Honest opinions please | Autism PDD

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I can understand why you are torn and upset.   You've noted some genuine concerns.   However, you are doing the right thing by just being aware & getting her to professionals early and getting her evaluated.  Perhaps, and hopefully, you are worried for nothing - I am sure you know we are all thinking of you and hoping nothing comes of it.   But, if anything does come of it, you have all of us to support you 100%.Well, the autism consultant is coming in the morning to talk to me about
services for Nina...

I will let you all know how it goes.

Huge hugs to you first of all !!

 

 

yes, I do honestly think they sound concerning.....BUT.....then I saw her age at the end....and I gotta say.....she is sooooo young....still just a baby !! 

I'm sure you are anxious for your appt.....I'll be thinking of you both.....sorry I have nothing better to offer than my hug.....and understanding.....

 

Well we had the appointment and the autism consultant agrees that she may
be on the spectrum. She has booked her in for all the functional
assessments so we can find out exactly how delayed she is and we are
starting interventions effective immediately.
She said we will not know for sure for approximately another year but that
she is delayed and is showing many early signs of autism. She also said that
she is unusually good at mimicking for someone on the spectrum and she
noted that she is very social. she suspects she will get a PDD dx in the next
year or so unless she has a big leap in development.Allegra - big hugs to you! You have done the right thing and gotten her started SO early. You are a great mom and she will do well - just because she has you!

[QUOTE=zayzer]Except for the toe walking and my son craved and still does crave touch and he would hand lead and throw our hands toward what he wanted, she sound alot like my son at about 2.    She is so young, but it looks, like autism to me.  I wish someone had considered my son autistic at that age, then he could have gotten treatment earlier.  But because he loved to be around people and tried to communicate we were told he would out grow it.  I believed it and that was the biggest mistake I have made yet  with him.  He was 3 when he was dx.[/QUOTE]

Same with my son. I went to Dr. every 2 months , something was up, but beacuse he could indentify any object in a book when requested, including alphabet and numbers, shapes and colors, and at the time ate with a utensil, loved people, met all other milestones etc. mine was dx'ed and almost 3 1/2. I wish I could have had him serviced sooner. Maybe his development would be further on.

Allegra-I'm really sorry.  The not knowing is really hard.  The going back and forth can really rip you heart in two.  I don't know what to say except I wish you all the best of luck.  It's hard.

Allegra,

We were just looking at some video footage of our son at that age.  Now when I watch, there are so many signs that I just didn't pick up on.  If I knew then what I know now....

Go with your gut.  The early intervention will only help her, even if it is only a delay.
I would push for it....It couldn't hurt!!

Please keep us posted

nakama
I'm sure that is tough for you to hear. But, you are starting so early. That will benefit her so much. It's good to hear she has strengths in the social areas. Hang in there--you are doing so much for your girls.Ok, one day I am convinced Nina is autistic and the next I think it's all in
my head and I'm just freaking out.

Here is a list of some of the things she's doing:

.Has no words except "YAY!" which she says over and over whilst clapping
(which I have seen in many autistic children including Sharlet) She does
have ma ma, da da but does not say them specifically or often.

.Flapping when excited, happy, upset etc

.Squeezing into small spaces including a tiny cupboard which she does
over and over for hours.

.Tippy toe walks many times per day

.spins sometimes

.Climbs EVERYTHING with no understanding of height or danger and she
will fall and hurt herself a lot and climb right back up and do it again.

.Doesn't point to things or show me things, doesn't look when I point.

.Doesn't like hands touched or held.

.Often doesn't like to be held or cuddled.

.Does avoid eye contact and I'm not sure she ever looks right into ones
eyes.

.Rarely plays with toys around the house but will claim a household item
and play with it all day for weeks on end (was a plastic bucket which she
spent all day with it on her head until it broke, now it's the lid of a waste
paper basket which she opens and closes over and over all day.

.Cries and gets frantic when she can't reach something but never tries to
get our attention for help, is the same when she wants to get in or out of
something like the cot or play pen.

.Has gastro problems (loose, constipation, undigested food)

There are more but I can't think of them all right now. She will do the
MCHAT in 10 weeks and unless she has some quantum leap in
development I'm sure she is going to fail...
What does everyone else think of this? She is 15.5 months

Thanks guys

It's hard to say at that age. My 18 month old who I am finally convinced is okay does some of those things. I think it's so hard to tell at that age--a lot of that it typical toddler behavior. And you drive yourself crazy looking for things that might be autistic.

That said, I would have her evaluated. My son's developmental psych reccomended we bring in my second child around 16-18 months just to be sure. The pointing thing is something to really watch for over the next couple of months. They told me that although many kids point at 12 months that it is still considered normal if they do it by 18 months. Does she respond to her name?

A lot of toddlers like cardboard boxes better than the toys that come in them and like to explore spaces like cupboards, so that kind of stuff doesn't phase me.  They also want to follow their compulsion to explore and be independent rather than hang around snuggling. 

However, given the family history, I think you're doing the right thing by getting her evaluated. 

