i belive my son has autism but no one will help me!

Rosie - posted on 03/16/2012

Hi Ashley,

first of all I'd like to say, you are not crazy! In fact, you are doing a great job as a parent, because you are seeing these red flags! I am not a psychiatrist, therefore I can not dx. However, I am a mother of 3 children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder and a nurse who has put my career on hold to take care of my family. Your story is very familiar to those who experience healthcare nightmares. The first thing you need to do is find a new pediatrician, because the Dr. you have communicated your concerns to, has obviously not addressed your child's needs. I would either put it in writing that you would like a referral to a community disability/mental health clinic or let them know that you will make a formal complaint about this Dr. not helping you with your son's treatment. This is only if finding a new Dr. is too difficult for you. It is very important that you move as fast as possible, the sooner you get the dx the better. My oldest daughter was dx late at age 3 1/2 yrs., and if she would of gotten earlier intervention, she would of been a lot better off. There are studies on autism that prove that, the early the intervention the better off the outcome. My other two children are perfect examples of how wonderful therapy works.

Also, I want you to know that everything you listed on the forum are all signs of autism. My children have had almost every symptom you have listed, in the past. Don't get discouraged, you are on the right path in advocating for your son and it is going to be very challenging once you get that diagnosis. Let me know if you have any questions, I will try my best to help.

-Rosie :)

Tania - posted on 11/02/2011

i know its frustrating but go ahead with speech therapy and thet will lead to a referral if what you have written are the problems thats what i had to do . good luck

Elena - posted on 11/02/2011

Ifyour insurance is anything like mine, they will tell you certain evaluations are education and not pay for it. I would suggest contacting the local school district and ask for your child to be evaulated. they will do this and not give you guff about doing it. you may find that they have a classroom for your child. worse case they may tell you to contact them when your child is 4 yrs old because of program rules. next find a real doctor. call your insurance and ask for a list of doctors who participate. let them know that you are not happy with your current provider due to not sending your child to get looked at by another doctor. i would not say that you think he has...don't even go there. just tell them what your child is doing and that the current provider has done nothing. some stuff will fall under mental health services while some will fall under the regular contract side. talk with your insurance provider and find out what will fall under what.

Rose - posted on 01/04/2011

I live in Jefferson City, Missouri.

I fought with doctors for years because I new my son was just not quite right. At 3 years old he was diagnosed ADHD, but I kept telling them there was something else. I argued through that diagnosis then one for sensory integration disorder. Then finally when he was 12 years old I found The Thompson Center.

The therapists there did a barage of tests on him and asked me all about his lack of large motor skills and the fact that he was still wearing pullups for soiling himself.

He would not look others in the eye when he talked to them and preferred the company of children much younger than himself than those of his own age.

Finally after about 30 hours of testing and a colonoscopy to make sure he was physically alright, They came up with the diagnosis of PDD-NOS.

He was put on medication for the inattentiveness and impulsiveness and anger issues, and gave me some tips to help him focus better. When he can focus on things, he doesn't get as angry.

My advise is to keep after the doctors and don't back down. If you can see that there is something not quite right, then there is probably something to it.

