Hmmm sounds pretty familiar to me, really reminds me of my son (10) who didn't talk at all at 2 years, not a word we were teaching him sign language for kids and table manners. Our DR said he grow into but finally at a hearing test somebody we encountered knew what was going on. Sensory integration Dysfunction was the first diagnosis and treatment plan. BIG improvement. At three he was in a Special Needs Preschool 5 days a week for 3 hours I think any way as the Sensory Issues lessened his attention issue came to the foreground. So off we go again on a treatment program with Meds to help get that hurdle out of his way. Last year He was Diagnosed PDD NOS and spent 1 semester in an Autistic school until we had to move away. The new school communicates with the Autistic school and us about his IEP and the progress is going pretty good. When he exclaimed, " somebody finally gets me " I knew we were doing good things.
The point being we waited for years to get everything available mostly because people with titles and offices didn't coach us better.
If you have questions about what your reading that your health care provider can't answer or won't answer to your satisfaction then you really need get somebody else involved.
take care
It's just a guess. If you're looking at sensory problems that is one of the characteristics with ASD. If you’re concerned about autism, language delay is common with PDD. PDD NOS is autism sort of like aspergers, but with misc aspects. It’s hard to explain, but that was the label I am given.
I'm autistic, but often psychologists wanted to consider me for ADHD because of hyperactivity associated. However when they tried prescribing Ritalin that would work for an ADHD person, it failed miserably. It just made me more hyper...and more insane. A combo that didn’t sit well with the school system and my parents included.
For your son, it could be ADHD or it could be a combination... Trying to figure out what is going on with what in the brain is confusing. That's why there are professionals to sort that stuff out. If your son gets an ADHD, likely the school system will take a behavioral approach as well as attempting medications etc... If your child gets an ASD, then likely they'd be treated more like a learning disorder.
As far as language delay went, I think I eventually caught up as far as speech and language goes. Only my problem is I can't speak aloud as well as I can think in my head. That causes a degree of stammering if I am anxious. I find writing to be a much better tool.
There's also other related things to look for such as Non Verbal Learning Disorder and Auditory processing Disorder to google.
I am not afraid of a PDD-NOS diagnoses..Gesh, I feel like something would be better then "your child is a puzzle" I took him to the neurologist and she said she did not think
he had PDD nos..she explained a few of his "quirky" behaviors do not make a diagnoses..he has too many strengths that say "no" he has never regressed etc etc
She said possibly adhd but again no diagnoses he's "too young"
Can't you have language delays and not be on the spectrum? he does have mild sensory "issues" and is a VERY active kid...
I was just curious why you mentioned PDD about my son..If something stuck out that you thought that?b/c I would mention to the neurologist when we go back in Nov..
Yes he's been on an IEP since age 3. He is in an intergrated preschool 4 days a week gets Speech/ OT in school and out of school on his one day off.I have no problems w/ him getting Special Education, great he'll get the extra help.time/attention he'll need. My issues is him being in the Alternative program all day next year in kindergarten..He has shown in the past that he mimicks inappropriate behavior from other children.This program yes will have smaller numbers but also all the children have delays and some I know behavior problems(next year kindergarten)
..His first year (age 3)he was in the AM all special needs class..There was some children there that were a handful throwing blocks at the teachers,screaming being disruptive..well, my son thought that was the funniest thing and copied them..This year (age 4) he is in the intergrated class he is not w/ these children and he is a different child..
As a parent you can't help but worry about your childs future..I am focused on his needs now but was just looking to hear a success story about language delays :) I get discouraged about everything I read on line..The neurologist was optimistic he could "catch up..gesh if you could see the progress he just made in one year..
"What makes u think it is PDD nos? just curious b/c neurologist said "no" to PDD"
I'm not 100%, but usually with aspergers there is no speech delay. (generally)
PDD NOS has speech delay. But there are likely gray areas between the two areas. After all you are describing two different names of slight variations of the same thing.
I think with me around age four I was tagged "autistic like".
From what you've written, it sounds like your son would benefit from special education services, whether it be speech therapy and/or a class for children with special needs. I would focus on helping him right now, as opposed to: catching him up to his peer level/grade level. From what you have said so far, it sounds like you have been pursing this through the medical community, which is good, but is he receiving educational services at all? If so, what type of education is your son currently receiving? Does he have an Individualized Education Plan?
4 maybe too young to say PDD/autism or anything that specific for a neurologist. The important thing is that the IEP is designed about your son, not his label. They need to pay attention to what he needs and how to help him as an individual. After all "Individual" is an IEP's first name!
Bear in mind also that on his IEP it may have "autism" (or something else) on the blank. This is NOT his MEDICAL diagnosis. The education system has a more broad definition than the medical definitions. Once again, regaurdless of his IEP label, it should be designed for him individually with your input as a member of the team.
What makes u think it is PDD nos? just curious b/c neurologist said "no" to PDD
Sounds like you're describing PDD NOS.
About the positives and negatives:
It took me to about age 5 before I could speak, and even then I was whispering half the time...or at least my dad says so. I have to admit I don't remember talking much in Kindergarten. I went to two different classes. One was a normal kindergarten class and the other was a modified class.
I lagged behind the other students as far as learning how to tie my shoes, read, and other things. I may have felt a bit of disappointment and frustration, but it was mostly frustrating because the normal ed teacher knew very little about autism or PDD... She treated me as if I was misbehaving. Music class was frustrating because they either had me sit out or they got mad at me for sitting out. Make up ur mind plz!
That being said, I got through. Overall I enjoyed the special kindergarten better, but thinking back all I remember doing mostly was playing with toys, beeswax, and some other misc activities. In retrospect I don't know if I really learned the same necessary skills that were offered in the normal class.
Having your son go through two separate classes may be an option if you can get that done. It may have helped me. It may or may not help your son.
---
I was mainstreamed into the public school system. I went through some major hell and I also went through to graduate top 10% of my high school class. Success depends on how well the school system handles special needs and the “culture” of the student body. If they are more tolerant that will make a big difference.
As far as developmental delay: in some ways people perceived/perceive me to be way beyond my years with some aspects, but way behind in others... Intellectual wise I am average iq. (Make sure to have no time limits on those tests! I couldn't take the pressure knowing it was a timed test. That would make me anxious and drop my iq rating like a rock...)
My ability to react and maturity depends on my level of anxiety. If I'm anxious I am prone to stuttering, forgetting what I am going to say, and overall just not able to give it my all whatsoever. My mind shuts down.
When calm I do far better. Socially I’m still way behind, but that’s likely because I have trouble getting others to understand me and I have trouble understanding them on an emotional level. We tend to misread each other’s facial expressions, which doesn’t help.