Does anyone have any experience with autistic children?**UPDATE**

[Sealy]

My mother-in-law, who is and has been a pediatric nurse for 30 yrs. has decided that my son has autism of some form.

This of course is based on the few times she's babysat him over the last 2 yrs. I have a Dr's. appt. tomorrow to talk to him about my son, so I'll know for sure.

I've done research on autism, but I would just like to hear any first hand stories that anyone may have, so I can do a comparison.

My son does'nt have a lot of the signs of autism, maybe the odd one, but it could also be attributed to him only being 2 and a typical toddler. The biggest indication is he's not talking yet. He understands everything we say, he just does'nt say anything yet.

I'm a little nervous about finding out, as I really don't want him to have a "lable" but of course I will do everything I can to enable him to have a "normal" life.

 

[bradruth]

I hope everything goes well at the appointment. Best of luck to you & your son!

 

[Geekbabe]

A lot of boys don't get verbal till they are closer to age 3 and it's quite normal.Wait till he's been evaluated before you start worrying yourself sick.

 

[Azraele]

Hopefully it's nothing. Good luck.

 

[StageLeft]

If that's the primary symptom that is being used to "diagnose" him, I'd not worry about it until a physician checks him out. Nurses can often be overly zealous.

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
If that's the primary symptom that is being used to "diagnose" him, I'd not worry about it until a physician checks him out. Nurses can often be overly zealous.

Very true! (spoken by a nurse) We tend to be super cautious when it comes to our loved ones!

In all honesty, my brother did not say one work until he was almost 3 and then it came out in complete sentences! My parents were worried sick (my mother is a nurse too!) Autism children are generally quite distinguishable...I think you would notice many other signs at this point, including the inability to generate emotions to others....

Best of luck with the doctor! I will be thinking of you.

((((((SEALY))))))

 

[Platypus]

My sister is a triple certified special education instructor, her focus is mild and severe autism. If you can put together some things for me to ask her I'd be more than happy to.

 

[CTR]

One of the most recognizeable symptoms of autism is avoidance of eye contact. Does your son make and keep eye contact with you? What about non-verbal communication? You say that he seems to understand what you are saying to him, but does he respond to you? Does he initiate communication with hand gestures, grunting, etc?

As I'm sure you've read, children can be somewhere on the Autism "spectrum," which ranges from mild communication and social problems to severe autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

Does your son have any other problems outside speech? How is his behavior?

 

[Sealy]

Thanks for the positive vibes everyone! It sure helps.

My son definitely understands me, he makes eye contact, and gestures and grunts when he wants something. If I say, hey let's go outside, he goes booting down the stairs to get his shoes, so he's understanding.

I'll let you all know what the Dr. says.

Thanks again!

 

[Crazymofo]

I can also attest to the boys not speaking til 3... My nephew was the same as MrsSkoorbs brother. He did not mutter a word until he could string together full sentences! He is a very normal and healthy child and will be starting school this year... although I think he is on his way to being gay

I have also been around many autistic children and honestly I think you would know already if he was... I think that him not speaking is actually an indication that he is normal because all the autistic kids I have seen cannot form words but try very hard to do so...

Good luck at the doctor and remember to get a second opinion no matter what the first doc says...

 

[badmouse]

I have a lot of experience with autism. There are a LOT of different types and degrees of autism - things that a while back wouldn't have been called "autism" are now included under that label. If he were severely autistic, the kind that you're probably worried about, you'd know by now.

If he does have some kind of autism, the earlier it's diagnosed and treated the better. Lots of things respond really well to early intervention.

And if he does have a diagnosis, it will be much better for him to have it BEFORE he starts school, because then he won't have the horrible problems trying to adapt without modifications. Schools can be horrible places for kids with a slight socialization difficulty.

edit: as for labels, you've already labeled him a "typical toddler". labels are very important, so if he does come up with some diagnosis, be sure you think of it as "typical toddler with a little bit of autism thrown in" or something along those lines.

 

[Sealy]

Well the Dr. visit was good. Our GP is awesome! We told him the situation, with my mother-in-law, and he said, well let's see what we can do to get her off your back!

He observed Alex playing in the office and he said, although it was a short period of time that he saw Alex, that he seemed like a very busy two year old that is just choosing not to speak. He absolutely understands us, is very aware of his environment and looks for approval from us. He is going to get a specialist to call us and set up a meeting so we can get Alex tested. He said, that he was quite sure that my m.i.l. would not just "accept" his humble opinion!

Basically I just feel better now, for as the Dr. put it, worst case scenario, we've caught something early and now we can work to correct it, best case scenario, he's perfectly fine and we've just wasted medicare, and everyone's time! So anyway we look at it, something good is going to come out of it!

I'll post more when we have him tested. Again thank you everyone for your kind words and helpful posts.

 

[bradruth]

Good news, Sealy!

 

[waggy]

yeah good news sealy.

 

[lokiju]

Good to hear, keep us posted.

