My son is turned three one month ago. Today we had our first trip to the nuerologist. Recently about six months ago my son started throwing tantrums at the doctor. Today he did throw a big tantrum. He would not respond to the doctor because he was upset. The doctor said it was very unacceptable behavior to cry at the doctor. That was one of his reasons for diagnosis autism.
The signs my son does have severe speech delay, every now and then walks on his tippy toes and some hand flapping. He says no, yes mama I eat, I dont like. He does try to communicate even with some whining and crring. He follows complex directions and every thing. He just does not talk. The doc even wants to check for fragile x.
My thoughts are the doc saw him at his WORST. . .not on his typical day.
But He is extremely social and seeks other kids out he plays and interacts very well with them. He responds to me and my mom. He loves to give kisses. . . He has learned to swim in two weeks follows all directions and every thing when he jumps in the pool
Yes, I agree he does have a problem but is it autism???If it is autism I do think it is not severe as the doctor says (aka mental retardation) I just can not buy into that either I am really denial or the doc may be wrong. Every thing I read just does not seem to fit. . .He functions for the most part on a normal level had his psycho-educational evaluation and did every thing they asked. . .Interacted smiled and so on. . .
The doctor even said its just a clinical diagnosis and its not full proof that there is room for error. We really will have to see just what the future holds. . .
He was born with a big head. . .every one in my family has a big head except the sperm donor. . .we had an mri at one time and it was normal. . .
the doc ordered mri of brain with contrast, eeg - we did this before also. . .normal. . .
I just feel in my heart this diagnosis is just not my son on a typical day and that he saw him on a very very bad day. . .
Ten minutes after getting the diagnosis and the doctor stating he did not make good eye contact. . .he got this lady to give him her crackers. . .in the elevator by making wonderful eye contact and smiling and non verbally letting her know what he wanted. . .come to find out she works with children with speech delay. . .
Well i'd go through the eval process w/ someone who's a specialist in autism. From what I hear most pediatricians know little and understand little on this disorder, as do many people in general. Even I was quite in the dark not long ago. He does appear to have some signs like the toe walking and tantrums can be part of the spectrum. Is he overly social? Standing too close or talking to loud to others. Sometimes it's not the antisocial sometimes it's opposite as well. The hand flapping and speech delay also fit. Now some of the other things sound good, like the eye contact and smiling. So if he is it sounds like it might be very mild or high functioning. It wouldn't be the end of the world. My son also has good and bad days. I'd get a referral to someone else. If it's nothing at least you looked into it. Good luck and Welcome to our Board! It's full of advice and support and info.
Amber
first of all.....I know very few children who do not cry at the Dr's....that was the stupidest thing I have ever heard...whew....now that i got out.....
welcome......Our son is 91/2 PDD-NOS.....He is vey mild......Curtis makes eye contact, is very affectionate and seeks out others to play with.....he is also highly intelligent......but when he was first diagnosed at the age of 5 .....We were told that his IQ was on the mentally retarded range......he is no where near mentally retarded.......it sounds to me like your child is very mild autism ..if at all.....I encourage you to seek a full evaluation from a team people who specialize in diagnosing children .......We found ours through our local state health department......and if you are not satisfied....get a second opinion....
It is very possible that your child is on the autistic spectrum.......as it seems he does display some autistic features.....but he may just as well not be on the spectrum......Please don't take this dr's opinion......please seek a second opinion......good luck and God Bless......and welcome......
Welcome. Definately seek a second or third opinion. I agree w/ brown eyes that jsut from what you described, he may show some red flags for Autism. But you must do some research so you are more knowledgable about it. Autism is a spectrum disorder and it affects each and every child differently. Some children, like your son if he does have Autism, can be high functioning.
My daughter turns 3 next month. She has come a very long way, but she sounds like the description of your son. Now she does engage some people if they have something she wants or is interested in. She will even make eye contact and smile. She uses 1-3 word phrases to tell us what she wants. She falps her arms and occassionally walks on tippy toes (but that hasn't been for some time). She does respond more now than before when her name is called, but only if she is not in her own word or engrossed in an activity. She does a lot of echolalia. Most people think she is not Autistic when they first meet her, but after awhile they will notice the signs.
