Autism or Something Else

Maria - posted on 01/14/2012

I did a lot of face time with my twin boys (who are both on the spectrum), with big smiles and positive feedback well before my boys showed any signs of being non-verbal at 20 months. The Developmental–Behavioral Pediatrics, Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Specialist that saw my Tony 3 times before we asked her for a diagnosis (to help with school district paperwork), said that he was a challenge to diagnose. I asked why and she commented on how social he was, not just eye contact, but a number of things.I said did I help mask their diagnosis with the way I raised them. Tony and my husband & I saw her again recently (Tony is now 9 years old) and she said "you'll marry him off" and that I have a book because of our part in his succusses.



Stick with the expert, and offer my favorite saying to those doubters in a light-hearted way: "You know what they say, if you've met one child with autism, you've met one child with autism."

Jennifer - posted on 11/16/2011

wanted to update everyone my son who is now 3 finally got his apt with the developmental dr after talking with us and checking him out they were thinking he most likely has pdd or speech apraxia they didn't think it was actually autism but wanted to test him for it anyway so 2 days ago we had him tested and they decided he does in fact have autism he is at the milder end but its not pdd or aspbergers i guess its still a bit confusing to me i had prepared myself for a different dx so now i am not sure what to think i had thought maybe at times but never thought there were enough symptoms for it to really be autism to answere your original question about the child being loveable and eye contact ect my 3 yr old is very loveable and does look us in the eyes the way our dr described it is that kids with autism are all different some may have the ability to be loving and make eye contact but i guess from what i understand the biger thing is ability to communicate with others is usually affected it might be worth at least seeing a developemental dr about if nothing else it will rule it out my daughter willbe going this spring for testing and i did find out through some research that kids with chromo 18 disorders have higher chances of having autism they are actually doing research on chromo 18 disorders and what causes autism in these kids i have talked to the olace doing the research and once the paperwork is done we will be part of the research project so maybe we'll get even more answeres now

Sharlene - posted on 10/25/2011

Hi . my son is 8 yrs old and has autsim spertrum and is very loveable toward and gives me kiss and yes he does have perfect eye contact , darls go for a second opininon .All the best.Cheers

Christina - posted on 10/19/2011

Honestly, sometimes professionals who have diagnosed the same thing for 30 years may be quick to misdiagnose. I would take your child in for a second opinion! You deserve it and so does she.
I will tell you that there are degree's of Autism as I'm sure you already know so she may not have what people have seen as "Autism" because the extreme cases are usually the ones that everyone see's. But I would get a second opinion and find out just to make sure that your daughter wasn't misdiagnosed.
I hope this helps.
Christina

Stacey - posted on 10/14/2011

People, even professionals, such as therapists and teachers can misinterpret signs and symptoms because they are not doctors or specialists. they mean well, im sure but it seems they are using signs of classic autism vs. the specific symptoms unique to each of the autism spectrum disorders. I have hear the same thing many times about my 2 yr old and have learned to trust the specialists.

Chasity - posted on 10/11/2011

Not at all, I wonder the same things, the way I see it Emma is Emma she may have a disorder but that does not define her as a person. I am lucky that she is not at the severe end of the spectrum. It can be tough sometimes but hey what are you gonna do? Getting a diagnosis is the first step for you and your child to learning how to live with autism

Shilla - posted on 10/10/2011

First thing tomorrow i'm gonna try to make an appt with her. How do u cope with it? At times i'm okay but are times when i'm alone and i get really depressed because i feel like its all my fault. I've had to leave from my desk at work to go in the bathroom and get myself together. Am i overreacting?

Chasity - posted on 10/10/2011

Even if it takes longer to find out going to a well known doctor is the way to go I think!

Shilla - posted on 10/10/2011

Someone recommended her to me when my daughters speech therapist at baton rouge speech and hearing thought that she needed to be tested but was so anxious to find out asap that i went with the first place that had sumthn available....the psycological services center at lsu. We havw been to 2 sessions where they observed her while asking me a million questions. That was over a month ago. I have called and left numerous msgs, but they have not csll

Chasity - posted on 10/10/2011

I went to Dr Charlotte Hollman at the pediatric academic clinic in Baton Rouge. I waited months for the appt but she was the best. Since I made this post we have started looking at genetic problems since she does have a look about her thats not norm, so now we are doing genetic testing to see if there are any abnormalities. She has since had a regression telling me that it is in fact autism she has. She is back to screaming and grunting for stuff when she was using her finger and trying to say words and just a lot of other things she knew how to do but seems to forgotten.

Shilla - posted on 10/10/2011

@ chastity.....I'm going thru the same thing with my 33 month old daughter. What doctor did u go to?

Iridescent - posted on 05/24/2011

This is actually the current criteria for diagnosing autism -
http://www.firstsigns.org/screening/DSM4...

299.00 Autistic Disorder

An autism screening tool must meet all three primary areas defined by the DSM-IV description for autistic disorder (#'s 1-3 under A below) to qualify for a positive rating from First Signs:

A. A total of six (or more) items from (1), (2), and (3), with at least two from (1), and one each from (2) and (3):

(1) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

(a) marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors, such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction

(b) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level

(c) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest)

(d) lack of social or emotional reciprocity

(2) qualitative impairments in communication, as manifested by at least one of the following:

(a) delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)

(b) in individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others

(c) stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language

(d) lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level

(3) restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities as manifested by at least one of the following:

(a) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus

(b) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals

(c) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting or complex whole-body movements)

(d) persistent precoccupation with parts of objects

B. Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years: (1) social interaction, (2) language as used in social communication, or (3) symbolic or imaginative play.