Myrta - posted on 07/27/2010

HI I HAVE A SON ALSO WITH AUTISM,MY SON ALSO WAS BAGING HIS HEAD BECAUSE HE COUNLDNT EXPRESS HIS SELF LINE UP HIS TOY'S ,VERY HIPER CRY ALOT WHEN I CALL HIM BY HIS NAME HE NEVER LOOK AT ME HE DID ALL THAT WHEN HE WAS TWO YRS OLD FIRST THINK I DID CHECK HIS HEARING,HIS HEARING GOOD I SAID TO MY SELF OMG WHAT IS IT, HIS DOCTER TOLD ME HE HAVE SIGNS AUTISTIC I DIDNT KNOW WHAT THAT MEAN SO I GOT HELP FOR HIM WITH JFK JOHNSON REHABILITATIO INSTITUTE THEY EVALUATE HIM AT HOME HE WAS VERY DELAY FOR HIS AGE SO HE GOT EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM HE HAD SEVEN THERAPIST COME HOME IT HELP ALOT HE'S ALOT BETTER NOW HE'S SEVEN YRS OLD GOING TO SECOND GRADE THANK GOD THAT HE HAD GREAT TEACHER'S HE HAS LEARN ALOT HE'S TALKING MORE USEING HIS WORD'S HE'S POTTY TRAIN,HE'S DRESS HIS SELF HE'S LISTEN WHEN HE'S IN STORE WITH ME NOW, HE CAME ALONG WAY,REALLY I DIDNT THINK THAT HE WASNT GOING TO DO WAS HE IS DOING KNOW THAT'S HOW BAD IT WAS HE'S STILL NEED MORE IMPROVEMENT . CALL JFK JOHNSON REHABILITATION INSTITUTE EVEN THAT YOU ARE NOT FROM MIDDLESEX COUNTY TELL THEM THAT YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO BE EVALUATE THEY WILL TEST HIM THEY WILL TELL YOU WHERE TO TAKE HIM IF YOU ARE NOT FROM HERE. THE NUMBER IS 732-548-7610 WEB SITE IS WWW.NJREHAB.ORG GOOD LUCK GOD BLESS YOU AND SON HAVE ALOT OF FAITH HE NEED YOU TO BE STROUG FOR HIM FIGHT FOR HIS RIGHT'S I PRAY FOR YOU MYRTA CORACHAN.

Jennifer - posted on 07/27/2010

Find a different Doctor get a 2nd opionon.... It took a few months but that was after my son was in school and had been suspended so many times i lost count over the 2 years he was in. I ended up going to a Peds Psyc dr that delt with behavior management and all the different spectrums of Autism... Keep looking for someone to help. NOT Saying your Peds is wrong most Peds dont think to look. At the first look i was told my son was Bi-Polar (that doctor and i did not last). he was not. he is full blown autisic but is in the high functioning catagory due to he does speak. (also in speech classes at school). get a hold of the autism chapter in your area for a recomeded doctor and go....

MARY - posted on 07/26/2010

Dear Ashley, I can say I have been in ur shoes and right where u r... My son is 12 yrs old and we knew that from about 1 1/2-2 yrs old that he was different. We have 2 other children and they r older, but we as parents knew something was different... Like u I had a list and NO DR'S would look or listen to me... They di see that he had ADHD,BIPOLAR, and OCD, but they refused to see the AUTISM... it has taken me over 8 plus yrs to finaly get someone to listen to me, BUT they said that it is a mild case of AUTISM. I beg to differ, and the flapping of his hands, rocking, being violent, mind spand, and there is much more, is just getting worse..... I do alot of reseach on line and find thing that the DR'S either don't think I need to kw or just don't kw them selves, and that is really making me mad, because this is MY son we r talking about and there r so many other parents and children out there that r suffering from this disease, and it's not just the children that suffer we as the parents suffer right along with them.
where do u live? My son has seen so many DR's had so much testing done, that he is beside himself.... We think that he is having sezuries, so they rean a EEG and found nothing well they an and I am going to demand a MRI-CBC blood test-CT and these will detirm if ur child is having anytype of sezuries activities......
I have found that NO ONE is going to help my son BUT us his parents.....
Hope that u will getthe answers that u need and if u need help let me kw I will give u all the info that I have..
God BLess

Sharla - posted on 07/12/2010

I understand what you are going through with teh doctors. My son has been diagnosed with autism an aspergers, but he is very high functioning so for a long time I couldn't get anyone to listen. I knew he was different then all my friends kids but because they considered him advanced they wouldn't help me figure out what was going on. Due to all his illnesses he has to see several specialist and his doctors are at a children's hospital and still it took me several years to get anyone to listen. don't give up one day I took him to the doctor and his regular doctor was out so we saw another doctor and when I told him what was going on he told me he wanted to have him tested and sent a referral that day. you just have to hang in there and don't give up.

