My son is much older (14) but I wonder the same thing every day. Is this autism or is it being 14!? I would say most of the time it is both. JMOEverything Abby does I always jump and blame the PDD when in fact some actions/behavior is normal for her age. She is three years old and does not share at all I hardly any NT kids at that age do either. I think I automatically assumed it was partly because of the PDD because that is one of the things they work on in one of her group therapies is sharing skills. Same thing with potty training is she not getting because of the PDD and her sensory issues or because she just is not ready. It is hard to decipher.
Mommy to Abby Grace 3yrs old PDD/NOS
Hi All,
I don't know if it is true for everyone but I often find myself attributing some of my son's behavior to Autism when it may just well be normal behavior for a five-year-old. Potty training to manners at the table come to mind but socialization is the biggest grey area. We have a 3year old who exhibits bizzarre behavior sometimes or just acts independent and he is not in the least bit Autistic.
Examples:
1. He sometimes does not like to share
2. He hangs out in the bath for a very long time
3. He fusses when taken away from things he enjoys
4. He isolates on occassion.
Anyway, something to think about. It does invade every thought sometimes, even though we try to look on it as a blessing. I think the Autism has a place in some of his activities, but there is also normalcy for a typical child there somewhere. Anyone else?
Best regards,
Mark
http://talusmusic.com/MarkMathis/Shine/Songs/Shine.mp3
Well, I think that most kids have a hard time sharing. However, the reaction to not wanting to share is what is often atypical for our kids. For instance, my NT daughter will be told that she has to share and she will sigh and say, "O-kay." And it does sound like she feels like I am being mean, but she does it. Once in a VERY great while, she will NOT share and she will be put in a time-out. Our rule is we share everything except for the two most important things in your life (in this case she has a doll and a stuffed bunny that she does not have to share). She will go to the time-out (will complain about it but will go) and then it is done and she will say sorry and share the toy.
Both my kids love the bath. They would probably play in for 15-20 minutes if we let them. Ds is less likely to be in there for long as he is more likely to get cold. But water is very appealing to most kids, but often moreso for kids with autism (which is why when a child with autism goes missing it is most important to check areas with water in them as one of the first areas).
For five year-olds, transitions can still be somewhat hard. But the five year-old twins down the street have no problem with jumping in the car for an adventure right after all-day kindergarten. I CANNOT IMAGINE doing that with my ds (who is SIX!) after all-day kindergarten. It would be a huge battle to get him to go anywhere (found that out the third day of school
The twins (they are my five year-old reference point, can you tell?) are very different. One does isolate himself sometimes. The other cannot stand to be away from people. This is a personality thing - one is more introverted, the other extroverted. But, ds isolates and does strange things like running back and forth with a sword in his hand (I mean just doing this constantly). The twin who isolates will go and look at a book or play with cars or something appropriate. Sometimes he will just come talk to me too.
Anyway, the behaviors you mention aren't necessarily atypical for a five year-old, it is the degree, intensity and frequency in which the behaviors occur that would more be an "autism" problem. Our kids do have behaviors that are the same as NT kids - it's often hard to know the difference!
hello Mark
I am going through the process of having my daughter diagnosed, as I truly believe my daughter has some autistic traits.
Like you said: Does not like to share
isolates herself-in her own word
repeats herself or what others say
attached to objects excessivley
picky eater
Sensory issues
same rituals over
does not like transisition
The list goes on but she is doing better, is very verbal. It is hard to tell what is Nero typical or not. All kids have some quirky behaviors!
Good luck to you and this board is great for information!
Take care!
As far as the behaviors, it is stressfull. My oldest I know has autism but I swear I see some similiar behaviors with my younger 2 boys. They don't have the language delays, social issues and other behaviors. I am always watching though and wondering.