Anyone Have Experience With as or Autism?

[ahammons]

DH and I have finally decided that we need to get our oldest DS evaluated for autism. There have been a lot of little things that have made us wonder for a while now, but we were hoping it was just his age and he'd grow out of it. After talking about, we really think that we need to find out for sure. He's almost 4, and still isn't potty trained. At first, I thought he was just being stubborn, but lately I've been wondering if it could be because of something else. Like I said, there are other small signs that we've wondered about for quite a while now - he is terrified of haircuts and getting his nails clipped, and he hates wearing underwear, to name a few.

I was just wondering if anyone here has had any experience with this. I've been trying to do some research, but there's just so much out there to look through!

 

[ChefJWarren]

I teach special ed and have several high functioning autistic children in my classroom. But like you said, autism is so versatile (if I can refer to it that way), there is sooo much different information about it! Its hard to pinpoint one trait or characteristic. If you have your suspicions/doubts, have him evaluated. When autism is diagnosed early, there is so much more we can do for these children!

 

[quiverfull7]

Our son has AS. Feel free to email or PM me.

 

[pchefkristin]

I am the Aunt of an autistic nephew. If you think it may be autism, take him to get evaluated and dont delay.

My nephew is high functioning, as it sounds like your DS is also. Noah has the sensitivity to certainly clothing, loud noises, bright lights, etc and so on. He also paces and hums a lot, and does this thing with his hands kind of like hitting them together, but not clapping as most kids will do.

My advice is to not look at anything online right now. The spectrum is so wide, that he could fall anywhere, and reading about something that does not apply to him will only confuse you and make you more worried than need be.

There has been much debate on immunizations and flu shots with autism, but nothing conclusive so far. Also, I would suggest Chiropractic care and a diet change may improve things. (also not researched, but it certainly cannot hurt)

Good luck with your DS!!

 

[ChefMoore]

I would try to get in to get him evaluated ASAP. With Autism, the earlier you start intervention and begin personalized living/learning plans, the better the outcome. Plus many times it can take a long time to get in to see a specialist. If you are emotionally able, try to educate yourself about Autism. I would not suggest going to just any site online because the information on Autism can be so variable depending on the source. But I would try some of the more reputalble sources such as autismspeaks.org or try the cdc site etc. Make sure you are not just reading the blogs from other mothers.

 

[KellyTheChef]

I feel for you. Evan has shown some wierd tendancies as well. We are finally going to see a specialist...but his appointment isn't until February! This was made back in September. I even called my pediatrician to see if there was somewhere else we could go. Nope! Seems like there has been such an upsurge in kids that need these types of specialists, and the "marketplace" hasn't caught up yet! My peds office even tried to call and get an appointment closer to now...and the lady laughed and said they are booking into AUGUST NOW!!

Check around to see if there is anything run by your county or state government that can help you out. We are finally getting some assitance with paying for his speech therapy (our insurance denied paying it, cuz it's not caused by an injury or an illness...go figure!) and in December I am meeting with someone from our school system about getting him into a special preschool.

My thoughts are that my little one has a slight case of autism or AS...I agree with all the others: get him evaluated right away. Either way it turns out it will be better than worrying and wondering like you are right now!

Good luck!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I do not have any first hand experience with autism, however, the people who started the hyberbaric oxygen therapy clinic, where I took my HBOT treatment, started the clinic specifically to treat an autistic child. Her turnaround was nothing short of miraculous, and I am sure her family would be happy to share their experiences with you.The clinic is known as "A Place of Grace" because the austistic child's name is Grace. Here she is, wearing her "diving" helmet:

There is much skepticism in the medical profession about HBOT in general, but I can tell you from personal experience that I will do it again before I undergo any kind of surgery. I can also tell you than many of the clinic's clients are, in fact, children with autism and other difficulties.You can see more about HBOT on http://jrmanning.com/ or on the clinic's website.

 

[janetupnorth]

I also think PCChris from WI has a child (older now) with autism. Good luck and I hope you get some help.

 

[janetupnorth]

Cool story KG - is there more information online about Grace?

 

[Teresa Lynn]

I have an 11 year old nephew with severe autism, he was placed in a group home this fall since he was becoming unmanageable. He wouldn't leave his clothes on, eats only round foods (crackers, sliced bananas etc)
he has only said MOM 1 time 8 years ago when ym sister in law went to hospital to have my other nephew. Other than that he uses a machine and flashcards. They still have proble,ms with toilet training too
He doesn't sleep well either
they were recently featured in a medical magazine.

 

[Gina M]

I am the Aunt of an autistic nephew. If you think it may be autism, take him to get evaluated and dont delay.

My nephew is high functioning, as it sounds like your DS is also. Noah has the sensitivity to certainly clothing, loud noises, bright lights, etc and so on. He also paces and hums a lot, and does this thing with his hands kind of like hitting them together, but not clapping as most kids will do.

My advice is to not look at anything online right now. The spectrum is so wide, that he could fall anywhere, and reading about something that does not apply to him will only confuse you and make you more worried than need be.