Here are the Center for Disease Control's developmental red flags for age 1 and 2, in case you're interested.  Good luck with everything. 

"Alert your child's doctor or nurse if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range."

Age 1

Age 2

Source:  www.cdc.gov/actearly

She does look briefly when I say her name most of the time which is one
thing that makes me think maybe not...

What about waving or clapping when you clap?

I will be thinking about you. I was where you were only a couple of months ago. My second didn't do anthing early, including the pointing. Now, he is taking off and it is pretty clear the differences. He is just starting to get some language. I was holding my breath and was hoping to rule it out earlier than we did.

The pointing thing particularly concerns me. The fact that she isn't pointing at anything and doesn't look when you point - a lot of docs get concerned about that.

That being said, it is hard to say at that age. I think you are wise to get her evaluated, especially given that she has an older sister on the spectrum. The other thing that concerns me is the different kind of playing she does (being in a small space for hours and using household items as toys for long periods of times - my ds did that with the broom and vacuum a lot).

Allegra, I'm sorry for all you have been through - especially this past week with Nina. I hope things get better for you soon! I felt this way off and on with dd for the longest time. I guess I was kind of uneducated about autism.  She doesn't have the repetitive or stereotypical areas so I didn't think she would qualify to be on the spectrum. Once she was 4 and in a preschool setting her social and communication issues really stood out.  It was then that I knew going into the eval that she would probably be considered PDDNOS.

Does she turn around when you say her name

Allegra - I would definitely do the M-CHAT - and she does have certain flags but she is also only 15 months

There is a book called "does my child have autism" that has the M-CHAT at the end

From the newbies section on this message board - here is a link to several tests. The M-Chat is on there along with several others. I couldn't get the specific link for the M-CHAT to copy and paste - sorry!

http://www.neurotransmitter.net/autismscales.html

zayzer, that is Nina exactly, she does love being around people and try to
communicate, she is so much more social than Sharlet is even now. Thats
why I am so torn about what I think with her...

Allegra - it does sound like your concerns need some follow up.  As already stated, she is so young and finding out now is really best for therapies etc.  I'll be thinking of you. 

Yes, seems like you need to follow her closely.With my son, I was kind of shocked when they said autism because we were just concentrating on what might be wrong because of the microcephaly.



 

Sarah was aloof, toe walked and never played with toys but she also appeared totally deaf to us..I could say her name over and over at times and she wouldnt react at all..if water was too hot or cold she didnt flinch either way..if I was gone for long periods (I was a 12 hour+ nurse on weekends) she never reacted when she saw me.

Never tried to get my attn. or say mama..this was a big red flag for me:(

Make of copy of all you wrote and take with you to professionals..All the things you stated could go either way as you know and I think it is wonderful that you are on top of it so early..knowlege is power and for peace of mind:) Take a video of all the things that concern you to show them:)

I will be hoping for the best Allegra:)

Except for the toe walking and my son craved and still does crave touch and he would hand lead and throw our hands toward what he wanted, she sound alot like my son at about 2.    She is so young, but it looks, like autism to me.  I wish someone had considered my son autistic at that age, then he could have gotten treatment earlier.  But because he loved to be around people and tried to communicate we were told he would out grow it.  I believed it and that was the biggest mistake I have made yet  with him.  He was 3 when he was dx.Allegra, it does sound concerning.  Especially considering your family history.  The biggest and most serious red flag would be the lack of pointing and showing and the lack of joint attention.  Start working with her on hand over hand pointing and directing her to follow your point.  I would try to start some floor time with her too at this young age.  I started with my Adam at fifteen months and he is doing fabulously.  Now is the optimal time to make a difference.  Big hugs for you.

It does sounds alarming, and it is wise from you to have her evaluated. It does not have to be anything, but it is good to check.

I hope that she will be fine:)

Here are two more links to the CHAT for 18 month olds.  It's short, and maybe not the same checklist they'll be using.

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=128&a=2226 - CHAT diagnostic screening for 18 month olds.

http://www.helpautismnow.com/p/physhandbook.pdf - includes the CHAT (begins on page 4) and an illustrated list of potential behavioral symptoms, many of them sensory.

Allegra,

I am a mom who has 2 boys on the spectrum so I have an idea about what you're going through.  The good news is that you are starting intervention very early and that you know what to do already b/c of all your experience.  Still it's hard to hear.  I know my 2-1/2 yr old is on the spectrum even though I haven't taken him for a formal diagnosis.  He is already in early intervention and receiving services, but I still don't want to make it "official" even though I know he has PDD-NOS. 

I can empathize. I was crying when i had to make that second phone call to start services for my son. I wish you all the best. we are doing fine now.

I just want to say, a parent knows.  You know your daughter best.  Early intervention is essential.  If you think there are issues, then you should push until people take you seriously.  Best of luck to you. swankyankee39330.4821064815

I'm sorry that the news you got wasn't reassuring.  Nina's mimicking ability is a very good sign, however -- it is correlated with good language development and less social and communicative symptoms.  You can get more details on this from the topic called "Prognosis resources".

http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17877&am p;KW=prognosis

Good luck with everything.


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