Worried about dd's Behaviours

[blueeyedfamily]

I've always held it in the back of my mind, that Katie has Autism.  I don't think a major case, but the older she gets the more "quirks" she has.  She turns 3 in September.

She has never been very social.  So dh just says she's shy. 

When she was an infant I couldn't wrap her in a blanket, she still can't stand blankets.  So just another quirk. 

Now it's all her clothes or shoes hurt her.  I tend to toss out a shirt or shorts or pants or dress or sock a week.  So she's got sensitive skin. 

She can't stand being dirty.  She washes her hands at least 3 times every meal b/c her hands get dirty.  So she doesn't want to be dirty. 

If I turn the radio or t.v. over a whisper she screams it hurts her ears.  If her cousin yells, it hurts her ears.  Any loud noise hurts her ears.  So she just has sensitive ears. 

Things have to be on a schedule or she gets all out of sorts.  Things go in certain places, if they're not, she get all upset and melts.  She melts down a lot.

Now it's all lights are hurting her eyes.  She can't stand the lamps left on if it beside her.  She prefers a dimly lit room.  So she's got sensitive eyes. 

But when all these add together, it really gets me worried.  My brother has asperger.  I don't know if Autism is genetic or not, but my mom is always saying how much of Katie's quirks remind her of my brother.  We didn't know my brother had Aspergers growing up, he was just different.  It wasn't until he was in his 20s that he was finally diagnosed. 

I don't know if I'm being the paranoid mother and I am just worrying over nothing as she has been meeting all her developmental milestones on time.  Even with being a preemie she has done great.  It's just her quirks that worry me.  None of the doctors have ever said anything to think that, it's just the day to day stuff I see and how it is progressively getting worse the older she gets. 

I just want her to be happy and healthy.

[music_lover2784]

Aug. 7, 2009 at 10:43 AM

Well hopefully you will get some insight soon as to what is going on with Katie. No one knows here like you do and if you feel it might be something then go after it. I hate how sometimes mothers are seen as paranoid or over protective only to find out they are actually on the right page. So if you feel in your heart it might be something then don't let people tell you otherwise. And if it turns out to just be quirks then you will feel better b/c you know what is up and you won't worry so much hun. Good luck Jen and keep us posted.

[JKTsmom]

Aug. 7, 2009 at 11:06 AM

I agree with Renee, mothers are seen as paranoid or over protective and really they know best. If you think something is wrong then check it out with the dr and go from there. Some of those may just be quirks, Joshua does them too. He washes his hands alot and doesn't like for them to be dirty but I made him that way haha I cannot stand dirty hands, also Joshua hates loud noises too. Even the toliet flushing he is like gosh make it stop. So it could mean nothing but then again it could mean something really is going on. Have you tried searching on the interent I think they have like little questionaires you can fill out to see if she even fits. Good luck and keep us updated.

[brampton1999]

Aug. 7, 2009 at 9:07 PM

Eleanor does several things that you mentioned.  She is very tidy and doesn't like things out of place.  She likes to be clean and goes through too many napkins at meal time :)  She doesn't like some noises when her sister makes them, but when she does them it's fine :)   She has meltdowns when things don't go her way.  etc..

Since you have these concerns I would certainly do some research and even talk to her pediatrician just to see what he/she says.

good luck!