There has been much debate on immunizations and flu shots with autism, but nothing conclusive so far. Also, I would suggest Chiropractic care and a diet change may improve things. (also not researched, but it certainly cannot hurt)

Good luck with your DS!!

I'm also an aunt of an autistic nephew, Luke. He sounds a lot like your nephew Noah. He is 6 1/2 - started all day kindergarten this year and has been learning leaps and bounds - he was virtually non verbal until lately - now he is speaking a lot more. Let me tell you - we were thrilled we he told us he loved us and could finally say our names. He has 2 aides for school who are with him the whole day and he's really doing well - still working on potty training - but getting the hang of it slowly but surely. Definitely have your child looked at - my sister was told everything along the gamut before they finally diagnosed him (and this was starting at a couple of months old). He has many challenges ahead of him but we are hopeful that he will also continue to progress. Best of luck.

 

[ahammons]

Thanks everyone for sharing your advice and experience with me! I will be calling the doctor tomorrow to see about scheduling an evaluation.

I am glad that my DH and I were finally about to talk about it - we've both been thinking it for quite a while, but never really discussed it. Part of me feels like such a bad mother for waiting this long... I guess I'm just worried about how people may treat him. I know that sounds awful, but some of our family seems to think that he's just a bad kid. Up until a few months ago, he would throw very bad tantrums when visiting family, but I really think it was because we had to drive at least 6 hours to get there. Then, he had to adjust to staying in a different house and his schedule getting disrupted. I don't think they realize this! Over Thanksgiving, several people kept saying how proud they were of him and asking if I'd done anything differently b/c he was "like a completely different kid"... really, he's not! He's the same kid he's always been at home. It's probably just b/c he's used to living here now, and we didn't have to travel to see them! My DH's step mother is the one I'm most worried about; a couple of months ago (while visiting them in TN), she had the nerve to ask if we'd taken him to a specialist b/c he cries so much - this was while we were taking him to the doctor b/c he had pink eye!!! Hmm, I wonder why he was crying! She's just one of those people who (sadly) doesn't understand anything about kids who aren't "normal" according to her standards.

 

[GeorgiaPeach]

Ashlee,

I have three nephews with autism...22, 6, and 4. While I agree that the internet can have many unreputable sites that just scare you more than help you, the internet has been my sister's (mommy to the 4 & 6 yr olds) salvation. It has been a source of great information.

I started a thread last year but have no idea how to put a link in here for you. You can click on my name and look at threads I've started (Autism 7-31-06) or wait a few minutes and another cheffer will post the link for you

There was alot of good discussion about autism, you might find some help there.

Early intervention is SO crucial with autism. If you have questions, talk to your pediatrician asap. They can help you start the process but a specialist is really your best bet. They will have a better grasp on what to look for.

 

[GeorgiaPeach]

I guess I'm just worried about how people may treat him.

Ashlee, I would really encourage you to be open and honest with your family as you go through this process. People say things out of ignorance. Unless you help educate them, they will continue to say things that are upsetting to you. (Of course, some people will still say stupid things no matter what you do )

The parents of our 22 yr old nephew NEVER talked about what they were going through, what the doctors said, what we could do to help and support them. We were afraid to bring it up since THEY didn't want to talk about it. It was like the elephant in the room. Last Thursday I was talking about Sammy and Nick and for the first time in 22 yrs they started talking about Nathaniel and some things they went through. It was really sad to think of all the years that had been lost. I realize that it isn't something that is comfortable to talk about but give the people that love your son the opportunity to help and support you.

 

[KellyTheChef]

Here is Lisa's thread:

http://www.chefsuccess.com/f18/autism-9948/

 

[GeorgiaPeach]

I started a thread last year but have no idea how to put a link in here for you. You can click on my name and look at threads I've started (Autism 7-31-06) or wait a few minutes and another cheffer will post the link for you

See....I told you

 

[ahammons]

Thanks!!

 

[ahammons]

Okay, I just spoke with his pediatrician's office. They're going to see him next Friday for a physical, then we'll go from there, depending on what the doctor thinks.

 

[dns2202]

My son is 4 and he is high functioning autistic. He has been going to a regular school in a special pre-k class for 2 years now. He wasn't diagnosed until this past March.

He does alot of the things you were talking about. He freaks out at haricuts, clipping his nails, certain clothes touching him, certain foods textures, and he's still not potty trained. He'll wear a full pull up and never tell me he's wet. He can make his clothes wet too. Never tell me. I don't know why. He was making strides with it, but fell behind again.

He's the love of my life. Its hard to tell family that he's autistic. They don't understand. But if I don't help them understand, who will?

You can do this. Something my son's doctor told me that I'll never forget is this: Never give him different goals in life. Just know why he might not be able to reach them.

**Hugs**

 

[dannyzmom]

Thought you'd be interested - my friends were on the news the other night, the Blackburns: cbs4.com - ADD, Autism, Toxic Vaccinate being interviewed about autism.

