Jill, my son was diagosed by a pediatric neurologist at age 2-1/2 --- but people who were more familiar with children's behavior noticed something "different" around age 1-1/2. The diagnosis, to me, was just an ah-ha moment which meant, OK, now what do we do? The highlights of his early life were: lost his few words at around 1-1/2; spent lots of time sorting things by color; loved to sprinkle things and watch them fall; played with toys the wrong way (like flipping matchbox cars upside down and spinning the wheels) and later, lots of tantrums for no apparent reason and not potty trained until just before kindergarten. He did not begin speaking again until age 4, and to this day (at age 12) he still has a little trouble expressing his thoughts.
I truly believe that early intervention, such as you are getting, is the key to unlocking the child's potential. You have many wonderful moments ahead of you --- prepare to be delighted by this child!
LANEYBUGMOM22 12/23/06 8:41 A
It is upsetting that so many people are clueless to the symptoms of Autism. I was one of those people until our PCM suggested that may be going on with Tristan. What I wrongly perceived to be "too intelligent" in Tristan was that he is obsessive with letters and numbers. He knew his letters by recognition when he was 18 months, and could count to 10 in both Spanish and English. Having a daughter about to turn two with no developmental disorders, I can see now, what I didn't know anything about when he was 18 months. She can say her alphabet, but she has so many other communication techniques that she is learning that she doesn't obsess about those particular things. Sadly, I probably would never have educated myself about these disorder(s) otherwise. I am happy to say, though I don't know everything about Autism or the rest of the disorders on the spectrum, I have a much more full understanding now. I would hope no one would be in denial when it could be very much to the detriment of their child. Though, it does happen, mothers are human, and it is a hard thing to accept. I actually had to fight to get him diagnosed and into treatment, so I was convinced after the PCM suggested it and I did some research. It was like a lightbulb went on. The developmental doctor told me that PDD was a sort of a place to start in diagnosing my son in particular. She said that when he got a little older it may be that his symptoms place him into another disorder on the spectrum more clearly, or that he may just have a language delay. As his mother, I highly doubt he only has a language delay, there are just too many other symptoms he has that say he is Autistic, kwim? I have a hard time writing what I am thinking, and portraying it exactly as I mean it. I think BananLiana was just jumping in to difuse what could have been perceived as volatile. It did seem like displaced anger, and it seems we both had the same problem in getting our feelings across exactly the right way.
ETA: Also, I agree with the Kudos for passing the Combating Autism Act!
ADDICTED2MICKEY 12/23/06 1:49 A
It's okay, Laney. It's hard to portray emotions via the internet and that's why I said what I did. The "too smart" comment did upset me a bit. Many autistic children are extremely smart but just have no outlet. But I do know what you meant and I think we all felt that way about our children before the realities of autism set in. I hate when people catagorize everyone with autism based on the movie "Rainman". I guess we all have stereotypes, though, right? Again, I understood where you're coming from and don't mean to lash out. I see so many parents out there who simply refuse to accept that their child is autistic, especially when the doctor diagnosis PDD. All PDD means is that the child doesn't have "classic" autism and doesn't meet all of the DMSV requirements. My son is technically PDD as well. When parents are okay that their child simply has PDD and are under the impression that it's a totally separate disorder, sometimes those kids don't get the needed treatment. Then, when they become teenagers, they wind up in institutions and respite homes like I used to work in that aren't great places (hence the reason I left). Bananananana (sorry I forgot your name) my words shouldn't offend anyone - except for poor Laneybug, which we've hopefully worked out - unless they are simply unwilling to accept the fact that their child is autistic or has Aspergers. If we treat this like an embarassing disorder and continue to sweep it under the rugs as parents, how are we ever going to get the funding & affordable treatment our kids need???
BTW ~ thank you Congress, Senator Hatch and the rest of the Senate and President Bush for passing the Combating Autism Act!!! Kudos.
LANEYBUGMOM22 12/22/06 10:07 P
Liana, yes absolutely, you understood me completely! Thanks for you kind words. I really did mean before I understood Autism I thought he was too intelligent. Now I know that it may be because he is Autistic that he is so intelligent. I just didn't understand that before I did all my research, and I fear other parents who first hear those words won't understand either. I should have stated it more clearly and I'm sorry I didn't. I really didn't mean to offend. As far as the diagnosis of PDD, it is sort of a blanket statement and it falls under Autism, yes. That is why I classify my son as Autistic. They (doctors, specialists, and dds) are trying to break out the individual disorders under the Autism umbrella, i.e. Asbergers, PDD, CDD, Angelman Syndrome to name a few into their own disorders instead of blanketing them all under Autism. It is all so confusing I just don't want to overload with too much information, you see? I really am sorry!
BANANALIANA 12/22/06 8:45 P
I alos feel the need to clarify PDD is a different disorder to autism wiht very different diagnostic criteria! It is not used to "ligthen the blow" and while the children do ahve very similar patterns there are some differences. I dont think it is important in a group such as this to make comparisons or to make claims about another persons child. What si importnat is that evryone here is searching for support for thier child who has their own individual needs, but as parents you are experiencing similar emotions and difficulties and can support each other
BANANALIANA 12/22/06 8:41 P
LANEYBUGMOM22 I understand your comments completely. I work with families who are going through the early diagnosis period and i commonly hear them say they the same things. The way Autism spectrum disorders of which PDD is on the spectrum (it is not autism however) epople do belive it is usually related to lower intelligence. This is not the case at all as I am sure you are very aware. ADDICTED2MICKEY i think you misunderstood and I am concerned your comments will upset many, which is why i feel the need to respond. This should be a supportive thread and I am very concious of how much parents need support frm each other.
