she wants to play with him sometimes he would play with her sometimes he would be by himself. If austism existed before where are all those austistic adult? I really think it's the vaccine. Can you beleive I had my son operated on because I thought he couldn't not hear me, the specialist told me that my son had fluid in his ear and that would cause earing lost than come to find out part of autism is hearing lost or hard of hearing. I am praying and I will find cure above for my son. I would like to join other mothers out there who is going to the same thing. I would like to know how I can help my son improve his speech because the therapist twice a week I don't know how to help?
He is currently seeing a speech therapist in combination with a physical therapy 3 times a week. I would like to know what I can do to help him be as normal. I have a 36 month old and she wants to play with him sometimes he would play with her sometimes he would be by himself. If austism existed before where are all those austistic adult? I really think it's the vaccine. Can you beleive I had my son operated on because I thought he couldn't not hear me, the specialist told me that my son had fluid in his ear and that would cause earing lost than come to find out part of autism is hearing lost or hard of hearing. I am praying and I will find cure above for my son. I would like to join other mothers out there who is going to the same thing. I would like to know how I can help my son improve his speech because the therapist twice a week I don't know how to help?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The most important thing that you can do for you child is to arrange for the best early intervention that you can find. Studies show that the best outcomes are acheived with early intensive behavioral intervention. These programs are specially designed to capitalize on the strenghts and interests of children with autism and to overcome their difficulties. Researchers are working hard to understand the causes of autism, but a full understanding is not yet available. Nevertheless, there is adequate research that points to effective intervention. It may be most fruitful to focus your energy on identifying the best services that you can find.
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