 

[lkprescott]

DH and I have finally decided that we need to get our oldest DS evaluated for autism. There have been a lot of little things that have made us wonder for a while now, but we were hoping it was just his age and he'd grow out of it. After talking about, we really think that we need to find out for sure. He's almost 4, and still isn't potty trained. At first, I thought he was just being stubborn, but lately I've been wondering if it could be because of something else. Like I said, there are other small signs that we've wondered about for quite a while now - he is terrified of haircuts and getting his nails clipped, and he hates wearing underwear, to name a few.

I was just wondering if anyone here has had any experience with this. I've been trying to do some research, but there's just so much out there to look through!

Definitely find out. I know I've struggled with my son mostly though my daughter has her quirks too, don't get me wrong... but my son from the time he was born just has very strange behaviors that never stopped him from growing and learning but definitely have made it an interesting job being his parent. A friend of mine hooked me up with a book called The Out-of-Sync Child - Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Integration Dysfunction by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A... it was very helpful in that it really helped me understand why he does what he does and how to work with it instead of fight it or grow frustrated with it. Just thought I'd mention it if autism is ruled out... he may be having sensory integration issues or it may be a book you might want to explore for ideas.

For instance... my son never liked being held, even as a baby.. now as an older child, he'll lean in for nurturing but don't hold on too tight... he has issues with balance yet is perfectly healthy... he just is not a kid who can rollerskate or blade or ride a bike - we just continue to work with him on it with things he can do like moonshoes... he also has had issues with clothing, especially that which goes around his neck.. and he's accident prone (runs into things) to the point where we wondered is his body growing faster than his brain or is this just how he is...

Good luck and let us know how you make out! You're definitely not alone and hopefully you'll find the answers to help you raise him the way he needs to be raised.

 

[ahammons]

Lisa, that's another thought I've been having - maybe something sensory related. I have to be careful with the shirts I buy b/c if they're not loose enough, he says it's choking him. He only has a handful of shirts that he likes to wear, and he tries to get by with only wearing those most of the time! He's very clumsy, but I'm not sure if that's just because of his age or what. I will have to check out that book!

Sarah, that's exactly what my son does during haircuts and getting his nails clipped - he completely freaks out. That's why I've been waiting to clip his nails in his sleep for the past two years. Unfortunately, over the past couple of months he's started waking up when I do this, so I can only do a nail or two a day. As far as haircuts, we've tried salons and doing it at home - he starts yelling "Not me, I don't want my hair cut" as soon as we walk into a salon! I actually got lucky last week and was able to cut it while he was asleep (he was very tired!). If his tantrums get to a certain point, it's almost like he can't hear me trying to calm him down - sometimes I just have to walk out of the room and wait for it to pass. The potty training is really what confuses me. He will wear a pull up, but not underwear ... he will wear pants w/ nothing under them though (which is what the doctor suggested). I think he knows when he has to go, but I'm not sure b/c he never tells me. Sometimes he will tell me afterwards though. So I have no idea if he knows that he's gone or not!

The past couple of days have been very bad ones, he's been throwing more tantrums than usual. I think it's because all of our company from Thanksgiving has gone home, now he's trying to re-adjust. I'm really nervous about when DH comes home on mid-tour. I know he'll be so happy to see him, but I also know that it's going to be really hard on him when DH has to go back.

 

[lkprescott]

My son didn't wear underwear for the past two years... why? I bought the wrong kind not cuz I didn't know any better but he doesn't like them too close fitting... so, we've gone from briefs to boxer briefs to floppy why wear 'em boxers... BUT he wears them now. Learning how to deal with what is dealt can be a sanity saver. I always worried that I'd be detached from him cuz it's hard to connect ... well, was until I started connecting to him on HIS terms and on his level... Sometimes these kids are just paradoxes... he one year had a teacher tell me to hold him back to give him more time and a year later another teacher telling him he couldn't take out certain books because they were 'too old' for him... it's a blessing to have a teacher who 'gets him' and can help... you may end up having to be your child's advocate, regardless of the diagnosis... but it's well worth it of course. These are our kids... we were blessed with them and all their traits for a reason. Your nailclipping story reminds me of DS in a way... he hated getting his nails clipped and would cry even as a baby... I'd do them while he slept too. Now he's old enough to do it himself and he's fine with it. He's 11 and I don't remember clipping his nails in like 6 years... I just started noticing that they didn't need clipping and realized he was doing it himself. I think that was his way of controlling the situation. I think sometimes these things are about control though they don't mean them that way, if that makes sense. It's how it looks from where we are... but helps them cope with such things on their level. Like turtleneck sweaters? I don't even bother with them. I've also learned to deal with his need to wear things over and over but with limits...

