Autistic spectrum problems (smaller problems in it)

[Katydid]

How common are fine motor skill problems with Autistic spectrum disorders? My son, who is in the process of being diagnosed, has major fine motor delays, and I am just wondering how common this is, or if this could be a sensory issue. He has to have all five of his fingers touching a pencil or the scissors (which have to have a special spring thing for him to use them). How common is this?

 

[HeartsnFlowers]

Hi

I think fine and gross motor delays are common in autism. My ds is several years delayed in these areas. Occupational therapists are supposed to work with autistic children in those areas. Ds has some sensory issues on top of the motor delays. I guess one could cause the other though.

 

[Mirelys]

I hate scissors. I always pinch my fingers somehow...
I know I've had problems with gross motor skills, so it makes sense that fine motor skills could be delayed also.

 

[kayd1966]

Yeah...its one of the things that can be common. My son is the same way, for his therapy at home we have a bunch of stuff to do.

1. he only uses the short little broken crayons to color because is forces him to use fewer fingers.
2. short chalk, hang the board on the wall...this is the only place that my son holds a writing untensil properly so we do lots on the board then go right to the table.
3. use stencils with short pencils
4. mini markers are also great
5. get a three sided pencil gripper

you can also get different types of scissors to make him use fewer fingers...most have one small finger hole and one hole for two or more fingers...find the ones with two small holes (they look like hair cutting scissors but are kid friendly... I found some at the dollar store). Get him to cut things like playdough and strips of paper into little sqrs so that he gets used ot holding them without having to hold them for a long time....like the time it would take to cut out a picture or shape.

The spring is helping him cut but not really helping him strengthen his hands...he can build up is strength and coordination by squeezing things like those squeeze balls and rubber duckies...I put a bunch of those kinds of toys in the tub and my son loves making fountains by squeezing out the water.

Just a few ideas...by the way...how old is he?

 

[Katydid]

He is 4 1/2 yrs. old.

Those are wonderful ideas, thank you so much.

 

[kayd1966]

he's the same age as my son...James was diagnosed at 2 1/2 ... pm me if you need more information or just to chat.

 

[uniquetadpole]

Hi

I would say you are probably looking at sensory issues...but could be a combination.

I know that sensory issues are in a large part the hinderence in many parts of the developmental delays...in my opinion. The sensory issues take over and prevent the learning from happening I think. Think about it...if you are constantly being distracted by...let's say...itchy clothes...you will tend to concentrate on intching rather than the learning that is supposed to be taking place...add in the fact the most people with ASD think primarily through pictures in a world of auditory teachings...well if you ask me...how in the heck are we supposed to get it?

I agree with kayd...she has lots of good ideas to help your little one learn things in a different manner.

I also would see about getting an OT...it was the best thing that happened to me...I discovered a weighted blanket and it has done miracles for me.

hugs,
Tad

 

[aspie2x]

How common are fine motor skill problems with Autistic spectrum disorders? My son, who is in the process of being diagnosed, has major fine motor delays, and I am just wondering how common this is, or if this could be a sensory issue. He has to have all five of his fingers touching a pencil or the scissors (which have to have a special spring thing for him to use them). How common is this?

My son (HFA) now 10 had quite delayed fine motor skills. He still struggles with writing and his hand gets tired quickly. This year he has finnaly taken to a more acceptable pencil grasp which enables his writing to be more clearer. As far as I know this is fairly common.

 

[kayd1966]

my friend has a son that is delayed, has fine and gross motor skill problems and also has severe apraxia (he'll never speak)...he's 10 now and cannot hold a pen or crayon at all. This year, he's in a grade 3/4 split class and seems to be liking it but here's the story...I'm getting to:

In math, he was getting mad and yelling and having big fits in class, the teacher asked the mom what to do about this disruption...so mom went to class and watched...
the teacher was putting all the problems on the board, then the kids were copying them into their booksand doing the work then handing in the books to be marked...(anyone see a problem???? ) He can't hold a pencil...so writing down the ?s was taking up all the time and he was mad because he wasn't getting done and getting a big fat zero for not doing the work. The teacher thought he was at about a kindergarten level in math. Mom thought he knew math better than that so we went to Michaels (craft store) and got medium sized wooden stamps (for craft stamping) in 0 to 9, and +, -, x, =, and divide sign and a stamp pad. Put it all into a pencil case and sent him off to math class. He's at a grade 6 level in math!!! The teacher was so surprised....!

