I haven't joined this group just need some advice. My husband and I have been having people tell us that we need to get our 5 year old son checked out for autism. The reason being is because of his behavior lately. He hits other kids, has stabbed another kid in the back with a plastic fork, sneaks out of the house in the middle of the night, cannot follow simple directions, at 2 1/2 he was able to plug in the VCR and digital cable box into his tv, he doesn't talk very well he talks worse than a 2 year old, he hates loud noises, he is stuck on movies for months at a time, he has known how to get past the baby safety door knobs since he was 18 months, he does like other people but just doesn't know how to communicate with them. My husband works with a lady that has 2 autistic nephews and she is telling us that he needs to be checked because to her he has autism. My husband has an old friend of his family who has 2 autistic children and we were told that our son acts just like his youngest autistic child. I just need to know what you all think? But even his Kindergarten teacher says that if he is it isn't very severe.
Thank you
It could be high fuctioning autism or asperger's syndrome... for the most part I have two boys they never hurt another child ... although my older one in Kindergeten pushed his teacher on the stairs she made him climb after a hike he was tired and agitated ... we suspected autism but was not sure three school psychologist could not agree on what it was one said adhd and another told me he was a geinus while a therid was telling me he was MR... Have him tested educationally evaluated and see a nerlogist or a psycritreist both can dx him. He might have a mood disorder or bi polar... Aspies's don't delebertly hurt someone no intention to ..not violent.
Hey!!! I am a mother of two autistic children and it sound like he may be high functioning with some social and speech delays. It doesn't hurt to get him tested. The schools can actually set up a meeting with a panel of specialist who can come to your home in his environment and evaluate him in different areas for his age. Your pediatrician should also be able to help you set something up. He sounds like a very smart little guy?!!!!
It sounds like you are discribing my 6 1/2 yr old DS. He is High Fubctioning and is in a 'normal' 1st grade class. He is behind the other kids in a few areas but, with help he has come a long way.His speach has come leaps and bounds, although sometimes his speach is hard to understand or almost 'babyish'. With help and prompting they can grow up to be fairly independent depending on the diagnosis.
I myself have a 6 yr old boy-Zachy, who just finally got an autistic diagnosis. This only took us 2 years. Not that we wished it on him, but the diagnosis opened up many new doors so that Zach could get the therapy he really needed in school. He has many of the same characteristics which you described with your own child. Some of his teachers said yes some said no, some said It was just ADHD. we put him on medication for it, but they changed him into a very unhappy child , and I just cried when he would have melt downs. We took him off, and this year went to see a Develope mental Pediatrician . We were told that high functioning autism is harder to detect and diagnose. Many ppl with autistic children already knew right off the bat that Zachy was autistic because they live it everyday. Unfortunatly they go by a scale from which is attained by just asking you questions. When we walked Zach into both evaluations,( his first being 2 years ago) both the the therapists said if they could diagnos him just by the way he walked into a room, they would say he was Autistic. He himself has no sense of danger, he talks well as far as understanding his words finally, but lacks functional language skills. You would think he was just being a rude child if you did not know him. His space is where ever he feels he needs it to be which is usually in my face. LOL. And he talks to you like you are 50ft away. He does not like change at all, though its gotten alot better. He was put into a Special Ed class after normal Kindergarten proved to be way to much for him and the teacher. He was on the same cognative skill level as everyone else, just lacked socially and behavioral wise. I was very shocked when we were at Zachs school last wk, and a woman come up and introduced herself as the autistic therpist for the school. Because before his diagnosis ( A PIECE OF PAPER), not once did anyone in any of his CS meetings ever mention anything about them having an Autism Therapist or offer any services. We fought just to get him a one on one Aid, even with his teachers begging the board of Edu. One day during recess he took off towards the woods, and then they decided to give him one. He is a great kid, and I would not change him for the world. but the faster you can get him the right therapy and teach him the skills, the better his outcome as an adult will be. They don't stay small and innocent forever. Eventually as they get older they are held by societies rules and judgements, not moms time outs and and Teachers sticker boards.
Get him evaluated. It's the best thing you can do for him right now. (((hugs)))
It sound like my house times two. Both children know how to work everyhting electrical. If they don't, they figure it out very fast. Both Robert and Tzipporah were diagnosed high function autistic at 2 1/2 yrs., which was a big load off my shoulders because, now I know what the issue is and are able to work towards taking care of the them in a more efficient way. Getting your child tested is easy and you can do it through the school system. I think it puts your mind at ease a little to know what is really going on with your child.
Tamara
Quoting lizardmom:
Even if his teacher says it isn't severe, evaluation and diagnosis means help! I have to admit that it sounds like your son may be on the spectrum. My 5 year old Cara is autistic. She is barely at a 2 year old level when it comes to speech and communication. We have multiple gates and a special knob cover to prevent Cara from getting out of the house. She may not be able to communicate but she can work a DVD player, a CD player and many other things if she chooses to figure them out. She is a very bright little girl. She knows her numbers, colors, shapes, letters and her name - right on track for a kindergartener. However she would run out in front of a car if left unattended because she has no concept of danger. Cara also is a cuddly loving child with a smile that can charm anyone. She is a joy to her father and me and to those whose lives she touches. Some people fear diagnosis and labeling but Cara's diagnosis at 2 1/2 was a blessing. It opened up opportunities for speech therapy and occupational therapy among other things. Even if he is not severely autistic, speech therapy can help with his communication skills. As we have learned it isn't just verbal language. Cara uses sign language, pictures and verbal communication in therapy. Occupational therapy can help with sensory issues such as loud noises or other sensitivities. Evaluation and treatment as soon as possible are so important. There is so much help out there if you can get it and a less than severe autistic child could benefit to become a "normal" child - or at least develop the skills necessary to funciton in the "normal" world. Please don't see a diagnosis of autism as a dead end. I sincerely see Cara's diagnosis as a blessing. We got help and you can to. As a parent of an autistic child I say please get your son evaluated. If he isn't autistic you may still get a diagnosis that could get him speech therapy to help him communicate. Feel free to ask me any questions you have. Liz
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