 

[nascarcooker]

My son is 23 years old and got diagnosed with autism when he was 15. Look for a doctor who specializes in Autism. It has been a long and hard road. I finally found a doctor at University of Michigan who was a specialist and after his evaluation the doctor told me that if I would have came to him when he was three that he would have had him diagnosed then and had a better chance of getting the therapies he needed to be more successful than he is now. Do not hesitate the sooner you get the diagnosis the better for your child. Take it from someone who has lived it and have been to many different doctors who had different diagnosis each time. Lot of wasted time and money.
Sally Wilhite

 

[dns2202]

Lisa, that's another thought I've been having - maybe something sensory related. I have to be careful with the shirts I buy b/c if they're not loose enough, he says it's choking him. He only has a handful of shirts that he likes to wear, and he tries to get by with only wearing those most of the time! He's very clumsy, but I'm not sure if that's just because of his age or what. I will have to check out that book!

Sarah, that's exactly what my son does during haircuts and getting his nails clipped - he completely freaks out. That's why I've been waiting to clip his nails in his sleep for the past two years. Unfortunately, over the past couple of months he's started waking up when I do this, so I can only do a nail or two a day. As far as haircuts, we've tried salons and doing it at home - he starts yelling "Not me, I don't want my hair cut" as soon as we walk into a salon! I actually got lucky last week and was able to cut it while he was asleep (he was very tired!). If his tantrums get to a certain point, it's almost like he can't hear me trying to calm him down - sometimes I just have to walk out of the room and wait for it to pass. The potty training is really what confuses me. He will wear a pull up, but not underwear ... he will wear pants w/ nothing under them though (which is what the doctor suggested). I think he knows when he has to go, but I'm not sure b/c he never tells me. Sometimes he will tell me afterwards though. So I have no idea if he knows that he's gone or not!

The past couple of days have been very bad ones, he's been throwing more tantrums than usual. I think it's because all of our company from Thanksgiving has gone home, now he's trying to re-adjust. I'm really nervous about when DH comes home on mid-tour. I know he'll be so happy to see him, but I also know that it's going to be really hard on him when DH has to go back.

I know exactly where you are. I've been there. I still get there all the time too! We took all dairy from my son back in August. HUGE changes. Less tantrums. He finally looked at me. I cried and couldn't even remember what I was trying to tell him!

It was worth a shot for us to take away Dairy. It was so hard because he drank about 20 oz of milk every day. If it hadn't made changes for him, we would have given it back, but to us it was worth a shot!

Also, you were saying how sometimes you can tell he's not listening and you have to just leave him be until he calms back down. I've been there too. We do some sign language with Christian for that. If he can't "hear" me, then he can see my hands and most of the time it helps. Here are the words we use: Stop, listen, more, drink, eat - I'm sure there are more, but it was a long night last night.

Good luck and know that your not alone. PM or email me anytime. I do understand.

 

[GeorgiaPeach]

I've said that my sister has two little boys with autism (4 & 6). She really had trouble potty training the 6 yr old, he's been completely potty trained for about 6 months. I emailed her and asked what she finally did that worked. Here is her reply...I cut and pasted it so I didn't have to re-type it...hope it works

Below is what she did with Nick. He is almost completely non-verbal. I had to laugh at what she said his reply was during the process

yes, i have tried many potty training ideas ... but what worked in the end was called "over correcting." it's an ABA technique used for LOTS of stuff that you want to "fix." the idea is to make the over-correction work less desirable than the behavior you are trying to fix.

poo-poo accidents were our issue, so when i discovered that nick had an accident, i would say, "dirty pants are bad" ... then i'd walk him to the bathroom ... have him take off his dirty underwear and pants ... then i'd have him get in the tub and wash himself off (oh, and i would just use lukewarm water ... not cold, but close to it!). if he refused or balked, i did hand-over-hand with him. then he'd get out ... dry off ... put on dry undies, pants ... wash hands. all of this without saying anything else ... only "dirty pants are bad" at the location of where i discovered the accident. no words. no eye contact. no anger. no reaction at all. then i'd walk him back to the place where i discovered the accident and do the entire routine over again -- five times!!! i know it sounds absurd. but i was willing to try anything! the first time i did this routine it took 35 minutes from start to finish to complete all five trials. nicholas was furious with me! after the third time we walked back to the site of the accident, he yelled, "I KNOW, DIRTY PANTS ARE BAD!" this from the child who prefers one word utterances! we only did this routine on two days ... after that he got it and never had an accident again.

i should say that prior to over-correction, i tried having nick clean himself up on previous accidents. but i'd take him into the tub and use warm sudsy water ... lovingly dry him off ... and yet he still had accidents. our bcba (board certified behavior analyst) said i was rewarding his accident/behavior with a personal bath! and i was. so i switched to the lukewarm water and over-correcting by doing the routine multiple times and it worked!!!

over-correction works with many things! dumping toys ... spilling drink/food. you just make them "correct" the situation more times than is desirable. odd, but it works!!! dumping toys: make them clean up the toys. dump toys ... clean up. dump toys ... clean up. it's really no fun for them.

same thing with spilling something on floor (intentionally, that is ... which is common for our asd kids). anyway, make them clean up the spill ... them simulate another spill (with water) ... clean up ... or make them mop the entire kitchen! the correction should be age appropriate ... a four year old wouldn't mop the floor, but could use paper towels and do the same!

anyway, that's what we used ... and have used it since with several other behavioral issues. cool stuff. hope that helps! sorry so long ... but you really have to follow the steps for it to be effective. oh my.