Barbara Ann - posted on 07/11/2010

Your pediatrician is an IDIOT! Brace yourself to deal with a lot more idiots too. My daughter is and has been doing the many of the same things for years and even my soon to be ex-husband is in denial of her conditions. You need to find another pediatrician. One that is truly interested in your child's developmental needs and one that you are comfortable with. Doctors and pediatricians are running from the diagnosis of Autism because vaccinations "could be" linked to the cause and they don't want parents to steer away from vaccinations. The hardest part is getting the diagnosis. I don't know where you are from, but the Miami Children's Hospital is the facility I am dealing with and so far they are GREAT! Best of luck to you and your family!

Paula - posted on 07/11/2010

Your son has a lot of the same things going on that I saw in my son when he was three. Find another pediatrician and if that one won't listen to you, try another. Please don't let the time go by. I let other people convince me that it was nothing (my parenting or me comparing him to my other child) but my son also had PDD-NOS. I eventually took him to a developmental pediatrician at a local children's hospital and she diagnosed him in a matter of two hours. I cost me $600 that I couldn't really afford but I couldn't afford not to. I kick myself for the months that I wasted listening to my regular pediatrician and other people. Those were months that my son could have been getting help. Remember, you are his voice and his advocate. He can't ask for the help he needs, you have to. With proper therapies, my son has made awesome progress and yours will too.

Emily - posted on 07/11/2010

Get a new doctor!

Ann - posted on 07/10/2010

Hi Ashley

I am living in Northern Territory (Australia) and both my boys have Autism. I have had similar problems you've encountered. Have you tried asking your local Health Nurse, or do you know of any specialist school for disability? Sometimes they might be able to steer you to the right direction.

Donna - posted on 07/10/2010

Contact STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: Special Education Services in your state. They provide testing for the schools but I am not sure what the age limitations are currently. My grandson lost three yrs of help because his parents didn't want to recognize the early signs of his problems. Don't give up & the sooner he is tested & diagnosed the better for you all. It is very frustrating when no one listens to your pleas for help or just direction. I wish you much luck & don't give up.

Kimberly - posted on 07/10/2010

If you cant get a new Pediatrician I say send him to preschool. They will Definitely refer him to some agency where you live if he is having half of the behaviors you listed. More than likely if he is three he will be referred to our local school district and then you can go from there....But I wouldn't even take him back to the Dr and personally I wouldn't do anymore vaccines..until you find out why he is getting sick from them.

Kimberly - posted on 07/10/2010

Hello I'm from CA, even though ur little one isn't old enough to go to school, we direct all our families to start at their school district special services office, speak to the special services director, tell them u like ur child to be referred to the autism assessment team. The school district will make a referral to your counties office of educations special education departments autism assessment team & your school district will or is suppose to have their SLP, behavior support specialist, & nurse evaluate him too. A psychologist from the county along with their assessment team will evaluate & intake information from you & the entire team. If a parent makes a self initiated referral they can't turn u away, but in our county it all starts with the school district you live in if u live in CA, id advise u to go there. Also the regional center is a great place to go they will diagnose & refer u to the counties special ed dept, where they will test & diagnose as well. As for ur doctor, if ur doctor can't see that some of the important developmental milestones are not being met & isn't able to see your concern id advise you to seek out another ped. Hope this helps, please don't give up.

Kelly - posted on 07/10/2010

It sounds just like my daughter who is 11. It was also my fault too. We finally got a diagnosis in 3rd grade. It gets better with time and help. Positive reinforcment is key.. catch him being good and reward like with marbles or chip and thehe can get things with so many marbles. It really works. Ignore bad behavior unless hurting self,others, or property. Go see a pediatric neurologist or psychiatrist. Good luck and stay strong!