 

[uniquetadpole]

Doesn't surprise me in the least...I am so glad they found a solution.

 

[Princeofdragons]

Hi! I am the mom of princeofdragons. He was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome a few years ago. The thing we noticed was clumsiness and lack of strength in his upper body. He also had very poor fine motor skills. We took him to a physical therapist and he was able to overcome many of his difficulties. Tying shoes, holding a pencil (handwriting) and bike riding have all improved. He was helped by getting a trampoline as well. I am proud of all the steps he has taken to improve....emotionally and physically. He has so much more to overcome than the average person and he has been able to do it with great effort on his part. Don't give up. There is help. The road is long but Autism is a gift. The incredible ability to love unconditionally is one of those gifts.

 

[Katydid]

Thank you princeofdragons mom. I really appreciate you chiming in. I like the trampoline idea. I am not sure how to deal with things like riding a bike, right now, he can't even manage to pedal his tricycle, but we are still working on that one. Tying his shoes is a LONG way off, but maybe if we can get a therapist to help, not as far off as I think. I keep reminding myself that in every challenge, there is a blessing. It is nice to hear about those blessings from others who know. Thank you.

 

[Princeofdragons]

You are very welcome. I will pray for your son. My son is 14 years old so we had a very late intervention on his therapy. I would like to encourage you to try and get hooked up with someone who can give your son the physical help that he needs. It is wonderful to see the results of the therapy and insurance will probably cover most of the cost incurred. There are also loads of books on the various aspects of autism/aspergers syndrome that helped me understand what was going on in his head. Now that he is older he is able to express those things more clearly but early on it was nice to know we were not alone.

Trust in Him!
Princeof dragons Mom

Thank you princeofdragons mom. I really appreciate you chiming in. I like the trampoline idea. I am not sure how to deal with things like riding a bike, right now, he can't even manage to pedal his tricycle, but we are still working on that one. Tying his shoes is a LONG way off, but maybe if we can get a therapist to help, not as far off as I think. I keep reminding myself that in every challenge, there is a blessing. It is nice to hear about those blessings from others who know. Thank you.

 

[uniquetadpole]

Katydid,

Might I suggest finding an Occupational Therapist...Mine helped me so tremendously much.

 

[aspie2x]

Some other ideas that I thought of that we used with our son when he was younger are building with lego. We used duplo first as the smaller one was to difficult. This helps alot with strengthening the finger jooints the OT tols us. Also squezzy balls for excersising the fingers and hands. Using a tweezers to pick ups small objects, like leaves and small pieces of gravel outside or sultanas from a bigger bowl to the one thy can eat from. ( we strated with doing 5 to start with, then he could eat the 5 and then add on as it gets easier for them to do.) Picking up marblesand using it on a marble run as they recive a visual reward of the marbles going through the maze but it still strengthens little fingers.
For speech practice we did bublle blowing though various size blowers as this helps their facial muscles to form the right shapes and if they blow to hard the bubble breaks before it forms so it helps control volume too. Also blowing a paper across a table to the finish line with a straw. We would have races.
Hope these are helpful our son liked doing these activities and it was also helping him.

 

[kayd1966]

You just reminded me a another thing we did with James (we did the duplo to lego too)...we also got those squeeze clothes pins and would get him to put them around the edge of a can...it also was a good turn taking activity.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

Just wanted to say, I am a huge fan of early intervention. We had my son start testing when he was two and started therapy when he turned three. I truly believe without that therapy he would not be as high functioning as he is today. You would really have no clue he had AS unless he was in a stressful situation or in a larger group of people. He is very clumsy though and I call him my wet noodle because he is the floppiest seven year old you'll meet but he is very bright and very loving.

Another thing to keep in mind, a growing number of parents with children with autism are homeschooling because of the difficulties in school. Often these kids don't get the attention and help they need. We found a great private school for my son with less than ten kids in the class but even that was a bit much. We are homeschooling for a year just to allow him to socialize on his own terms. It has made a world of difference.

God bless you.

 

[uniquetadpole]

Man I wishI had my diagnosis sooner...sounds like the early intervention is a great help.

 

[kayd1966]

I agree with you Oregal...early intervention makes a huge difference. I think James would be closer to 'middle' functioning if we hadn't started so early. I was actually approached by his teacher on the last day of school to inquire if I was getting a second opinion before he enters grade one because she believes that he'll loose his diagnoses when we do. That was quite encouraging.