 

[KellyTheChef]

Lisa~

Thanks for posting your email from your sister! Evan DUMPS things on purpose too! I always just go make him pick it up (usually it's crackers or raisins in a bowl...) but I am right there with him helping him out. Perhaps I am "rewarding" him in a way too. I would have never guessed that this could be a symptom of a disorder. (There are WAY MORE sypmtoms that he is having other than just this...every child does this sometimes, but not daily or more than once daily!)

Boy, I can't wait to get him to the specialist in February! I just want to find out FOR SURE what we are dealing with here so I can help him out as much as I can!

 

[ahammons]

Okay, I have another question for you all who have had experience with this - is it common for children w/ autism or AS to have problems with sleep? He goes through spells - he'll sleep through the night for a while, then all of a sudden he'll start waking up through the night. It's so frustrating sometimes, because I can never tell if it's going to be a good or bad night. Up until a couple of months ago, he had to play with my hair in order to fall asleep, but he weaned himself from that and just started falling asleep on his own. It was actually great b/c he'd just lay in bed and go to sleep without any fighting. But recently he's back to relying on my hair to calm him enough to go to sleep. He's also back to waking up in the middle of the night again. And when I say "waking up", I actually mean screaming and crying. He has a history of night terrors, where it's like he's not really awake but he's crying. Most nights it's hard to tell what's a night terror and what isn't - that sort of determines how I can deal with him. I don't know if this is a common thing for 3 year olds, or if it's another sign that we need to mention to the doctor.

 

[ahammons]

Lisa, thanks for posting that note from your sister! I've never heard of that approach before, but I can see how it would work! I know that I'm way too easy on my sons, so I probably make things way too easy for them!

 

[stacywhitlow]

We have 3 teenage sons (yes I need your prayers) that I am about to start the over-correcting on. Only 1 has mild aspergers. But they all half way do something so I thought I would make them do it repeatedly until they "get it right". Good to know it works. We'll see.

 

[dns2202]

Okay, I have another question for you all who have had experience with this - is it common for children w/ autism or AS to have problems with sleep? He goes through spells - he'll sleep through the night for a while, then all of a sudden he'll start waking up through the night. It's so frustrating sometimes, because I can never tell if it's going to be a good or bad night. Up until a couple of months ago, he had to play with my hair in order to fall asleep, but he weaned himself from that and just started falling asleep on his own. It was actually great b/c he'd just lay in bed and go to sleep without any fighting. But recently he's back to relying on my hair to calm him enough to go to sleep. He's also back to waking up in the middle of the night again. And when I say "waking up", I actually mean screaming and crying. He has a history of night terrors, where it's like he's not really awake but he's crying. Most nights it's hard to tell what's a night terror and what isn't - that sort of determines how I can deal with him. I don't know if this is a common thing for 3 year olds, or if it's another sign that we need to mention to the doctor.

My son does. I've heard its common in Austistic kids. I give my son Melatonin. Its an herbal medicine that helps in making him sleepy. His doctor recommeded it. Its a chewable flavored like oranges. He loves them and even asks for them. The night terrors calmed down after we started giving them to him.

 

[GeorgiaPeach]

My nephews have trouble sleeping. The 6 yr old will go to bed but is up...wide awake...at 4 am, 5 am...it varies. The 4 yr old has ALOT of trouble going to bed. He NEVER falls asleep in his bed....he will lay in the doorway of his room and sleep on the floor. You can put him in the bed but he keeps getting up and lays in the doorway.

She has tried oral sprays and various other herbal, homepathic things.

 

[KellyTheChef]

Sarah~

Where do you find the Melatonin? Evan slept well for a while, but then about 3 months ago started really fighting going down, and then even once he falls asleep, we have lots of nights that he is BACK UP EVERY HOUR! I don't know how he stays awake during the day after getting barely no sleep!

...besides the fact, MOM NEEDS TO SLEEP! LOL

 

[ahammons]

I don't know how he stays awake during the day after getting barely no sleep!

My 3 1/2 year old quit taking naps several months ago... I have no idea how he does it! Every once in a while, I'll get lucky and he will take one. I'm just glad my 21 month old still takes them, that gives me a little bit of a break (sort of! lol).

 

[janetupnorth]

Sarah~

Where do you find the Melatonin? Evan slept well for a while, but then about 3 months ago started really fighting going down, and then even once he falls asleep, we have lots of nights that he is BACK UP EVERY HOUR! I don't know how he stays awake during the day after getting barely no sleep!

...besides the fact, MOM NEEDS TO SLEEP! LOL

Kelly - if you have a health goods store you should be able to find it or even check at a store like Walmart or Walgreens - it is probably right where vitamins are sold.