Andrea - posted on 07/10/2010

I started with the school system when my son was 4 because I had tried having him evaluated at 2 and they were hesitant to put a label on him because he is high funcutioning and they thought he might grow out of it. Now at 6 we are struggling with it all over again. A developmental pediatrician or a psychologist is where I would start. You may be able to call your insurance and get a preapproval to get psych testing depending on their policies. The school district will do some testing and get you some help, but their diagnosis are not "official" regardless of the professionals they employ. And they will only do an eval once every 3 years. A developmental ped will help get you to a psychologist or you can contact them yourself. They do the testing and diagnosis. Then a psychiatrist can give you meds (that is all they do) and then a therapist will actually help you and your son work on issues in your life that may help him. Your state dept of human resources doesn't provide services anymore at this age, but they can probably help you with referrals or hook you up with an educational advocate that can help you navigate the school system and get your child what he needs.

Karen - posted on 07/10/2010

I have a 15 year old, high functioning, autistic step son who has been living with us for the past 4 years. I quit my job and probably spent the first 6 mos. researching resources, etc. here in Texas. He had been diagnosed at age 3 1/2 and his biological mom had done everything prior to that when he lived with her. Some major resources I have found that have been a tremendous help have been our Mental Health Mental Retardation (MHMR) office, as well as Autism Speaks. MHMR may be willing to evaluate him so I would highly recommend contacting them.



I hope this helps.

Rachel - posted on 07/10/2010

where do you live? If in Boston area- see a developmental pediatrician at Childrens Hospital- Develpmental Medicine Center. I am sorry you are having so many issues with your son- it can be truly heart breaking, but even more disturbing to not get the support from the professionals who truly need to be helping you. Your son needs to be seen by a higher level developmental pediatrician, and then a neuropsychologist who can test him on many levels and see if he truly does have a diagnosis. You are right to question authority, now just keep pushing as far as you can go. Good luck to you!

Shelley - posted on 07/09/2010

keep on trying I took a simular list to my ped a couple of wks ago & she was very receptive to it & spent alot of time asking Questions & observing my son.

Anjanette - posted on 07/09/2010

It is possible that he has Asbergers Disorder which is similar to Autism. My son has Asbergers and is now 13. He wasnt diagnosed until age 10. This diagnosis is much more difficult than Autism because it isnt as clear cut with the developmental signs. I knew there was something different with my son from age 3 but never could get a diagnosis. After years of battling school and tantrums and taking him to therapy, psychiatrists, psycologists and working with teachers I finally demanded that my pediatrician figure out what his disability is....he sent us to a developmental specialist and voila! It was expensive but they were right on and from there I knew what I was dealing with. What a relief. Its one thing to have a kid with special needs....but its a nightmare to have a special needs kid that everyone writes off as behavior issues from poor discipline/parenting. Now he has the services and help he needs at school. He is able to communicate better and interact with others.

Amie - posted on 07/08/2010

call your local school district and talk to special services division, tell them you suspicions and that you would like to have a early childhood evaluation done at schools expense. once your child turns 3 the school dist has an obligation to educate your child , start there. you do not need your sons ped to be on board

Sam - posted on 07/08/2010

It's frustrating, I know! I don't know where you're writing from but in MN there is a wonderful group by the name of Fraser. They may be in other states but they test and diagnose all ages (baby thru young adult) for all types of developmental disorders along the ASD and also neurological disorders, behavioral disorders and the like. You could also look them up online and call them to see if they know of any resources from where you live.

