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Lena75

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How did you know that there was something "different" with your child?

We knew that something was wrong with our son at his 2nd birthday. He did not care for his cousins around him (which were quite a few), but he instead sat on Grandpa's lap most of the time or sat in a corner by himself with a new book. He didn't care for all the commotion around him. He had just turned 5 when we received his official diagnosis.
 
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DavidD

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About two years ago my wife took our girls to my mother-in -laws (grandmas) and my wife's aunt who teaches children with disabilities was visiting. Our youngest who is five (Hannah) is the one who we thought something was not as it should be. My wifes aunt was watching Hannah and mentioned to my wife about aspergers because of her actions. Not liking noise, light or CHANGE of any kind, Hannah does not adjust to any change very well but she is doing better. For almost three years she would not talk to me her daddy, just her mommy and sister now she always talks to me but there is the change and other areas that she is still dealing with. She does go to school but will not talk to her teacher but her teacher is great and Hannah is doing fine, but if her teacher is not there Hannah has a melt down as with any change that is major to Hannah. The melt downs happen at home mainly because Hannah does not communicate a lot at school and home is her comfort zone. We pray over her and for her always and I give God the thanks for the changes in Hannah especially her talking to me again. This is not all about Hannah just some of the major parts, I pray you can understand what I typed here.
 
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Lena75

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Oh, I understand what you typed! My son just started talking to me at age 7! Yep, wouldn't say a word. Not even with the speech therapist. Had 18 months of speech therapy with NO results. School was about the best thing we've done for him. He's talking more now. Some complete sentences, still working on it. He's got over 100 words to his vocabulary. Now to use them....takes lots of time and patience. I thank God everyday that he's gotten as far as he has. And I pray for lots of patience and wisdom and understanding. It's also helped when we saw a psychiatrist every 6 months for 3 years. Basically just to monitor progress or regress, you know? So that is "done" for now until more issues come up and we may need the doctor's help again. We've NEVER had our son on meds. Psychiatrist wanted to, but hubby and I planted our feet firmly down and said no. More than once. I believe God has worked so many miracles in our son's young life.
 
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DavidD

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We took Hannah to therapy around a year and a half ago now and that gave us a clear picture of what we had overlooked. I went with them a couple of times and the first time I thought I was going to just break down because what I was seeing was NOT my baby girl. I saw her out of her comfort zone (Home) and it hurt to see her this way. She called this the ball place because she loves to roll and throw and the big one she could lay on was great for her she seemed relaxed. There are to many nights to count that I prayed over her and just sit next to her bed and lay my head next to her as I cried for her and we see now that God indeed answered our prayers. She is talking to me a lot and once again I thank God for this but I now see how I overlooked the blessing of my baby talking and when she would not talk to me it hurt, and now I cherish this buit I have to watch myself that I don't allow Hannah to become spoiled. She is a different girl from last year but we see what we need to watch for also and this helps but at times can become so I'm just going to say it frustrating. I say this because there have been times when I felt I failed as her daddy but then I see those loving eyes look at me and touch my heart and I just know all is well In Jesus name.
 
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kayd1966

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Hi...my son James will be four in July...I began noticing something was wrong when he was about 20 months. He would act like we weren't even there, line up all his toys all around the living room, and wouldn't talk at all.

I started the diagnosis process (hearing tests, speech assessments, etc) and finally got our official diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder last August.

I started him with a speech therapist when he was 25 months and that continued till last September when he started school at an Early Intevention Preschool. He attends 5 mornings a week. Last Spetember he had 15-20 words but was not using them properly. Now he has around 300 and uses most of them in complete sentences.

Sending him to school was the best thing we could have ever done for him.

Do any of your children learn visually? James is SO visual, I use sign language and pictures along with verbal when I'm teaching him new words or concepts. I'm also begining to use social stories.

Hope this makes sense.

Because of Jesus!
KayD
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9​
 
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Lena75

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Yep! Sign language, Picture Exchange Communication System and social stories is all how we got our son to finally start talking. Brought him to speech therapy sessions for 18 months, with NO improvement. So our therapist had made the referral to get him diagnosed for autism. Had a 10 month waiting period and sure enough. He has moderate autism spectrum disorder. Now, we did another test last spring and he also is MID - Moderately Intellectually Delayed. He doesn't really socialize with kids his age and is mostly in his own little world. From reports at school, he is trying to do more things with the kids in his class (grade 3) and the students are also being encouraged to help out with him when needed. He has an EA (educational assistant) whom he shares with a Down's Syndrome boy. But, they've had a great year this year and we're really happy with progress! God bless all these people who make a difference!
 