 

[KellyTheChef]

Thanks Janet...I was just doing some online digging on the Melatonin. I think I may try a 1mg or 1/2 of a 3 mg chewable for Evan and see if that helps.

One thing that DID help, was to cut back his nap. I go in and wake him up after only 1 or 1.5 hours. He is mad as heck that I wake him up, but then he is going to sleep much better. Not knowing if we are dealing with AD or AS is really making me nuts. I don't know if some of his actions are just cuz he is 2.5....or if they are symptoms of a disorder! He does not have screaming red flag symptoms, but he has borderline symptoms.

For the time being, I am just trusting that God will direct my decisions regarding him, and that in February we will get some answers from Akron Children's Hospital!

 

[dns2202]

Sarah~

Where do you find the Melatonin? Evan slept well for a while, but then about 3 months ago started really fighting going down, and then even once he falls asleep, we have lots of nights that he is BACK UP EVERY HOUR! I don't know how he stays awake during the day after getting barely no sleep!

...besides the fact, MOM NEEDS TO SLEEP! LOL

I go to a vitamin store. I make sure to get the chewable ones though. Our Walmart doesn't carry the chewable ones. The all natural store didn't carry it either. I've heard of people ordering them from Kirkman Homepage. I didn't because they aren't flavored enough for Christian. We got a sample of them and he wouldn't take them.

We also give him a multivitamin and cod liver fish oil (molecularly distilled) everyday too. Christian is 4 years old and 35 pounds. We can go up to 5 mg of Melatonin for him according to his doctor. Start off small. You still need to do a nighttime routine with this. I didn't know that at first. I was ready to raise his dosage. I thought it would make him so tired that he'd fall asleep. Well in Autistic kids, it really just helps them sleep better. More sound sleep. But it does help them get to sleep faster if you do some sort of nighttime routine. Like we give him his "oranges" (Melatonin) around 7:30 then get a bath. Then we read a book in bed and he normally is out by 8 to 8:15.

 

[MaddyandOwensMom]

Hi Ashlee,
I'm glad you are getting your son evaluated. I've been an elementary teacher for many years and it is so hard to watch families go through "denial" up through the grades when their children could have been helped years prior. So, you have definately taken a really brave and great first step!

My children are not autistic or on the spectrum, but both have sensory intergration issues. Because neither of then are deemed "severe"enough to warrant early intervention, we have done a lot our selves. Both were raised in Chinese orphanages (DD until 12 mos., DH until 2.5 years old-4 and 10mos and 3 now) so we knew there could be certain issues. My DD did not like movement, touching certain things like playdough, rice on her face, or loud noises such as the hand blower in a bathroom. We were told she definately had an issue. Some things that we did were to just keep introducing things to her everyday: the playdough would come out once a week, we offered finger paint, we kept serving rice and letting her feed herself,I used the blow dryer in her presence, etc. My DS is opposite in he needs a lot of movement to calm down. For a nap, I lay him on his tummy and bounce him up and down until he falls asleep (luckily, he can fall asleep on his own as well, but this definately calms him). He loves to stomp around in shoes with hard soles (my boots, DH's work shoes), because the noise and vibration in his legs makes him feel good.

The best thing we did for both of them was put them in gymnastics (touching mats, trampoline-torture for DD at first, but eventually loved it with continual exposure). It made a HUGE difference with my daughter and she almost has no signs of the sensory issues any more except she's really particular about what she wears. She can function at school, but is often in summer clothes at home because they are less restrictive than jeans. And no turtle necks at all.

Have you tried Jenny McCarthy's new book? I haven't read it but have heard her speak recently and I believe it's really just Mom to Mom. She's very big on food as a trigger for behaviors. Try Cybele Pascal's cookbook The Wholefoods Allergy Cookbook.It's also very Mom to Mom and talks about how sensitive kids are often food sensitive. Some doctors don't believe that food plays into autism or behavior, but I pulled my DS off of sugar after reading a passage in the above cookbook and his behavior is hugely better (but over-correcting is definately going to be added to my repetoire!)

Just some ideas for you to try. Maybe it can help your DS out a bit. Also with the potty trianing, if his core strength isn't there, he will have problems with bladder control. DS's physical therapist(his gross motor was far behind) said that everything in the core has to be strong in order to get the other going. And BTW, I know three boys who toilet trained completly after four, one of which may be on the spectrum.