Kris - posted on 07/08/2010

My son has Autism and no one would believe me. I started out with the Birth to Three Program through our county for speech. (I live in WI). When he turned three he qualified for our Early Childhood program, because of his speech, through our school district. I told the teachers I think he has Autism and I want you to let me know if you agree, because they can't come out and diagnois for legal matters. I had to tell them I wanted them to tell me. My friend, whose son has Aspergers, told me about a place in the Fox Cities that came to your house and interviewed the parents and observed the child: Fox Valley Autism Treatment Program.
Keep your list. Call your county Health and Human Services Department. They should be able to get you started toward a diagnosis. If you really like this Doctor, go back and tell him, I want you to listen to me. Most medical & pediatic doctors know very little about Autism other than the 'red flag' signs.
He has the classic signs, textures in food, lining up of objects, focuses in on certain things, repetition in various things. You may just have to take him to a different town. The main thing, YOU are your child's advocate. You have to keep fighting even if road blocks are in the way. This will bring out strengths you never knew you were capable of. The diagnosis is just the first step, it is a bumpy, twisty, road, but so very well worth it.
In the mean time as all the politics of getting help are happening here are some things that may help. First, if you are going someplace different--talk to your son about it (prepare him). Roleplay things that will take place. If you know that there is a certain focus that he likes and it is at this place, tell him that you are going to do your 'business--shopping, eating, etc.' and then you two will go hunt for the favorite item. Make sure you talk through each step before it happens to help prepare your son for change. Another thing you can do: take pictures/or drawings of your typical day, eating breakfast, changing clothes, bathroom, teeth brushing, etc. Then make a chart that shows him what is going to happen next. Wake up, breakfast, bathroom, washing up, teeth brushing, hair combing, toy playing, etc. Continue on as you go through the day. If there is a change in your daily routine, such as grocery shopping, put a picture of groceries or of the store in the slot, and then contiue on with the rest of the day. Talk through your list when you start your day (may need to talk through it several times during the day). I found that velcro worked best for the chart and pictures. This helps to prepare his mind, that is having issues with processing all the information going on around him, for the next step. Not only is it a verbal cue, but a visual one as well.
Good Luck, I will be praying for you!
Kris

Julie - posted on 07/08/2010

Contact your local school district and contact a pediatric neurologist in your area. School districts provide screenings and evaluations/programs and can help you and your son. ( early intervention is critical) A Pediatric Neurologist should listen and observe your son. You are very observant and it is NOT something you have done or not done. Bless y9u and your son and keep us posted.

Simmi - posted on 07/08/2010

http://www.autism-india.org/ . please contact this organisation. Action for Autism is an india based organisation but you can contact them online & they do answer to all your queries. The organisation was itself formed by parents of autistic kids & the amount of efforts they have put in is commendable. They are also in touch with organisations world wide linked to autism.

Based on what you have mentioned though i am no expert i feel your child is in the spectrum. But don't worry i don't feel it's not a all lost case .just write to them I am sure they will help you. And this blame game is something each mother has to go through so we all are fighting the same battle. Just learn to ignore them I know it's not as easy as it seems but try it.

Joyce - posted on 07/08/2010

wow, it defiantly sounds like your son needs to be seen by someone else specializing in autism.. i would just keep telling your peds doc you want to take him to another doctor specializing in this and you need the referral papers signed... my doctor was always good about sending my son to another doctor and it still took me 10 years to get a diagnosis... don't give up, i think parents know the kids the best and you just have to keep trying.... i think having my son in school and the school also saying something was wrong helped to get that diagnosis..... but keep at it and get your peds doc to sign the papers

Marlena - posted on 07/07/2010

i have an autistic son. 4 yrs old. Please, please, seek out a different doctor. Possibly get a referral to a neurologist. Your child needs you to be EXTREMELY proactive at this time to get him what he needs. See as many different doctors as it takes.

Kayla - posted on 07/07/2010

my 3 year old was diagnosed with autism last october. it took me forever to find help but once i got there it was amazing all the help we found. first you need to find someone to diagnose him after that i suggest you apply for ssi at your social security office. withh ssi you will automatically get a medical card. our medical card pays for therapy my son recieves speech and occupational therapy once a week.
a lot of things you described describes my son too. like no speech, what few word he says he only says the first syllables like more is muh and thank you is tha ya also my son has a high tollerance for pain he's constantly lining and stacking things.

Shawna - posted on 07/07/2010

search for a local autism society in your area to see what resources are available, early intervention is important

Jane - posted on 07/07/2010

Hi, It looks like your going to need to see some specialist. Your first stop should be to a Neurologist. If your Ped won't help then it's time to fire them and move on to a Ped that will listen to you. If you need a referral call your insurance co and explain your situation there is always a way to get things done.
Good luck

Jessica - posted on 07/05/2010

some states have early intervention...look up them. ur son is to old for them to help you know. but they will point u in the right direction.with a good occupatioinal therapist and speech therapist he will thrive. I know how you feel when it comes to doctors you just have to fight and if it means throwing a tantrum like a baby then by god throw one!