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Cat59

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With Tom, it was his strange speech- he had words but they were generally just repeated from things he'd heard. He also lined things up- mainly videos, which he would remove from the box, tear off the label and put on the back of the sofa, if I didn't get there in time. He had a strange way about him with others especially children his age, who viewed him as if he was from another planet and in school he just couldn't function- he'd be hysterical at anything new and especially at strange noises.
He was diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder (mild) at about 7, but has not been able to manage in mainstream school and developed other problems, possibly related to epileptic activity in his brain, when he was 11. He ended up in a wonderful special school for children with asd, where he's doing very well.
 
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rakkoon

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When my daughter was 2 y/o people at my church suggested I get her tested for autism. I had no idea what that was for all I knew I thought the were telling me my daughter was "Artistic" LOL I had no idea. We started to notice that she had 3 words capacity she would learn a new word then drop one to remain with 3.I did get her tested by a well known Neurologist here in California. when she started school at 3 years, by 5 her capacity was 5 words.
Now at the age of 15 y/o she has a wide variety of words, she can speak in sentances now. She is almost at normal level now. If you saw her on the street you wouldn't even think there was anything wrong until you spoke to her. I think mentaly she is at a 10 y/o level. She loves balloons and Yugio cards.
 
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alaurie

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My nephew's pediatrician, a friend of my mom's, told my mom this mornng he thinks my nephew needs to be evaluated for autism. My nephew (Wes) is 18 months old, has always had a strange gait, has been crawling more recently. He started speaking about 3 months ago (three words) but doesn't speak at all now. He doesn't respond if someone walks into a room or speaks to him but if my brother turns on Baby Einstein in another room at normal volume, Wes will walk to it like he's a zombie and sit and watch it as long as someone will restart it for him.

He interacts well with his mom and dad and my parents if he's face to face with them but stays in his own little world if several people are in the room with him. I see him maybe once or twice a month on weekends and he usually looks at me with a blank look each time he sees me.

I know this isn't the prayer request forum, but please pray for wisdom the doctor and for my brother and sister-in-law. Their baby is to go in for vaccinations next week and the pediatrician plans to schedule an 18 mo evaluation for Wes to observe him more closely.
 
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Bon

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Hi forU,
One of my bestfriends son's has had this same diagnosis as your son.

Moderate autism spectrum disorder....and they are waiting to see if he is Intellectually delayed. He is just over two and a half.

She (mum) is devestated....and feels very hard done by.

The speech therapist is teaching him sign language which he is reluctanlty learning (but progress is good), he does not say any words at all, just a lot of noises when he wants something, yet diagnosis is not set in cement.

I noticed that your son only began speaking at age 7. So there is hope for my friends son.

She is preparing herself and her family for a mute, intellectually disabled child who will be dependant on her for the rest of his life.

To me, her son seems very smart...he understands everything he is told, so I keep on encouraging her to see that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Is there anything that you can tell me to pass on to her that could encourage her, since your son is 4 years older than hers, and you have been through so many more milestones to date?

May our Heavenly Father bless you and your family with an abundance of strength, love, and faith.

With thanks from Bon
 
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kayd1966

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Bon;

keep encouraging you friend...it is a hard road to go down and all the dreams seem to have gone, there is a grieving stage and it sounds to me like that is what she is going through.

But there really is light at the end of the tunnel...my son is almost 4 and he's doing so well compared to what I was originally told. One Dr told me to prepare him for an institution...I cried all the way home but by morning I was determined that the Dr would be proven wrong.

There is tons of information on the internet and my suggestion is that she contact her local health unit, school distirct and recreation facilities to find out what is available in her area. Get him on every waiting list available...its always easier to say no later than to wish he was on the waiting list for some program.

There should also be a FEAT group in her area, they will be a huge source of information too and provide her with support from other families in the same situation.

Hope this helps...
 
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