Best of luck to you and your family! Let us know how everything is!
Jessica

 

[daniellemorgan]

Just a quick statistic. 1 in every 93 boys has autism. That to me is an alarmingly high number. I have a 16 mo girl who received all her scheduled vaccinations up till 6 months. She was having weight issues (not gaining) so we did all the checks like heart, thyroid, blood etc. and everything was perfect. I started bringing her to a homeopathic chiropractor at 6 months and she went from 12.6 lbs at 6 months to 18.8 lbs at 9 months. I also haven't gotten her any more vaccinations. When I was a child, I'm 29, we got about 20 different vaccinations over a 5 year period. Children today get about 64-70 by the time they are 2. When I asked my chiropractor about vaccines he said that his professional opinion is to wait until a child is 2, because their immune system is fully developed by that point. His personal opinion is to never get them. He has never been vaccinated and he has 5 children who have never been vaccinated. I'm lucky that I have a very understanding pediatrician. She's a big advocate of breastfeeding (I still nurse my little girl 4-5 times a day and she's never had any other kind of milk), she's a big fan of co-sleeping, she hates antibiotics and so on. When I asked her why they are vaccinating children for chicken pox she said that there are about 400 reported cases a year of children who die from chicken pox. My reply was that I understand that, but I'm sure the number of children who die from falls every year is higher, so should we never let our child walk or play?? I think she says those things because she has too Here are two websites with a on of interesting vaccines info:
www.thinktwice.org and National Vaccine Information Center. Hope some of this helps

 

[quiverfull7]

I saw and will order the best book for a quick overview of what we as parents of an Asperger Child see. The Title is "All Cats Have Asperger's Syndrome" and its simply the most wonderful comparison and explanation of who my son is. Our pediatrician has said that because our son is our 6th child and that I did day care, he was stimulated in a way that most AS kids are not so he has that in his favor but we've still had our struggles and they will continue. He is in 4th grade and many of the social challenges lay before us. Prayer, LOTS of it and educating your self helps so much. Realizing that being AS makes my son different in MARVELOUS ways helps me deal with the meltdowns!

 

[ahammons]

Well, our first appointment is only a few days away now and I'm sort of getting nervous. We had a really tough incident earlier today - I just wanted to cry! :cry: When we go to the store, I usually let the boys play a game or something on the way out (if they're good while shopping). So my oldest asked to play a game and I put the money into the machine for him - that's when it started. Apparently, I put the money into the wrong machine! Of course, I completely forgot that I was low on quarters (I try to keep several in my purse) and I had put my last one into the wrong machine. That's how the tantrum started, but then he tried running out into the parking lot while I was putting the youngest into the car. Once I grabbed him and tried putting him into his carseat, he had a complete meltdown! It took me at least 20 minutes (literally) to get him buckled in... and that's not b/c he calmed down, it was me having to physically sit him in there. A couple of times, I just shut the door, let him lay back there and I went to my seat b/c I was getting so frustrated. My arms are still sore from it!

I'm going to try to make a list of our concerns to take to the doctor, so I will definitely be adding this to the list!

 

[ahammons]

Just wanted to thank everyone again for your advice and encouragement, and give you an update on my DS. His appointment was this morning with the pediatrician; she said that he's definitely showing signs of mild autism or Aspergers. But right now, she doesn't want to give him an official diagnosis. She said at 3 years old, she doesn't think that labeling him as autistic would be in his best interest. But she does want me to contact our local school district and get him scheduled for a speech evaluation and occupational therapy evaluation for his sensory issues. If they try to give me a hard time about it, then she'll refer me to another doctor who can get the evaluations done. As soon as we do the evaluations, she wants us to try to get him into some sort of preschool program like head start. (Hopefully we can get a waiver for the potty training, b/c she thinks it could be sensory related) At this point, she's not worried about his development as far as learning goes - just his behavior, sensory related issues, and we need to work on some of his social interaction skills.

Even though he hasn't been "diagnosed", I still feel a sort of relief b/c I know there's a reason for some of his behavior. At least DH and I now know that it hasn't just been our imagination!

Oh yeah, and it's a good thing we went today... he has an ear infection in both ears!! He was just at the urgent care center on Sat and his ears were fine, but he still managed to develop ear infections while on an antibiotic. So now we get to switch antibiotics and go another 10 days. :thumbdown:

 

[lkprescott]

Good to hear you've got some answers! It's always a relief to find these things are real and not just in our heads or imagination. He's blessed to have you as a parent!

 

[GeorgiaPeach]

Just wanted to thank everyone again for your advice and encouragement, and give you an update on my DS. His appointment was this morning with the pediatrician; she said that he's definitely showing signs of mild autism or Aspergers. But right now, she doesn't want to give him an official diagnosis. She said at 3 years old, she doesn't think that labeling him as autistic would be in his best interest. But she does want me to contact our local school district and get him scheduled for a speech evaluation and occupational therapy evaluation for his sensory issues. If they try to give me a hard time about it, then she'll refer me to another doctor who can get the evaluations done. As soon as we do the evaluations, she wants us to try to get him into some sort of preschool program like head start. (Hopefully we can get a waiver for the potty training, b/c she thinks it could be sensory related) At this point, she's not worried about his development as far as learning goes - just his behavior, sensory related issues, and we need to work on some of his social interaction skills.

Even though he hasn't been "diagnosed", I still feel a sort of relief b/c I know there's a reason for some of his behavior. At least DH and I now know that it hasn't just been our imagination!