Laura - posted on 07/05/2010

that sounds excual the same as my 6 year old son. he has behaved like this every single day for 4 and a half years. we finally got a disgionised and he has add. but i always though autisim. i had to get to schools, 3 health vistors, 4 doctors and a socail worker to finally get me into see a ped. i was waiting 4.1/2 years! it took 2 years winally ith the schools help! unbeliveable!
but believe me, the wait was worth it when i finally got a answer!
KEEP FIGHTING, I KNOW ITS BLOODY HARD BUT YOU AS A MOTHER KNOW WHEN THEIRS SOMETHING WRONG AND YOU KEEP PUSHING AND PUSHING UNTIL YOU GET A ANSWER!

Diane - posted on 07/05/2010

If interested I do have a document that my husband put together - 5 pages listing exactly where our son was developmentally at age 3, and our goals for him by age four, as well as his actual development at age four, compared to those goals. While this may be different for your child who is older, it may give you some ideas as far as the detail. Admittedly, the school district scoffed at our lofty goals, saying that we would put so much pressure on our son that he would only regress. That was not the case. He far exceeded our goals in most areas. If you would like me to send them, I would need your email. It is a word document with a chart that I do not believer would be able to be pasted here as it is 5 full-sized sheets.

diane in TN (originally from southern CA)

Kristin - posted on 07/04/2010

Keep trying! Go to another doctor, go to any other agency, if you can afford it get him to a child psychologist who deals with Autism. Do whatever you have to for your son. In the meantime, research and do whatever you can until someone listens! I knew there was something different about my son when he was three. At six I took him to a pediatrician who treated me like a paranoid parent. My son was 12 before he was finally diagnosed with Asperger's. By then he was depressed, suicidal and had little self esteem. He's now 20 and still struggling with his self-esteem (although no longer depressed or suicidal). You know your son better than any doctor ever could. You live with him, you see what happens. The doctor only sees him for a few minutes at a time. Listen to your mother's instinct, it is most likely right!

Lynn - posted on 07/04/2010

Beverley,go into the CAF meeting prepared.Write down any questions you have,even if they seem silly or trivial.Take as much down in writing as you can because you'll forget when you leave the room.
My son is 13 and has obsessions,it was pebbles,computer games,xbox,trampoline,you'll notice it changes now and again.
Ask your doctor for a blood test for his IGE level,it measures histamine in blood,autistic children are intolerant to wheat and dairy yet they crave it.My son should have IGE of approx 63,it averages 3360,so he has to have lots of meds to reduce histamine and I try to keep him wheat and dairy free,plus reduce his yeast as I mentioned in my last post,it helps a lot.
If your son gets help at school,that is great,but even with a statement,that only provides a maximum of 13 hours a week 1 on 1 teaching.so a lot will come from things you learn from others along the way.
Contact NAS for advice,they have branch meetings all over UK,they will help with so much.
If you need anything or want to talk,send me a message.
I hope all goes well with CAF meeting,I have had to go to one every month for 15 months now,it's been useful.

Beverley - posted on 07/04/2010

i live in the north east newcastle northumberland. our son is still waitning to be diagnosed but we have been told that he has quite a few of the signs. his school has opened a caf for him and we have a meeing on tues, this is all so new to us. it breaks my heart to think of him alone at school. they are trying to get him 1 to 1 as he isnt doing well. all he wants to do is play on the x box. its as if he is shutting himself away hes only 5. he is such a loving little boy but can lose his temper. i am so pleased i have found this site knowing we are not alone helps alot

Diane - posted on 07/04/2010

Visit the TACA website www.tacanow.org - lots and lots of info and links to help families suspecting autism, and next steps after the diagnosis. They have chapters all over the US - maybe there is one that meets near you? If so, I highly recommend getting connected with a local Chapter, going to a meeting to get a Journey Guide, and attending a journey seminar to learn how to help your child improve.

