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do you think my son is mildly autistic?
My son has been having a lot of issues at school. He is five and in kindergarten (I've posted before). Anyway, he is really struggling with teh reading adn getting very frustrated at school. He has gotten aggressive with other kids at school too. the aggression toward others is NEW. he has been having trouble staying his seat, etc. Also sometimes during class he will make noises and will nto stop when the teacher asks. One day he went out of the classroom and opened the door where they keep the fire extinguisher, when you open that door, the glass smashes.
Anyway, yesterday he had a playdate with a boy who has a mild form of autism, they really played together well nad he said he had speech delays like him. My son did not learn to talk until after 3 years of age. Also, he said he liked htis boy better than others at his school. I remember in preschool he really liked this autistic child there nad he would hug her and they played SO well together. Maybe it is just coincidental, but made me wonder could my son's issues be autism on a mild level.
It has gotten so bad at school taht on Monday he will have 1:1 teaching in a room by himself. he jsut cannot seem to operate in the classroom at this time. He does not like the teacher adn that does not help.
he is in karate and does well in that and listens to me most of the time. He has his moments. Sometimes he has meltdowns where he starts moaning/groaning and then he gets to where he cannot stand up. It's like he cannot gain compusure. He also has low frustration toleration too.
I took him to his pediatrician, he wasn't sure if he had ADD/ADHD ? He said it could be possible. Also he has had a hard year, we went thru a divorce that was final in Aug 09, he has had multiple childcare providers, his dad is in jail now for probation violate, dad is alcoholic. Dad got out briefly in Dec, but ended back in jail shortly thereafter. Also in Nov, while dad was in jail, I helped cleaned out his apartment as his lease was coming to an end. I wonder if those events could have impacted him some.
It's hard to know anymore. But do you think I'm totally off my rocker to think this? I don't knwo what to think. I did read that sometimes adhd and autism are similiar....
Anyway, yesterday he had a playdate with a boy who has a mild form of autism, they really played together well nad he said he had speech delays like him. My son did not learn to talk until after 3 years of age. Also, he said he liked htis boy better than others at his school. I remember in preschool he really liked this autistic child there nad he would hug her and they played SO well together. Maybe it is just coincidental, but made me wonder could my son's issues be autism on a mild level.
It has gotten so bad at school taht on Monday he will have 1:1 teaching in a room by himself. he jsut cannot seem to operate in the classroom at this time. He does not like the teacher adn that does not help.
he is in karate and does well in that and listens to me most of the time. He has his moments. Sometimes he has meltdowns where he starts moaning/groaning and then he gets to where he cannot stand up. It's like he cannot gain compusure. He also has low frustration toleration too.
I took him to his pediatrician, he wasn't sure if he had ADD/ADHD ? He said it could be possible. Also he has had a hard year, we went thru a divorce that was final in Aug 09, he has had multiple childcare providers, his dad is in jail now for probation violate, dad is alcoholic. Dad got out briefly in Dec, but ended back in jail shortly thereafter. Also in Nov, while dad was in jail, I helped cleaned out his apartment as his lease was coming to an end. I wonder if those events could have impacted him some.
It's hard to know anymore. But do you think I'm totally off my rocker to think this? I don't knwo what to think. I did read that sometimes adhd and autism are similiar....
Bi-polar, ASD, ADHD and sensory disorders seem to have a lot in common
I've heard that many children that exibit ASD traits end up with the "mood disorder"
Sensory issues could be co-morbid with any of the above....
Multiple care providers/missing dad could be a big part of it
When we moved, my son developed aversions to sand, water, certain foods, noises, what have you
Probably run him by neuro-dev ped-psychologist team
At school, they need to keep track of his behaviour to figure out what sets him off, it could be time of the day, certain activity, certain person, whole number of things
Good luck with that, by the way - my son's school still not doing it no matter how many times I've asked
The biggest challenge I have with my son's school is that they say "Well, he just lashed out - out of nowhere he was so mad". There is no such a thing as "out of nowhere" - it could be so from their standpoint, but not from my sons.
Good luck by all means
I've heard that many children that exibit ASD traits end up with the "mood disorder"
Sensory issues could be co-morbid with any of the above....
Multiple care providers/missing dad could be a big part of it
When we moved, my son developed aversions to sand, water, certain foods, noises, what have you
Probably run him by neuro-dev ped-psychologist team
At school, they need to keep track of his behaviour to figure out what sets him off, it could be time of the day, certain activity, certain person, whole number of things
Good luck with that, by the way - my son's school still not doing it no matter how many times I've asked
The biggest challenge I have with my son's school is that they say "Well, he just lashed out - out of nowhere he was so mad". There is no such a thing as "out of nowhere" - it could be so from their standpoint, but not from my sons.
Good luck by all means
Dad is in jail for alcohol issues, he never was violent or abusive towards us, just unstable as are most alcoholics!! He is also bipolar II.
