Michael’s screaming and speech delay | Autism PDD

the earlier they get dx the better. my ped sent us for speech problems at 2 we started speech and it went no where. after a whole year i finally got him officially dx from a specialist and he told us he has autism. so it was not just that he was slow and a boy and would pick it up. he really had a problem. so go with your gut it you feel he needs to get dx then do it. If you feel there is something wrong then the worst thing an evaluation will show is that your soon delayed in speech. It really is a no loose situation to get an evaluation.

Remember, the person who graduated last from medical school is still called doctor.

If anyone can shed light on this please do so...My son is 25 months old and suffers from speech delay. He screams and bites a lot. When we put him in time out he just laughs at us. He sometimes hits other kids at the playground when they are in his way. I keep telling myself that he has some form of autism but my family laughs it off. Has anyone experienced this? My pediatrician wants to give him another 3 months before he is evaluated for a speech problem. What should I do/think?

I think it maybe time for a new doctor. I had a dr who at first refused to help, completely dismissed my concerns, and refused to give a referral to have my son evaluated. Obviously, you know there is an issue, I would find a dr who is more intuned with what you are going thru. Best of Luck!!!

If your gut says there is something to pursue absolutely go for it. The thing that you will soon see so clearly is that you are your son's voice and if you see a doctor and they won't listen talk to another one and another one untill someone listens.

Why 3 months what will magically happen then?

Well we went through this with Megan. By all means do what your heart tells you. I belive sometimes Moms do know instictively when something doesnt fit.

hugs

I agree...I agree...I agree. We complained for almost a year about our ds not talking, when he was two, I refused to leave the doctors office till she gave me a referral (that was fun). Got to an audiologist, couldn't hear in one ear, got to a speech therapist, found verbal apraxia and speech delay. They say kids should be speaking in short sentences by age 2, true with our other 2 boys, if you think there's something they should investigate, don't let them push it by the wayside, stick to your guns! We're almost 9 y/o and still looking for answers....don't give up! :)

~Lesley

NatalieK,

I'd definitely seek out a new doctor. With the speech delay the screaming and
biting might be his way to communicating his wants. If he can't tell a child to
move out of his way, maybe he bites because when he does that the child moves away. Just my thoughts.

Go with your gut feeling, don't wait.

Hi Natalie Welcome to the board! You say he screams, bites himself and will hit other children... you also mention he is speech delayed........... Just curious... have you looked into characteristics of autism spectrum disorders? Maybe he shows more than you have noticed? You can always call early intervention to have him evaluated Its free and you don't need a referal as far as I know.

http://www.autismweb.com/signs.htm

http://www.aheadwithautism.com/warningsigns.html

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=autis mcharacteristics

sounds like my son! unfortunately, i listened to everyone tell me there was nothing wrong and i was too critical. my son was only officially dx'd in may. the neurologist asked me why i listened to my family and friends, i am the mother and i had instinct yelling in my ear, i should not listen to the "pc" things people were trying to tell me.

do yourself a favor, have him checked. you may save yourself, the guilt that i feel for having waited.

hope you don't take this too critical.

kate

Ditto what everyone else said.

Kellie
Don't wait. I was trying to get help from the age of 1 and they told me I was neurotic. Well it was one time I was sorry I was right.

I really suggest you check out this website.

www.firstsigns.org

It has great info on what to look for. I would change doctors and start keeping a diary of the things that concern you. It can be helpful to have written evidence to show the doctor.

Also ask for input from any teachers, mothers at playgroup etc that may back up your observations.

I would also start intervening now, simplify your language, ensure you have eye contact when you talk to him. Does he point out things of interest? If he isn't pointing start pointing out things all day and when he looks, even if you have to turn his head with your hand make a big deal of it. Pointing is very important as a precursor to language and communication.

Good luck.

I strongly agree with everyone here. My doctors all minimized it and told me a was a neurotic new mother. At 18 mos I was concerned. At 21 mos he was losing language. At 24 mos I started him in st w/out the dx. We did ot and then the dx.

My son is 10. The identification and interventions are better than ever with the steep increase in prevalence of autism. That doesn't mean we don't have a long, long way to go to get funding, research, etc. It does mean that the progonsis of a child with early intervention gets better all the time.

Good luck. I'm new to the forum and positively addicted! There is great info and support here. Better than any I've found yet.

i can't remember a time when we didn't know jack was autistic but it took us till he was 4 and a half to get dx the system is different in the UK we were lucky to get dx'd then they won't usually before the age of 6 though that is improving we were lucky that jak got therapy for his other problems so he had the early intervention but i still wish we had changed docs earlier and got him dx'd properly go with your gut mother really does know best

Dee