I admire all of you for your strength and your children are so priveleged to have such wonderful parents!
ADDICTED2MICKEY 12/22/06 8:23 P
Well, I'm sure you didn't mean to offend and I do understand where you're coming from... but to say your child was "too smart" to have autism was pretty offensive. It also shows how little people know about this disorder. Autism is not mental retardation. Autism is a neurological communication disorder. I worked with autistic teenagers and once they learned to communicate (usually in their own way), they were actually very intelligent. 3 out of the 8 teens I worked with had IQs above 130. Also, I really don't mean to bring you down because I know how difficult it is to accept that your child has a learning disability, but PDD is generally autism. Sometimes it can be associated with Aspergers as well, but not often. Doctors usually use the term PDD to "lighten the blow". Again, going back to what I said earlier about poor diagnosis, they don't want to label kids at such a young age. However, at least you are getting treatment, which is half the battle! Good luck.
LANEYBUGMOM22 12/22/06 6:26 P
My son was diagnosed by a Developmental doctor this year. He has PDD, or just a disorder under the umbrella of Autism. His diagnosis is still subject to change, but I think it is accurate. He just turned 4 December 8th. We have him in a special preschool program and it is really helping. I found it incredibly overwhelming at first, but now I have reverted back to not thinking of him as Autistic, but just dealing with each symptom independently of the others. I would be happy to help in any way I can, if you still need advice. Jamie Sorry, forgot to answer your original question, he was 3 1/2 when he was diagnosed. I had a friend suggest it earlier on, but I knew nothing about Autism and thought he was too intelligent to have it.
LADYRELENTLESS 12/20/06 6:43 A
My sister is actually the president of the Autism Socity of Tacoma/Pierce County here in WA. She got involved when my neice was diagnosed as a baby. If you like I can send you her e-mail addy in a private message and she can answer any questions you might have.
ADDICTED2MICKEY 12/17/06 9:04 P
No offense to all you Pediatricians out there, but doctors are TERRIBLE at diagnosing this problem simply because they don't want to "label" kids so young. I knew my son was autistic when he was 18 months old because I used to work with autistic kids. I pretty much had to FORCE the doctor to diagnose my son so we could get him into treatment early. I've had several friends whose children weren't officially diagnosed until they were well after 5 years old. It's a sad situation because they missed the critical treatment years! My son's symptoms were that he stopped talking when he was about 14 months old, he would flap his hands like he was trying to fly away when he'd get excited and he wouldn't respond to his name. Other than that, he seemed completely average. He was walking at 8 months old, very social and lovable, VERY mechanically inclined... he's figured out every baby gate and electronic device we've owned! LOL Has your son become obsessed with any particular letter or number? Does he look out the side of his eye sometimes instead of looking at things straight on? Does he respond to his name when you call him? Autism is a number of different symptoms...
BANANALIANA 12/6/06 3:41 A
I dont have a child wiht Autism but I work with kids with Autism. you cant go past a look at
www.floortime.org
WALKSFAR 9/20/06 2:21 P
You might also read this one.
www.paleodiet.com/autism/
Autism and the Casein-Free/Gluten-Free Diet Alternative. Once the child goes on a gluten-free diet, these problems tend to disappear. ... written an article showing the links he sees between gluten and ADD/ADHD. ...
HOMEBODY 8/17/06 5:40 P
Just a few websites for info on exceptional children:
The official diagnosis can only come from a developmental pediatrician, from my understanding, but it can take a year or more to get into one in some areas. (mine included). He is clearly on the spectrum and has both speech therapy and occupational therapy and will be tested by the school system for educational needs, which should also include speech therapy at the minimum, possible occuapational therapy, and probably an aid.
To answer your initial question, his official dx will be on the 29th of this month. However, it was as early as 18months - 2 years old that he was showing signs, I just didn't recognize them. The first time I started hearing that autism was a possiblity was around his 4th birthday.
Schools and regular pediatricians might say it is autism, but I don't think it is official until a dev. ped makes the diagnosis. (official in the sense that you can get in the system to get state funded help)
Around here, it is a bit of a "no man's land" in between 3 and when the school district takes over at 5. In theory, the district is supposed to cover after 3, in reality, it is hard to get them to do their job until they are absoulutely required to and even then they define their job as the least amount they have to do and you have to fight for basic services.
My child didn't like to have his head touched (eye exams, teeth brushing, haircuts, hair brushing, checking ears, opening mouth) which was our first major goal in occupational therapy. He is much more cooperative now and actually let somebody put glasses on his face last week without a meltdown.
MOMMYJILL27 8/9/06 8:14 P
I took my son to the doc today. I have to sign him up for speech therapy (he knows about 30-50 words and is 3 1/2) and sign up for a program. (The program is to help with crying, potty trainging--he cried REALLy hard today when the doctor just showed him the ear thing to check his ears) I told the doctor he usually keeps to himself, doesn't play with others, and doesn't reaspond well.
I was just wondering if any other parents out there have autistic children when did the doctor diagnose him?
