HELP with possible autitisc toddler!!!!

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	I am absolutely soooo stressed, you all cannot imagine!  My middle son is displaying some symptoms of autism. He will be 3 years old in July and only says "mama" "dadda" "daddy" and Jesus. That's it. Our oldest son (9) was diagnosed with PDD-NOS/ADHD when he was around 5. Where I live, they won't diagnose my middle son because they think he is "too young" still, this is NOT the US. Anyhow, our middle son is usually a very quiet child...loves cars, loves to smile and is usually a content child BUt in recent months he has been behaving in such  away that leaves my husband and I so stressed out at the end of the day...*sigh* First of all, he gets up very moody..angry, complaining and whinning (As soon as he gets up). Throughout the day he just whines and whines and whines, cries and complains when he wants something he cannot have or when I take out something he is not supposed to have, he would throw a HUGE tantrum and won't calm down no matter what. I am speaking about several tantrums throughout the day. He is a picky eater (smells everything) but now not even his favorite foods he wants to eat, or eats way too little, he refuses to sit on his chair and he will go through a hunger strike! I know he cannot talk and that can makes him very frustrated. I made lots of "signs" to help him but when I truy to show him or teach him, he gets very angry and wants to take the papers out of my hand! He cannot be told nothing, if you tell him the word "No" he just go literally NUTS! The only time he seems to be calm is when he goes out. He goes out every day, to the park, mall or grocery, etc BUT if we go to Church for instance, he just starts getting very upset and starts shaking! As soon as he enters, he is ready to go! There are weeks when he is calm, happy, eating but then suddenly there are days with the exact opposite! I NEED help! Ideas, sugestions, and whether he displays sensory issues (which I am not very familiar with) Thanks! Many hugs - I'm sorry you're so stressed out right now.  The smelling food and being picky is a good sign of sensory disorder.  It may also be a sign of food allergies/sensitivities, so that's worth looking into too.  A lot of kids see gains after changes to their diets.  Addressing sensory issues can also make a big change in how he deals with the world.  I always know when I've been neglecting my DS's sensory needs; he doesn't tantrum, but he will run around the house screaming and running into things to get the input he needs.  A great place to start learning about that is at http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/ and the books The Out of Sync Child and The Out of Sync Child Has Fun.  My DS is a lot less hyper when he gets a lot of good sensory input during the day.  Janie, thanks for the input. Can you provide some resources about food allergies/sensitivities? I am new about this issue. Thanks a lot. Sure - there are a bunch of website that can tell you the basics.  My favorites are http://www.talkaboutcuringautism.org/index.htm and www.generationrescue.org.  A good book that covers the basics of the diet that my DS is on is Children with Starving Brains.  All three of these resources are focused around biomedical treatments, but even if you're not ready for all-out biomedical or just don't like the idea, they can help with the dietary issues. Another book that I've just recently gotten but am enjoying is The Kid Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook.  It's more focused on just food issues and has some great recipes, mostly for a diet free of casein (dairy) and gluten (found in most grains).  Those are two very common food allergies, so you'll find a lot of books about them.  I don't have any words of wisdom but I do want to say that  feel your pain- my son has been officially diagnosed with autism and although it helps in some ways to have the concrete diagnoses, he is still such a handful that many days (like today) I am at my wits end. I agree that addressing the sensory issues helps so much- for my son he loves to swing and spin, sway. So we try and do a lot of this after school, when he is stressed etc. Thanks Janie for those resources. :) babyboy, thanks for sharing my pain. How do I go about even communicating with him when he is MOST of the time so frustrated and angry that he just does not want to hear ANYTHING I say? Besides not speaking, he does not understand everything going on around him! Mom34, first  of all welcome to the board.  This is a good place to find information and support. I am sorry you are so stressed.  I went through the same when I could not communicate with my son.  He also did not understan much but his solution was to zone out and be in his own world. We tried sign languagge but he was not interested.  What worked for him was using pictures (PECS).  I also played a lot of BumbeBee dvds for him so he started learning words and labeling objects. A ton of interventions (ABA, Floortime, OT, ST) helped him tremendously with understanding his environment, playing appropriately, and speaking (eventually though he has a long way to go). Good luck to you and your boy. Poor you!I have a 5 year old son with autism and many sensory issues. The whining can be sooooooo nerve racking.My 3 year old also has sensory issues! I have found that she does better if I do gross motor activities once a day.Just simple things like bouncing on a ball,jumping jacks,floor angels,wheelbarrel walk and blanket pull. There are many sites regarding Sensory Integration Dysfunction that would benefit you. When I was wondering what was wrong with my son at age 2 someone gave me a book called The Out of Sync Child. It was like reading about him.I am thinking you might feel the same so maybe it would at the library.I cant remember off hand the author.I do know some specific exercises to help with sensory issues if you are want.We have our son see a doctor from Poland once a year who gives me special techniques to integrate reflexes.He has had outstanding results!!! diet and supplements made all the difference in the world in my girl, who was too much  to handle at two! Take this one step and see if it doesn't make a huge difference in your home in one week: take away milk and all milk products. Use Rice milk or Almond instead. Don't use butter. If he likes yogurt, use soy or rice instead, at least for awhile. No cheese. Let us know what happens. I am praying that you will see a different child within a few days, so you can have some hope that life wont always be so difficult! I totally feel your pain and we do understand.. it will get better, you just have to find the path and get on it. ((hugs)) Thank you so much for all your support and help, you guys are wonderful! My husband and I discovered today that the reason he has been like that lately is because he has some sort of stomach virus! When kids are not speaking it is sooo hard to know! That's why we were going nuts! My poor baby! We are hoping he improves in few days. Oh, that is so hard when they are sick and can't tell you that they are feeling miserable. I hope he feels better soon. HarrietThanks Harriet! He lost several pounds my poor baby and he is already a picky eater so you can imagine... At least he is drinking lots of water and eating fruits.
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