C. The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's disorder or childhood disintegrative disorder.

Iridescent - posted on 05/24/2011

There is also "atypical" Autism. My son has it. He has great eye contact, and is very loveable. Lack of eye contact, believe it or not, is not diagnostic of autism, and presence of it is not proof autism is not the issue. Same for being very loveable - some autistic children happen to be extremely social - inappropriately so, running up and greeting strangers, etc, and our son is this way as well. Some of the doctors that diagnose autism have used a very rigid guideline and have taken the guidelines to extremes of behavior in one direction, forgetting the opposite can be just as important.

Dionne - posted on 05/24/2011

My kids have a genetic disorder called Fragile X syndrome, which causes autistic tendencies and symptoms, along with the sensory disorder symptoms, speech impairment as well. Has any of your doctors mentioned this as a possibility. The Fx can cause a lot or mild to non of the symptoms everyone is talking about. This may not be what your kids have but just a thought.

Penny - posted on 05/24/2011

•Asperger or High Function Autism? Our son has Aspergers, some still call it autism. I ask the doctor about it and she said Aspergers is a autism spectrum. And there are more then one and not all children show the same signs. I'm still new to all this also.

Teresa - posted on 05/24/2011

that sounds just like my son who is now 8 and still has alot of Autism tendencies but is very loving so that just labeled him as MR and Cerebral Palsey and he has been going to specialist since birth. So I just tell people he is a special child and if they need a diagnoses I say CP that is a pretty generic term. Good luck just do what is best for your child you don't need to prove to people that she needs help they already realize that and so just love on her

Kris - posted on 05/23/2011

Both of my boys, ages 3 and 5, have sensory processing disorder. I was where you are about 2 years ago, looking at a possible autism diagnosis in the older one, not really knowing what was going on with him, but knew there was something glaringly different between him and other kids his age. But, like your child, he was loving, hugging constantly, would look us in the eye, but had no idea what to do with another child other than run into him or hit him (as a very brief example). I very accidentally stumbled on to a website describing sensory processing or sensory integration disorder. Finally, things made sense! I had tears just streaming down my face as MY CHILD, not someone else's, was being described on this website. Finally, this was our answer! I could take this, along with his crazy array of symptoms, to the pediatrician and finally get rolling on solving the puzzle of my son. Ok, so it wasn't just that easy. We still struggle, a lot, as a matter of fact. But, at least we have a name for what is going on. I might suggest, knowing nothing more about your family than what you wrote, that you might want to look into sensory processing disorder (google it- there are a few really good websites...). Good luck, and hang in there!

Caryn - posted on 05/23/2011

My son has similar issues. He is 4 now and I can understand your frustration. Our Pedi said he doesn't have full blown autism. We think he has sensory issues and maybe PPD-NOS. For now, we're sticking with that diagnosis. It means he has less access to services since insurance doesn't cover unless the child is diagnosed on the spectrum. However, we use the techniques used by school district teachers and therapies for autism. He is making progress.

Loretta - posted on 05/21/2011

As a special education teacher (in addition to being the mother of a child with severe disabilties), I have learned that autism can present in a LOT of different ways - that's why it is a spectrum disability. However, I believe that many doctors are still diagnosing autism with children who actually have sensory processing disabilities. I think, now that sensory processing disability (or sensory integration disorder) is being considered for one of the disability categories under which a child can qualify for special services, we will begin to see a decrease in the number of autism diagnoses, and an increase in sensory integration/sensory processing diagnoses.

Having said all that, you will find it much easier to receive services with an autism diagnosis, and services are very similar. Particularly if you are trying to receive SSI, or if you need insurance to cover services, I wouldn't be in a big rush to get an alternative diagnosis on paper.

I'd be glad to talk to you more about that from a parent's perspective if you're interested!

Loretta

Elizabeth - posted on 05/19/2011

autism signs are no or low eye contact, spins self and or waves hands in front of face alot! seems to be in their own world delays cant think what the others are but that a few and my son they said has some feautres of autism but dont have it and me i believe he does but docs n teachers dont think he does

Laurie - posted on 05/19/2011

My daughter who is in the autism spectrum. Is very lovable and she now looks in are eyes all the time.( after years of working with her) And if I didn't tell people she is autistic they wouldn't really know... The school my daughter goes to has done wonders with her. Plus being positive parents helps also.. A lot of people don't realise that with hard work and positive attitudes autistic children can recover. Some cases are more server then others. But I believe any of them can recover if they have positive influence surrounding them.♥

Jennifer - posted on 05/18/2011

i would like to know that too i have 2 of my 4 children that have had several teachers therepists ect who think they remind them of an autisci kid but are very loveable social and will look at you but exhibit some of the signs of autism such as flapping along with other things they think if they have it they are high functioning and we do have a fam hx of it too so its not impossible they do have a rare chromosome disorder but i am not sure these things aren't just related to that since there is little research on it i am reluctant to believe it is autism i guess ifeel not enough things fit it so recently i too have been wondering if kids with autism are so social and loveable i don't know enough about it so anyway thanks for asking i would like to know that too