diane in Middle TN, mom to a 12 yr-old recovering from autism

Terri - posted on 07/04/2010

You say that your son was born prematurely. Did he recieve any services from the local MHMR regarding his development? Mosy preemies "catch up" by age 2, but it's not that unusual for a preemie to have some lag time regarding emotional maturity that makes them "young" for their chronological age. An assessment couldn't hurt, but Ican tell you that an awful lot of the things on your list are things that both of my younger kids went through such as recognizing logos and wanting to wear the same things over and over. At one point when my son was 3 I had 5 identical "Batman" underroos t-shirts just because they were his favs. It was a small thing to do and made him happy. My daughter slept with her "lovey" for 4 years. It made her feel safe when she was alone in her room at night. Certainly get him assessed, but don't be shocked if it turns out that he just has some developmental delays related to being a preemie that are not actually autism.

Lynn - posted on 07/04/2010

Here in UK most doctors will tell you that you can't get a diagnosis until age 7.My son was 9 when we got diagnosis of Asperger's.
Change doctors,only give them the 5 or 6 most worrying symptoms and while you wait for a diagnosis,try a low yeast diet.Autistic children get a build up of yeast in their gut and it sends signals to brain differently,if you can either lower yeast intake or get anti yeast drops (Nystatin is good) you will notice a difference within a matter of `weeks.
Just persevere though,it's hard,but worth it when you finally get someone to listen to you.

Joyce - posted on 07/03/2010

Change doctors! Moms know! Trust yourself and get help now.

Faith - posted on 07/03/2010

Contact EASTER SEALS .

Marla - posted on 07/03/2010

Ashley , first thing find another pediatrician , one who will listen to you and refer you for testing , I live in Saskatchewan so not sure how things work where you are at My son is 14 and it took the very experienced first grade teacher noticing that he was struggling with reading at first they wrote it off as ADD, my boy had many of the symptoms that your little guy does minus the temper and melt downs J was a placid baby premie twin he was one of those babies who never cried but started with sensory issues after being vaccinated at 2 the vacuum sound drove him crazy I struggled for 2 years before we got a diagnosis of PDDNOS high functioning Autism spectrum ( Asbergers , he starts high school in Sept and is doing well good luck stay strong and don't take no for an answer after all we Mom's know our kids best

Jennifer - posted on 07/03/2010

If you haven't gotten help yet you need to find your local child psychologists office or psychiatrists office my childs pediatrician has nothing to do with his PDD which what my 7 year is old is diagnosed with they don't help and a psychologist if you find a good one will give you so much help I will tell you number one thing that will help him is making sure you keep your child on a regular schedule and if something is going to change let him know a while before and keep telling him so he can get ready for whats going on. Like I said not a doctor go find a good child psychologist or psychiatrist lots of luck hon!

Brandy - posted on 07/03/2010

If you are in the us, then you just missed the ECI cut off date for services, as they end at 3 years old. The school district should evaluate him if he is 3 years old. Good luck.

Shana - posted on 07/02/2010

Oh my God! You need to be very insistent. Doctors think they know everything and never listen to parents. At least, yours and a few others I know. Get in that docs face or keep calling till he/she gives you a referral to a developmental pediatrician. I had to call after I had been waiting to get in to one after like 8 months and I said, "Look, I NEED a diagnosis for my son. I know he is autistic and he needs to get help now. We can't wait!" I had an appointment the next month. Good luck! By the way, where do you live?

Rosemarie - posted on 07/02/2010

first definitely find another doctor...a mother knows when something is not right....I cant believe him...if you don't need a referral from him a neurologist would aid in helping...also a development pedi

Gayle - posted on 07/02/2010

Hi Ashley,

Here is the problem: Autism is a neurological problem that requires a psychological diagnosis. Most pediatricians and family doctors simply are not equipt to identify ASD's.
Yes, children on the spectrum can exhibit some problems with small and large motor function, but not all do. Here is something I did not know when I started on the journey to my son's diagnosis-

There are three things that you need to look for-

1) Problems with speech and/or language

2) unusual social or anti-social behaviors- here's where things like lack of eye contact, not wanting to be hugged or touched by people, not playing with other children, and the tantrums/ aggressive tentancies come in

3) Repeated behaviors- this can be rocking, twirling, hand flapping, pacing, etc....