Oh yeah, and it's a good thing we went today... he has an ear infection in both ears!! He was just at the urgent care center on Sat and his ears were fine, but he still managed to develop ear infections while on an antibiotic. So now we get to switch antibiotics and go another 10 days. :thumbdown:

Okay, that makes me angry!! The earlier the intervention...the better the prognosis (is that spelled right??) Too many doctors fear "labeling" a child and many months/years are wasted. If he is showing signs of mild autism or aspergers...he needs to be properly evaluated by someone other than the pediatrician. "Labeling" a child will qualify him for early intervention programs in your community. I'd get a second opinion. Of my two nephews...they tested Nick every which was they could to avoid saying it was autism. He lost so much time that he could have been receiving therapy. When Sam came along and my sister saw the early signs...she fought to get him diagnosed and in therapy quickly. There is a HUGE difference in the two boys (I realize that they might have fallen on different parts of the spectrum anyway but you never know).

(For the record...I'm angry with the doctor. In this day and age when autism is getting more attention and doctors know more about it....I'm shocked she wouldn't suggest a more in depth evaluation by someone that specializes in diagnosing autism disorders.)

 

[ahammons]

That's what I thought too, but she seems to think that we won't have any problems getting him into the programs through the school. I guess I'll have to wait until I hear from them to be sure though. She seems to be very willing to help, and did say that she'd send us to a different doctor (can't remember the specialty right now) if we needed her to.

Maybe it's something with doctors in this area, I don't know... my MIL works for a doctor, and mentioned this to her. She said that her DD was diagnosed with autism, but that she disagrees and thinks she just outgrew it. Basically, that's sort of what our doctor said too - that he may outgrow some of the behavior problems, but he'll probably need therapy to help with the sensory part of it. I do understand that some of the behavior could just be the age, but I don't think it's something that will just change one day when he's older.

I want to make sure he gets the therapy that he needs now, so if that means going to another doctor, that's what we'll do. I am glad that she pointed out a couple of things though - I never realized that his obsession with certain things or self soothing behaviors (like always needing to play with my hair to calm down and go to sleep) could be related to this.

 

[ahammons]

Oh, I also forgot to mention that the Dr. my MIL works for seems to think that there's no way my DS could be on the spectrum b/c he enjoys playing with other kids. I don't think I'll be listening to her advice!
Our doctor pointed out that we'll need to work on his social interaction skills b/c he can be sort of intrusive. He'll get really close to someone to talk to them (even if he doesn't know them), and he doesn't seem to notice if they're listening or not - he'll just keep talking and talking. When he plays with other kids, he has the tendency to follow them around and copy everything they do.... not sure if that's normal for 3 year olds, or if it's a social issue.

 

[crystallester916]

Okay, that makes me angry!! The earlier the intervention...the better the prognosis (is that spelled right??) Too many doctors fear "labeling" a child and many months/years are wasted. If he is showing signs of mild autism or aspergers...he needs to be properly evaluated by someone other than the pediatrician. "Labeling" a child will qualify him for early intervention programs in your community. I'd get a second opinion.

I TOTALLY AGREE and would get a 2nd opinion! I have worked in the field of early intervention specifically for children with autism for the past 7 years, and early intervention is the key!

Children that have a diagnosis of autim are my heart! And I have made it my personal goal to reach out to families affected by autism to help educate and support as much as I can! Please let me know how I can be of help! Feel free to email me privately!
~Crystal

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I TOTALLY AGREE and would get a 2nd opinion! I have worked in the field of early intervention specifically for children with autism for the past 7 years, and early intervention is the key!

Children that have a diagnosis of autim are my heart! And I have made it my personal goal to reach out to families affected by autism to help educate and support as much as I can! Please let me know how I can be of help! Feel free to email me privately!
~Crystal

Crystal,
God may have led you to this site just for Ashlee!

 

[quiverfull7]

My son is FOR SURE AS and HE loves to play with other kids... especially kids he knows and is comfortable with. He also needs his "alone" time and can be thrown completely out of sinc by what would seem silly to others. PLEASE PLEASE GO TO ANOTHER DOCTOR and don't lose so much as one more day without help!!!!!!!! I'm sorry to be pushy but your Dr. is out of touch. Time is precious and your DS's time is NOW!

 

[ahammons]

My son is FOR SURE AS and HE loves to play with other kids... especially kids he knows and is comfortable with. He also needs his "alone" time and can be thrown completely out of sinc by what would seem silly to others. PLEASE PLEASE GO TO ANOTHER DOCTOR and don't lose so much as one more day without help!!!!!!!! I'm sorry to be pushy but your Dr. is out of touch. Time is precious and your DS's time is NOW!

I think I will definitely ask my doctor for a referral (I'm pretty sure our insurance requires it) but the doctor who made the comment about playing with other kids is just who my MIL works for - she hasn't actually seen my DS. MY MIL doesn't know much about autism or AS, so I think she believes every word that her doctor says. I tried explaining to her that not every child will show every sign, but that doesn't mean they aren't on the spectrum. I think she believes it's just something that he'll outgrow, and we're over-reacting. (DH actually mentioned his concerns to her before and she got mad at him!)