Another newbie

[concernedmummy]

Hi all, I'm new on here but I'm not new to AS as my step son(17) has it.

My little boy is 2 and a couple of weeks ago my sister in law (she's a paediatric practicioner) told me that she had some concerns with regards to my son's developement, I feel like I have been on a rollercoaster ever since. Her concerns are that at just over 2 he is not talking, barring a few words, he has never put a sentence together and to be quite honest he doesn't seem to understand communication although he as of yet doesn't seem bothered by this.

My son was born 8 weeks prem and from birth until he was about 6 months he never cried, and even when he started to it was very rare. He would quite happily lie in his cot for ages and never demanded attention. Walking was delayed (17 months) but we assumed that was more due to his prematurity.

From about 5 months old he has been fascinated with anything that goes around or spins and he can spend ages spinning the most unlikely objects, in fact most new objects he comes into contact with he will try to spin.

From a couple of months old he has been sensitive to noise, so much so that the hoover being on in another part of the house will have him hysterical crying. He can hear the quietest of sounds.

If he wants something he will go and get it, he has never pointed to anything. If he wants milk he will just go to the fridge and bring the milk to me.

I took him to see the GP last week and he has referred him to the local paed (the same one his brother saw). I also asked the health visitor to come and see him and do a 2 year check (they don't do them in my area now due to lack of staff). She has put in a referral for him to be seen by a speech and language therapist and hopes that it should only be a few weeks until we can be seen.

 

My husband isn't taking all of this very well, and is in denial our son could have AS like his brother, I do understand his reluctance to accept that it could be as we had serious problems with aggression with his brother which led to him being put into foster care at the request of the police.

 

I'm sorry that this is such a long post!! From what I have said does it look like early AS signs, I appreciate that I am going to have to get a medical diagnosis but I want to try and do the best that I can for my lovely little boy in the mean time.

Many thanks for reading!! C

[Tally]

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

 

It is really hard to tell with such young children. It would be understandable that his speech would be delayed since he was so premature. Some children speak late for no apparent reason and go on to develop normally.

 

However, all the things you describe are very common in autism/asperger's, and many of them are things my parents say I was like as a baby (I am an adult with AS). I definitely think you are doing the right thing in seeking medical input. Early diagnosis, whatever the diagnosis, is always beneficial for getting the right support.

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

Hi ConcernedMummy

 

The things you write certainly look like many things people experience with a child on the Autistic Spectrum... as I am sure you are aware. Even if your youngest turns out to be on the Spectrum also, like his elder brother... this does not mean that he will have the same traits or tendency towards aggression. The Autistic Spectrum is as diverse as the NT-spectrum in that no two Autistics are alike.

 

I'm Autistic and both my children are also autistic (my daughter is the most severe and even has a one-to-one worker at Special School - a school that rather specialises in Autism). All three of us are very different from each other... especially the two children. DS (5), our youngest has some temper issues and can be aggressive, whereas DD (8) has severe anxiety issues but is seldom physical... she tends to be very passive.

 

So please, try not to fear that your youngest will have the same traits as your eldest, even if, like him, he turns out to be on the Spectrum. We can all be very different from each other

[concernedmummy]

Thank you for your replies, I am aware that there are so many different ways that children on the spectrum can present, it is my husband who is more worried about that than I am to be honest, but then he watched his son and his behaviour from birth and I think he looks at our lovely little one now and worries, although to date I have been assured by him and my in laws that although their are quite a few similarities there are also many differences.

I have to applaud this site, I wish I had found it a few years ago when we had my step son living here, I maybe wouldn't have felt so alone and such a failure with him. Although I wouldn't wish anyone to go through the times that myself and my family went through with my step son it has helped me greatly reading some other forum members' similar experiences.

Although as yet it is early day with regards to my little one, from what I have read (which is quite vast) and also my 'gut' feeling I am pretty sure that he is on the spectrum in some way. That said he is the most lovely little boy and I adore him, but I will fight tooth and nail for him, I need to make sure that he gets help as early as possible.

Again for the forum.

 

C x

[Kathryn]

Welcome to the forum, concernedmummy. It's early days yet but as you know what to look out for you can keep noting down your observations until such time as you decide to take it further. Above all, just enjoy your son as he is. It's impossible to predict how he will turn out. I have two children, one has an AS diagnosis and the other doesn't and I wouldn't change either of them.

 

K x