My DS is going to be 9 in 2 weeks and I have been dealing with so much. Psycotherapists, psychiatrists, pedi nuerologists, EI, the school and no one can help me. Heres our story.
My son has always been different, quirky in his own right. He didnt talk until he was 3 and that was after he went into the EI program. He always had poor motor skills and I would say he is uncoordinated and seems uncomfortable in his own skin. He has always had feeding and eating problems. He is always obsessing over something or another. The object of his affection seems to change with his age. I tried to get him involved in sports by registering him for soccer. All he did was stand on the field and pretend he was a character from a movie. IOf the ball came near him he would run away. If we are walking down the road he assumes his character staus. He has always had a sensory disorder. He tells me things dont bother him but I see him cringe and look panicy when a motorcycle goes past or when his baby sister starts crying. He was never a smiling happy child. He always preffered to play alone in a corner, even during parties. All I have heard from his old pedi's was that he will grow out of it. Well hes not. No one wants to play with him because its his way or nothing, he'll just play by himself. He refuses to learn how to ride a bike or learn to tie his shoes. He is so tiny, clocking in at 49" and 46.5 lbs. He has always dragged his heels when he walks and when he runs he appears awkward. I have asked the school for help but they feel there is nothing wrong with him. But they have told me during confrences that Dale "can not get along with his peers" is "overly sensitive and needs to get over things" and "has trouble maintaining eye contact". My mother has sworn since the day he was born that he has autism. We
have never gotten a diagnosis. Monday we are going to see a specialist
in Aspergers and PDD-NOS.
Any advice would be appreciated.
I wanted to add that my son screams if anyone gets his face wet. Unless hes bathing he can not have water splashed on him. Obviously we dont know how to swim yet.
check this out
http://www.childbrain.com/pddassess.html
Welcome to the forum.
I think you've made the right decision in getting him evaluated. To prepare for the meeting, I would fill out this questionnaire. This will allow you to anticipate the kinds of questions they'll ask, and make any observations if you're unsure what the answer is.
http://www.childbrain.com/pddq6.shtml
Good luck with everything. Let us know how it goes.
It said moderate PDD Score was 110I think it would be wise to keep an extra eye on current and future half-siblings, since autism has a genetic component. However, concerns about someone else's child is a very sensitive subject. First Signs has some good advice at this link:
http://www.firstsigns.org/concerns/parent_parent.htm
www.cdc.gov/actearly has good early childhood milestone lists to use.
I also forgot to pass along my checklists specific to Aspergers in the older child, which might be more relevant or meaningful than the childbrain quiz:
Diagnostic checklists from the book "Parenting Your Asperger Child":
http://printables.familyeducation.com/forms-and-charts/skill -builder/51750.html - Part 1, Difficulty with Reciprocal Social Interactions
http://printables.familyeducation.com/forms-and-charts/skill -builder/51751.html - Part 2, Impairments in Language Skills
http://printables.familyeducation.com/forms-and-charts/skill -builder/51755.html - Part 3, Sensory Sensitivities
http://printables.familyeducation.com/forms-and-charts/skill -builder/51752.html - Part 4, Narrow range of interests and insistence on set routines
http://printables.familyeducation.com/forms-and-charts/skill -builder/51754.html - Part 5 - Cognitive Issues (including mind-blindness)
Again, good luck with everything.
It's a good thing you're seeing a specialist on Monday...Welcome:) Best of luck on monday and come back and update us:)
I think you are doing the right thing, seeing a specialist that is. My son is 12 and has been Dx Asperger's syndrome. They do have a lot of things in common, like the fantasy character, and sensory issues, eating issues. You might want to read (Parenting your Asperger Child, by Alan Sohn and Cathy Grayson) It might explain a lot of the issues you are talking about. Good Luck with your appt., and let us know how it goes. Welcome to the board. Looks like you are doing all the right things - let us know after you get some answers from the evaluation -I would print out the childbrain checklist and take it with you. Also, go through and make a list of all the symptoms you see in him. If he still has meltdowns, videotape one and take it with you. Take copies of conferences with teachers. Basically anything that would help the doc get to know your son better.
Welcome to the board! I think you'll find a lot of good info and support here. I'm glad you're going to the doc on Monday - there do sound like some red flags there. Good luck and keep us posted!
Thanks for the welcomes ! I have been feeling very upset and angry this month waiting for the appointment. More angry that I didnt have him re-evaluated sooner. He did improve in areas since toddlerhood. His father and I are divorced and we are both remarried. Dale has a half sister with me and shows no signs of autimsm and she is 28 months old. However he has a half brother on his dads side and I wonder about him. He just started walking at 18 months and he screams this high pitch screamyish squeal all the time. He only says about 3 words at this point. If Dale is dx'd should his father have their other son evaluated ?Welcome and I am sorry you are going through all this anger. It is so hard to get a SANE dx, it seems.
I would say his father should have him evaluated by Early Intervention -- no harm in that and no money either!