Autistic 3 year old boy and his IQ

[indianmommy123]

Hello everybody
I've a 3year old autistic son. recently he has been evaluated by a local specialist to determine IQ. she says my son's IQ is 27. what does this mean? what will be his abilities? will he be able to learn language or learn anything at all. we are soo much worried. is it too early to take IQ evaluation? at present my son knows practically nothing. he has zero communication skills both verbal and non verbal. he cannot pronounce anything. he doesnt concentrate on what i try to teach him. he is in his own world. he is happy to be around people, he is not drawn away but he has no concept of playing with others. he has poor oral motor skills though his toungue is flexible. he has sleeping problems and severe eating disorders. (he accepts only milk and biscuits. sometimes he accepts egg and sometimes boiled carrots.) he cannot chew or lick. he learnt sucking (through straw) recently. all he does is jump and run here and there and explore things around him. he spins things. he walks like a drunken. mostly he is in pleasant mood only. we are going to start speech therapy and cognitive therapy from next week. with his iq of 27 can i hope for his improvement?

[tiredbuthappy]

i agree with the above, but i would also push for more services. If he is not receiving it yet, he should be receiving OT and PT as well. Early intervention is key in helping these children reach their full potential.

[indianmommy123]

thanks a lot for your support and info friends.

[specialmom]

I so agree with Rockrose!!  Do not limit your child in your mind with a number or what people are telling you.  

The early intervention therapies you are starting are fantastic and I'd look for as many opportunities like that to involve him in.  They can do SO very much to help our kids these days.  

You will see progress even if it is slow so do not be discouraged.  Keep fighting for your child to grow and develop as best he can.  

My son is not autistic but has a nervous system issue.  What I was told in the begining is not the case for my son.  My boy does really well and I had been "prepared" (meaning they prepared me that he would have many difficulties) for things to be otherwise.  We worked with our son every day and I tried everything I could find either by what was told to me from experts or what I could research on my own.  My son is not what they had told me he would be when he was 3.  'd love him regardless but he is doing well.  

So, do whatever you can to help your child.  You know him better than anyone and you are his advocate.  I wish you much luck and send you warm hugs.  It is so very hard to learn of challenges our kids have.  I so hope that the various therapies you are instituting will help him to progress.  Peace

[RockRose]

It's really impossible to determine IQ in a person who is nonverbal and has no other real way to communicate.  He might be much,  much brighter than that.  In theory,  IQ is a mathematical number that equates to your "mental age" divided by your "actual age",  so the average is 100.  But when you have so young a child,  who is unable or uninterested in communicating,  you can't possibly know his actual intellectual level.  

It's a really good sign that he jumps and runs and is very interested in exploring things.  Those are really very good signs that indicate there is a LOT of room for him to grow.  Children with the lowest IQ potential have very little interest in the world around them,  and don't have much interest or ability to move around at that age.  

I think it's great that you will start him in speech and cognitive therapy next week - and I hope you have chosen a therapist who strongly believes he has a lot of potential for growth.

Best wishes.