New here... | Autism PDD

Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry your family has had a lot to cope with in the recent years.

Here's a link to a recent interview with Sandra L. Harris, who has written a book called "Siblings of Children with Autism." Good interview, short, very down-to-earth.

http://www.autismtoday.com/wnsiblings.htm

And here's a link to a topic on our forum, with links to free online resources for teaching kids about autism.

http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15359&am p;KW=teaching+kids

Hitting could possibly be sensory-seeking behavior, so I'm also going to give you the link to the Sensory Processing Disorder checklist. I know that understanding and managing my son's sensory issues were key to a calmer family life at our house.

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processin g-disorder-checklist.html

Good luck with everything, and welcome to the forum.

Welcome,you have come to the right place,The Information and support you will receive here will help you deal with all the behaviour, and you may get some Ideas on how to help your son as well.

Is There anyone who could spend some one on one time with your son, I mean an older boy ,a relative or friend,someone he looks up to?

When our older son died ,My son started to stay by himself alot ,a family friend and his son who was around his age started to take him on outings, Inviting him over ect..,This helped alot.

God bless,Linda

Welcome to the board. I am also from Texas, can you PM me and let me know where abouts in TX that you are?

Hello everyone! I just joined and my name is Jen aka Jenwood, which is a nickname. I live in Texas with my hubby, who is a trucker, and our two kiddos, Tanner and Skye. Tanner is seven years old and will be starting 2nd grade. Skye is three years old and was diagnosed with Autism last October, right before I lost my mother. My husband and I had been dealing with her and trying to take care of my mom, who had emphysema and COPD.

Skye was able to start school last January and she has been doing very good. She is in a great school and her teachers are awesome! School I think she will do okay with as long as she can stay focused. Its her behavior and social skills that get to me and anyone who happens to be around. She will be a perfect angel and then smack you right in the face. She is on a low dose of Risperdal for her agression.

I hope to get to know everyone a bit better. I still haven't gotten used to taking one day at a time and not making too many plans in advance. If anyone has advice on dealing with siblings and autism, please advise me! My little boy used to be such an outgoing child and now he stays in his room so much now I am starting to get depressed.

Thanks so much!

Welcome.

Talking is always the best medicine. Sometimes my daughter cries when she thinks about things my son misses out on. We talk about it, and I remind her how happy my son is being him. We should all be happy for him too, because autism isn't sad, it's just different. She also knows things would be different if my son didn't have autism, and we talk about that too. I suggest just spending quality time with your son, and get everything out about his feelings.

Welcome, and I have learned so much on here! You'll love it!

hi welcome

i am shell mum of 6

one with severe autism one with aspergers one with traits one with lbd

i also have AS

love shell

Welcome to the board.Welcome. I have a 7 year old boy on the spectrum and 4 year old twins.
Sounds like your past year was very tough with your mom's death and
daughter's diagnosis.
Tanner probably had to grow up some the last year and had to become
self-sufficiant in many ways. One of my four year olds tends to fly under
the radar because my son and one of my daughters (who has a big& loud
personality) are very good at getting most of my attention. I constantly
have to remind myself to involve her the same amount even if she does
not ask for it.

What's your boy doing in his room?
Is he reading or playing with toys by himself? He might be more
introverted and needing some space to himself.
Is he just staring into space? Could he feel depressed by the loss of his
grandma, much of his parent's attention and not being able to connect
with his sister?
Or is he watching TV or playing videogames in his room? I'd say - move
them back into common space or inforce timelimits to keep him from
withdrawing and isolating.
It can be hard for siblings and I think they often feel like their needs come
last. It helps to set time apart just for him and it also helps to find ways
to foster a relationship between your kids. Are there any activities they
both enjoy - trampoline or fingerpainting or watching a movie side by
side? Is your daughter doing ABA. I have heard that many places include
siblings and that it can be very helpful for each of them as well as
fostering a relationship. Maybe ask you daughter''s school about that.Hi

We had to do that with our older 2 boys when Mason was dx'd with epilepsy...unfortunately I didn't do it immediately and started to see my oldest who was 9 at the time pulling away from us...doing the same thing with just wanting to hang out in his room...I kept saying, he's entering his pre-teen years, but then one day went down there just to see what he was doing and started a typical conversation with him about how his day at school went...it led to a conversation about Mason, and I found out that he was afraid that Mason was going to die.

Sorry this is getting long, and I can't be sure this is what your son is going through, but I think the best thing to do is just try to get him to talk and ask questions about his sister, and possibly his grandma too.

Good luck with everything and welcome to the board.

Welcome!

hi there

I am new here too. my son hasn't been diagnosed yet but I just have that "feeling" anyway, my husband is a trucker too!! nice to see you