So the best thing for you to do is to research Autism and understand it. The more you know, the beeter you will be at identifying whether you think your son does or does not have Autism. Find a local America Autism Society group or Parents w/ Spectrum children support group.
Good luck.
andysmamaWE were in the doctor a forty five minutes. . . .I think when alot of people look at my son because all around he is a big guy and he was born that way. . .They expect more then a boy who has just turned three. . .In our apartments he is bigger then our four year old neighbor boy and a six year old little girl.
When he turned one the doctor we had at the time thought we were there for a two year old yearly check up. . .
Being on medical I can not afford a second opinion. . .While I am not quite sure its autism I do agree there are some signs. . .
When I asked my son if he could talk he smiles big and shook his head yes. When I asked him if he would talk with a big smile he shook his head no.
The peditrician I switched from because I moved use to tell me if I switched doctors that they would end up in the wrong direction his opinion was there was a speech problem but it was not autism. . .
Then I switch peditricians and he has to wait two hours to see a doctor and throws a tantrum because its late in the day and two minutes after the appointment he was tired and fast asleep. . . .They say it must be autism.. .
I grew up witha severely autistic brother who had a very severe diagnosis at age three and a big head like my son. Now when I deal with my brother even though he is 37 you know he is autistic. He does have two college degrees and works as a night auditor and does wonderfully. I have seen the range of spectrum disorder.
I know each person is different but my mom says when she compares each and says there are no similarities. . .I am curious as to if a lot of this is behavior. Because it is like he can turn it off and on. . .
Our IEP is next tuesday. I am wondering in order to get him qualified should I share with him this diagnosis. . .
I have talked to a few parents with kids with autism and I kind of believe what some would say. . .sometimes if someone is looking for a specific diagnosis they may find it even if its not truly there.
The pediatric neurologist said if the eeg, mri and the fragile x test comes back normal if there is not drastic improvement in his speech soon it will give more weight to the autism diagnosis. . .
Does anyone know if an ABR and an MRI can be done at the same time. They want to do the ABR sedated and so the MRI it would be could if it can be a one shot stop since he is so young. . .
Thank you guys for all your support. . .Reading the post this is a wonderful place.
What any opinion on signing? Does it hinder the spoken language?
I am so glad I have found this place
Hello and sorry for your unpleasent time at the Dr. I found it so interesting that the Dr said it is very unacceptable to cry at the Dr's office. I dont think I have took my son yet, that I have not cried......I did not know it was unacceptable. My son behaves at his very, very worst at the Dr, therapy or any place where he is suppose to be quiet and cooperate. My son does have autism, but I see so very many NT children who behave very like my child, when they are at the Dr.
Can you contact your states Autism training center and have your child evaluated by the team there? I know others may disagree with me, but to dx or rule out ASD, (IMHO)takes a trained team an extended period of time. It (to follow the rules), can not be done by one person and with only a few things to go on (he cried and he had poor eye contact). The first Ped Neuro we saw (my son cried and hit at us the ENTIRE time, told me that he never even considered how a child behaved during his first exam. The Dr had a student with him and he asked the student to leave the room, remove his white lab coat, and to (return with a puppet and a big smile) He went by what the parents said was typical behavior. He also told me (just before he moved and left us) that he would ask me to video tape behaviors, both good and bad, so that he could see my son in a 'normal' setting and use the tapes as a tool to get a picture of what my child did and did not do.
You can do a google search for your states autism center and they should be able to help you find an assessment team. What ever special needs your child has, I know you want them identified and therapy started. I will pray that he is speech delayed and will soon be able to overcome that!
You have my empathy. It sometimes seems as if it is just too much! I am there myself most of the time. I have still not done the sedated MRI or the fragile X, because it will not change my son's dx, nor his need for ongoing therapy and support. He needs a chance to be the very best he can be and NOONE can say they know exactly what that will be. Only time will tell what my child can and cannot do, no matter what his abilities or special needs are (IMHO)
andysmama