Yes, my son becomes VERY frustrated very easily, very low frustration tolerance, also has a hard time doing things he does not want to do. Has a hard time focusing at times. Home is easier and they say it is b/c he does not have to be so regimented like school is.
Debi, Got your email, thanks so much, I emailed you back with mine.
My son loves natural disasters, tornados, hurricanes, etc, loves teh Titanic stuff, but then I read somewhere that is pretty common.
I think for kids with sensory issues, everything builds up easier for them and they ahve less means to deal with it.
specialmom, I am reading the book about the five types of challenging kids so far mine is the defiant type and the highly sensitive type, they say in the book those share a lot of the same characteristics.
I need to read more. I am learning so much.
My son seems to do really well with certain people, like with me, he does what I say, others he will not do anything they say. The principal at school, he loves her and does everything she says, but she told me, she can relate to him. There is another EA at this school and she says her dtr was a lot like my son, so she can relate and he does so much for her that he will not do for others. Maybe they do feel that some understand and others don't. It is quite possible. He will do things for his babysitter. I've had him with one babysitter and he would not do much for her. He hated her from the very beginning, I wasn't too fond of her either. I used to dread calling her, he could not do anything right. Then he went to another babysitter and he would hide under the table and not come out, he was scared of her son. He just does some odd things and he is very challenging.
He's a very sweet person too. But he can be very mean at times. He has been like this from day one. He was never an "easy" baby or "easy" child.
Yes, my son becomes VERY frustrated very easily, very low frustration tolerance, also has a hard time doing things he does not want to do. Has a hard time focusing at times. Home is easier and they say it is b/c he does not have to be so regimented like school is.
Debi, Got your email, thanks so much, I emailed you back with mine.
My son loves natural disasters, tornados, hurricanes, etc, loves teh Titanic stuff, but then I read somewhere that is pretty common.
I think for kids with sensory issues, everything builds up easier for them and they ahve less means to deal with it.
specialmom, I am reading the book about the five types of challenging kids so far mine is the defiant type and the highly sensitive type, they say in the book those share a lot of the same characteristics.
I need to read more. I am learning so much.
My son seems to do really well with certain people, like with me, he does what I say, others he will not do anything they say. The principal at school, he loves her and does everything she says, but she told me, she can relate to him. There is another EA at this school and she says her dtr was a lot like my son, so she can relate and he does so much for her that he will not do for others. Maybe they do feel that some understand and others don't. It is quite possible. He will do things for his babysitter. I've had him with one babysitter and he would not do much for her. He hated her from the very beginning, I wasn't too fond of her either. I used to dread calling her, he could not do anything right. Then he went to another babysitter and he would hide under the table and not come out, he was scared of her son. He just does some odd things and he is very challenging.
He's a very sweet person too. But he can be very mean at times. He has been like this from day one. He was never an "easy" baby or "easy" child.
Enjoyed reading your response and it has very good information in it. It helped me understand a little more. My son has sensory but can have the frustration problems too. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for your response (even though it wasn't for me)>
So very possibly that I would not rest until you have answers. That is my opinion based on what I know about your story. Here's what I think.
Kids who do not talk until late (red flag). Dad in jail (possibly has traits too?)
Does he have obsessions? My son would get "stuck" on things. It could be a certain food or a toy or an interest. The interests could seem normal for a kid their age (like firetrucks) but then some aren't (like speakers or sewer drains). Most kids with Autism have obsessions but if he doesn't I wouldn't rule it out.
Aggression can come from many things. One reason kids with Autism (my son has Aspergers) are aggresive at times is because of the frustration that builds up. People don't "get" them. People critisize them or treat them differently. and they are usually so smart that it is frustrating to them. If he gets upset and then is impaired in being able to work it out in his own head let alone tranfer it to an adult, that can be a HUGE frustration.
E-mail me at ***@**** we can talk more. Also Autism Support Network is very very supportive of people like you who are new to the whole journey of looking at the possibility of Autism. People there will really wrap an arm around ya! and if it isn't Autism it is still a good resource.
Debbie
Kids who do not talk until late (red flag). Dad in jail (possibly has traits too?)
Does he have obsessions? My son would get "stuck" on things. It could be a certain food or a toy or an interest. The interests could seem normal for a kid their age (like firetrucks) but then some aren't (like speakers or sewer drains). Most kids with Autism have obsessions but if he doesn't I wouldn't rule it out.
Aggression can come from many things. One reason kids with Autism (my son has Aspergers) are aggresive at times is because of the frustration that builds up. People don't "get" them. People critisize them or treat them differently. and they are usually so smart that it is frustrating to them. If he gets upset and then is impaired in being able to work it out in his own head let alone tranfer it to an adult, that can be a HUGE frustration.
E-mail me at ***@**** we can talk more. Also Autism Support Network is very very supportive of people like you who are new to the whole journey of looking at the possibility of Autism. People there will really wrap an arm around ya! and if it isn't Autism it is still a good resource.
Debbie
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