After reading your list, I can see that you have something for all three. In your position, I would take the behaviors that fall into the three above categories and call your school system. If your area has a head-start program, call them. Here in Wisconsin, we have the Birth to Three program. Although my son was not formerly diagnosed when they evaluated him at age two, they did find that he was delayed enough in speech, and social areas that he qualified for services. They later evaluated him for occupational therapy as well. At age three, still with no formal diagnosis, we transitioned to the school system, where he attended morning classes in a small setting, and received speech and occupational therapy. All this time the problem in getting a diagnosis was me. We had been referred to a team of doctors right away who told me that my son was not Autistic, no way, no how. I believed them, and didn't seek a second opinion until he was four. He's eight now. He will be nine at the end of August. He is definitely Autistic. He also has appraxia of speech. He can't talk so that anyone can understand him. He uses a computerized communication device to tell us what he wants.

I hope this is helpful to you. Some other tips I thought I might pass along as I was reading your list of behaviors- you might look into purchasing a body sock for your child. This looks like a big pillow case that he can climb into. It's made out of swimsuit/stretchy material, so it hugs him. We find that for our son, he'd rather seek pressure from a surface or an object than from a human. This seems to be typical. Also, anything you might have that would allow your son to rock, jump, climb- all these things help brain development, and also can be organizing behaviors. It will help his motor planning. My son loves spinning in an office chair, also good. You may notice that your son does not get dizzy very easily.

OK, sorry to throw all this at you. I hope you find some of it helpful.

They best wishes and luck to you and your family.

Toni - posted on 07/02/2010

did you ever call tyke talk? It is an important first step! The speech therapist is very important and can help make a referral for you. At 3, it can be difficult to get a diagnosis as most toddlers are on different developmental time frames. If he qualifies for speech, go ahead and get started with that. It took me a few years to get more help for my daughter, but by 3 she was getting speech and in a day class. The school district does things differently depending on where you live, but they have tests and can start him in a day class or with speech therapy. Both are good for lessening the "symptoms" of autism spectrum disorders. If you do not get much help, try taking him to a fun place that helps him learn and encourages best behavior by offering choices, like Habitot or other places meant specifically for children under ten. Most can keep the environment safe so nobody gets hurt, and the choices offer so much fun that it distracts him enough to keep him busy.

Connie - posted on 07/01/2010

I have a son with autism and severe ADHD cominded type. A lot of the things that you are talking about seem to be ADHD related and security issues. Some stuff is just normal...lining up toys can also be a sign of a control issue. From your list he may have autistic like tendancies but not full on autism....I am not sure what city you live in...that makes a difference...we knew our son was different from infancy....the spectrum is wide and fierce....I susupect that he may have something but I am not conviced it is autism....a lot of kids will take a long time to sort out their speech...they will also have security issues to things like daycare, change of venue for sleep etc. I should also qualify myself as a mom with four kids two with special needs and a couple others that are rather inflexible to change. There are a million things that can be different about a child but there are some serious basic fundimentals that can help you rule out a long term difference. Absolute consistency with routine, feeding and bed time routine. You keep everything the same for a minimum of six months. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack nap time, dinner, and bedtime routine must be at the same time every single day. no fluctuations. If you truly believe that your child has autism and you want to prove the ped wrong then follow that...if none of these things improve his behavior then you do need to address. them with a professional... I noticed with my son that he was different very early on and I started to document everything with time and consistency and then when they noticed the level of journaling I did then they realized that I wasn't making stuff up...I hope for your sake that you are wrong but if you really believe this to be the case then follow my advice. I have been doing this for 15 years...I think that gives me a bit of credibility..Good Luck with your journey - I wish you weel =)