 

[BCYL]

Good news Sealy!

 

[iamme]

great news

as a parent i can understand how stressful situations like this can be.

my son was a late talker too. he could sound out and recognize the entire alphabet at an early age (around 2) but his articulation was slow. the doctor wanted to run all kinds of tests on him to see if something was wrong. a few years later (and lots of worrying of course), and i can barely keep the little motor mouth quiet

best of luck!

 

[Sealy]

Originally posted by: iamme
great news

as a parent i can understand how stressful situations like this can be.

my son was a late talker too. he could sound out and recognize the entire alphabet at an early age (around 2) but his articulation was slow. the doctor wanted to run all kinds of tests on him to see if something was wrong. a few years later (and lots of worrying of course), and i can barely keep the little motor mouth quiet

best of luck!

Hehe! Yes there is a saying that says: You spend the first 2 yrs. encouraging your kid's to walk and talk, and then you spend the next 17 yrs. trying to get them to sit down and shut up!

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: Sealy

Originally posted by: iamme
great news

as a parent i can understand how stressful situations like this can be.

my son was a late talker too. he could sound out and recognize the entire alphabet at an early age (around 2) but his articulation was slow. the doctor wanted to run all kinds of tests on him to see if something was wrong. a few years later (and lots of worrying of course), and i can barely keep the little motor mouth quiet

best of luck!

Hehe! Yes there is a saying that says: You spend the first 2 yrs. encouraging your kid's to walk and talk, and then you spend the next 17 yrs. trying to get them to sit down and shut up!

maybe he's just going to grow up to be a really good listener

just you wait, his first words will be incredibly profound, mark my words

again, best of luck!

 

[Sealy]

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: Sealy

Originally posted by: iamme
great news

as a parent i can understand how stressful situations like this can be.

my son was a late talker too. he could sound out and recognize the entire alphabet at an early age (around 2) but his articulation was slow. the doctor wanted to run all kinds of tests on him to see if something was wrong. a few years later (and lots of worrying of course), and i can barely keep the little motor mouth quiet

best of luck!

Hehe! Yes there is a saying that says: You spend the first 2 yrs. encouraging your kid's to walk and talk, and then you spend the next 17 yrs. trying to get them to sit down and shut up!

maybe he's just going to grow up to be a really good listener

just you wait, his first words will be incredibly profound, mark my words

again, best of luck!

Well he can already play twinkle twinkle little star on a real piano without help now, so he's on his way to greatness!

<------proud momma!

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: Sealy

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: Sealy

Originally posted by: iamme
great news

as a parent i can understand how stressful situations like this can be.

my son was a late talker too. he could sound out and recognize the entire alphabet at an early age (around 2) but his articulation was slow. the doctor wanted to run all kinds of tests on him to see if something was wrong. a few years later (and lots of worrying of course), and i can barely keep the little motor mouth quiet

best of luck!

Hehe! Yes there is a saying that says: You spend the first 2 yrs. encouraging your kid's to walk and talk, and then you spend the next 17 yrs. trying to get them to sit down and shut up!

maybe he's just going to grow up to be a really good listener

just you wait, his first words will be incredibly profound, mark my words

again, best of luck!

Well he can already play twinkle twinkle little star on a real piano without help now, so he's on his way to greatness!

<------proud momma!

very nice!

btw, i noticed that your mother-in-law was the source of this diagnosis. that's a whole subject all by itself. always the first to assess blame and the last to give compliments....especially with child rearing

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: bradruth
Good news, Sealy!

 

[Pliablemoose]

<--Nurse, not a peds nurse, but, my nephew was freaking mute till nearly 3.5 years of age. We didn't know what the heck was going on. Essentially speech is a very complex set of behaviors &amp; children sometimes take a very long time to grow the nerves &amp; develop the speech centers in the brain.

(&amp; please understand I know next to nothing about autism)

He's 6 now &amp; you cannot get him to STFU, he's reading @ a 2nd grade level &amp; precocious as hell.

 

[Sealy]

The appt. with the specialist went really well. I love the Dr. and he obviously has a way with kids, as he had my son sitting so very nicely on his lap! My son does not sit still!

Anyway, long story short, he's not concerned at all. He said the only thing my son is behind in is his speech, and being that he understands what we are saying, takes away any concerns he may have.

He wants us to come back and see him in Nov/Dec. when my son is over 2.5yrs. He said he may hook us up with speech therapy, simply because there can be a long waiting list, and IF there is a problem he wants my son to be able to get in a.s.a.p. If it turns out that there is no problem, and he starts talking a mile a minute...then so be it, we can just take him out!

I feel much better, I sent my m.i.l. a long stick it to ya email (in a nice way). So hopefully it will get her to back off now!

Thanks again to everyone for your kind words

 

[AmerDoux]

Very cool, Sealy

Sometimes people can be overly-critical, especially when it comes to children (who are not their own). But no child is on a fixed schedule.