thanks, Carol. I also think he is quite bright. It's mainly his social skills with
non-family I worry about. Also, his not using any pronouns, some
intelligibility, and lack of traditional affection (hugs, kisses, cuddling) though
he is very clearly attached.
Lalloo-I have had him evaluated and he doesn't qualify for anything. His
development overall tests fine and he interacts well with adults one-on-one.
His lack of pronouns and not asking questions doesn't bring his language
scores down enough to qualify.
on/off again concerns with my son since he was an infant. The good
thing is he has always made progress, never regressed with skills, but
there is still this underlying worry I have.
I would love to have some honest opinions from other moms. I'm going
to list my concerns first, then areas that seem to be typical/strengths.
concerns at 2 1/2:
*seems fearful around other children at times
*more content to interact with family than other kids
*not using any pronouns
*not asking questions, although he can answer most
*articulation is poor
*the anxiety/fearfulness around other children seems to show up more
when I arrange playdates or am "expecting" him to interact....when we
just go to a park, he seems to do better. In general he doesn't seem
especially happy to see other kids. he'd rather just interact with family.
*he is in general a more cautious, somewhat fearful child
*he's very clingy, except when around other family
*he's never been a "social" child with non-family
*has NEVER been cuddly, and even now is funny about hugs/kisses
At 2 1/2 his strengths are:
extremely interactive with family-to include extended family
great joint attention-very in tune with everything we do or say
vocabulary is larger than I can count-over 400 words
puts words together in sentences, typically 3-5 words long
talks non-stop-not scripted and no echololia
has pointed and followed point since 12-mos
responds to name
excellent receptive language
learns things easily and generalizes well
loves learning and has always been very curious about environment
able to answer all "wh" questions, except why
phenomenal eater and sleeper
any thoughts?? he hasn't been to preschool or a moms-day-out yet. I'm
hoping that might help some. he has been involved in playgroups and o
ther activities however.
thanks so much!
lynn
I live in California too!!! If you have concerns, y don't u have him evaluated by the local Regional center. It is free, and he is under 3, so they will do it right away. Which part of California r u in???
I don't really see any strong red flags, but you should absolutely get him evaluated by the local Regional Center for safety sake. It is important to identify any delays and get immediate help for them.
Developmental milestone lists differ, but it looks like using pronouns and asking questions is not expected to be in place at age 2-1/2. According to the CDC's lists (www.cdc.gov/actearly), pronouns should be used by age 3. According to the Learning Disabilities Online list, "where" questions should be emerging at this age, and the age of constant questioning is more like between age 4 and 5. Their list is here: http://www.ldonline.org/article/6313
Do you ever have playdates outdoors? My son behaved more socially outdoors than indoors because of sensory issues. Your son's trouble with hugging, etc. might suggest sensory avoidance. Here's a checklist to help identify issues under the various senses:
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processin g-disorder-checklist.html
Good luck with everything, and welcome to the forum.
I am NOT a professional by any means, but your son does sound very bright. Reading your post it sounds like he may be on the spectrum, Aspergers maybe? When did he start to talk? Many of the concerns you listed sound like my DS at 2 1/2 and he was diagnosed at age 5 w/ PDD/NOS. But he did not say even one word until he was two. So if they are late talking they are diagnosed w/ Mild/moderate/severe Autism. That is what was told to me anyway.
You have found the perfect board for concerns about your DS and Autism and I am sure you will get many helpful replies. Oh, and if you feel there is something not right about your little guy, go with your moms instinct and dont let anyone tell you different
http://www.autismteachingtools.com/page/bbbbfg/bbbbtj
At your child's age, the typical stage of play development is described as follows. This is based on the Vestby Play Scale:
Stage V: 24 months:
PLAY:
pretends at activities of others--re-presents his daily experiences (play house, play acts as mommy, daddy, baby). Uses objects that are realistic and close to life size (won't use miniature action figures yet, apparently). Short events--no true sequences, except perhaps short, self-limiting ones such as puts food in pan, stirs and eats. BLOCK PLAY--consists of stacking and knocking down. Sand and water play consists of filling, pouring and dumping (now THAT takes some pressure off!). Child does NOT build representational structures. Blocks are not integrated into pretend play
Stage VI: 2 1/2 years:
PLAY:
Represents events less frequently experienced or observed, particularly impressive or traumatic events--1. Doctor-nurse-sick child 2. Teacher-child 3. Store-shopping. Events are still short and isolated. Realistic props still required. Roles shift quickly. Parallel play predominates.
