Oh Jaz...been there, done that.JazFusion wrote:Hi all. I haven't really read anything in this thread, but I hope to soon.
Anyway, long story short, I think my son might be autistic. He's 16 months old. If I may, I'll post my thoughts from my LJ:
It's been deep down inside my core for the last 14 months. I've tried to talk with people about this, but everyone brushes it off. "He's fine!" "Look how well he's doing!" I've even avoided talking with my pediatrician, because I am ashamed. I am ashamed because I am not well-informed. I am ashamed that I may be right.
I think David is autistic. I've felt this since he was 2 months old. There are just certain signs that I would see and I would feel in my gut. He's autistic. I talked about it with Mike once, and he told me he didn't think he was. So for a long time I passed it off as normal baby behavior. Every once in a while I would feel it in my gut, as I was laying in bed, praying that I'm just being neurotic.
I would scour the internet for any and all information, and as the months passed he would hit more and more of the symptoms described. I'd shut the window closed and shut my mind off with it. He's not. Can't be. He's fine. Look how well he's doing.
JazFusion wrote:But I can't deny it any longer. Call it mother's intuition, call me crazy, call it whatever you want, but I can't deny it.
As I said in the other thread, mother's instinct is very strong. But, as Lore said, let the professionals diagnos.
It may be a co-morbid of austim, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, and not autism itself. Try and get a referral to a SIPT (I think that's the acronym) ceritified Occupational Therapist. They are the most qualified for diagnosing and treating SID.JazFusion wrote:There are just too many symptoms he has that coincide with being autistic:
One, he doesn't like to cuddle. I can't hug him without him squirming away. I can't hold him without squirming away. I can't kiss him without him shying away. He rarely kisses back. The most cuddling I can do with him is have him sit in my lap.
This is so hard, because as that site says, there are those who are understimulated or over stimlulated by sensations.
Again, children develop at their own speed. Discuss this with his pediatrician.JazFusion wrote:He has difficulty expressing his needs and wants. He doesn't point. He doesn't make gestures. He doesn't wave "hi" or "bye-bye". The only way I know he wants something is if he whines or screams. Example: I will ask him if he wants something, say a bottle, and he will whine or cry. He doesn't say "want ba-ba" or "ba-ba".
*sigh*JazFusion wrote:He has repetitive body movements: one is his hand flapping, and the other is his rocking. The hand flapping he usually does when he's happy, or in his high chair. The rocking he does when he's about to go to sleep, and just about any time lately. Especially in front of his fan when it's on.
He also has a fascination with repetitive movements. Wheels, especially. He likes to watch them turn. Pretty much anything that is repetitive he likes to do. Switching lights on and off, etc.
OK. Maybe. Follow your gut.
Try and get referrals to an SIPT-certified Occupational Therapist for the possible SID, and a referral to a developmental neurologist. These are the professionals in the US who are most qualified to do this testing. Unfortunately, the waits to be seen are long, on average six months, by qualified specialists. But too many misdiagnosis are done by other types of practitioners.JazFusion wrote:Monday I'm going to just call the pediatrician. I'm not going to discuss this with anyone.
I just want to know the truth.
Keep us informed. We're here for you.