Language delays are not just about vocabulary - they are about how one USES language as well. Not saying pronouns and not asking questions, if it continues to age 3 - would probably be considered a language delay. It is about pragmatics of language.
My ds (who is on the spectrum) also used pronouns before age 2, like my dd. But, he would reverse them saying things like "Pick you up" instead of "pick ME up". This stopped around age 2 1/2, which from what I understand is the upper limits of normal. I think not saying pronouns at age 2 1/2 is not typical although I'm not an expert.
My ds has quite the imagination, but didn't do much pretend play with stuffed animals at that age. That only came when he was about 3 1/2 to 4 or so. I think your ds has a lot of strengths! Doesn't he qualify for speech? And I would look into a PT/OT eval just to make sure he is progressing normally in fine and gross motor skills. Sometimes, they kind of skip or skim over at this age - don't let them! They should actually SEE how he performs skills and not just go on your word. They may pick up things that you would not - I'm a highly intelligent person and totally missed that my ds had gross motor deficits until he was 3 1/2!
Good luck and keep us posted!
I would say it is iffy. It wouldn't hurt to have him evaluated, but I would doubt you would get a diagnosis. A lot of what you have described could be personality. My dd (who I'm almost positive is NT) sounds a LOT like your son. She has a very shy personality around new people. But around familiar people, she is very good. It takes her a LONG time to warm up.
For instance, we went to a family picnic this last weekend. She saw most of these people a month ago at a wedding - but didn't spend a huge amount of time with them. It seriously took her AN HOUR to warm up to the point where she didn't need to be by my side and could go play. Then she was fine. But oftentimes, we don't HAVE an hour for her to warm up - so she appears quite clingy and shy.
She is also quite bright and started sounding out words (reading) a little after age 2 1/2. She is also doing basic math - adding and subtracting small numbers. I have not taught her any of this - she picked it up from LeapFrog videos and just does this. For instance, every night we blow each other three kisses and she tells me after each one how many we have left (I don't ask her, she just volunteers it). Her vocabulary is absolutely unbelievable and she says word like "consequences" appropriately at barely age 3!
The not using pronouns and not asking questions does concern me. My dd has been doing both since before she was 2. It could be part of a language delay for him (even though he has a huge vocabulary - he can still have a language delay). I would also have him evaluated for gross and fine motor ability soon. If he is cautious - it may be due to the fact that he actually CAN'T do some things (or doesn't have the confidence to). This was the case with my son. I thought he was just careful - but he really struggled with doing things like climbing and I didn't realize it until he was 4. We got PT and he does awesome now and caught up to his peers on everything except catching and throwing.
The not being cuddly could be a sensory issue but also could just be who he is. Does it seem like hugs HURT him?
These are all things I would bring up to your doctor and during an evaluation. But, your ds has a HUGE amount of strengths and with having such good joint attention, good vocabulary, receptive language, ability to answer questions - I really, really doubt you will get anyone to give you a diagnosis of any kind of autism at this point. Obviously, it seems like you feel he needs speech because of the articulation and they can also work on the asking questions and using pronouns (hopefully!). And, doing some things like getting him out as much as possible and doing things like RDI with him (I haven't done it, but have heard great things on this board about it). And, if he needs OT and/or PT then you can get that as well. If you get him into Early Intervention services, they can help with all of that. So, if you get him the services he needs - well, at this point it doesn't matter if he gets a label or not. But as he gets closer to 3 1/2 or 4 and if he isn't interacting with peers - then you will need to pursue a label to get more services.
Good luck to you and welcome!
he sounds real smart to me and very NT and may just have some anxiety which he may even grow out of
BUT - I would still contact EarlY Intervention - just top reassure myself
He sounds just like my oldest..she had excellent volcabulary but real clingy with me and not so warm to others..she didnt really need friends till years later..quite content to be drawing or reading..she is going in the 11th grade now and in all honors classes, place piccolo in marching band and has way too many friends:) She is aspie to me in a lot of ways but dont tell her that! I had my daughter evaluated by ECI at age 2 1/2. I had a lot of the same concerns then about her as you do now with your son, except my daughter did have the scripting and parroting issues. They told me she was too smart to be autistic, and because of this did not qualify for their services.