Aa
PDD-NOS of speech disorder echolalia
My son Reilly is 35 months old and approaching his 3rd birthday. Reilly has been seeing a speech therapist for 4 months and the therapist has recently identified that he has echolalia which means he repeats words when said by the parent but does not comprehend the question. Reillys comprehension of words and its meaning is impaired and he often hand leads to get what he wants or help himself. Reilly said mummy when he was about 12 months and then would not say my name until recently after speech therapy intervention.
I have concerns that Reilly may have PDD-NOS, he is seeing a peadiatrician who claims that he is too young to be diagnose with autism at this stage but he is also saying that Reilly gave him eye contact and played with a toy in his office which are not specific to autism. Reilly may give a strager eye contact more readily upon meeting them, however his focus and general eye contact is limmited overall and will more times than not respond to his name when called. Reilly will play with toys and has an excessive infacination with trains. Reilly does not present any signs of a stim and will interact with you in play or if he wants something.
Now for the more conerning behaviours. Reilly winges and cries a great deal and will mostly not seek my attention for help when he has hurt himself. Reilly will back into a corner or squirm on the ground when distressed. Reilly will regularly bang his head on the ground walls or other peoples heads. Recently Reilly has developed a new behaviour where he will mouth his arm from the inside of his wrist to his elbow - up and down with saliva from tears etc. When trying to calm him down, his behaviour escalates and he refuses a cuddle or being picked up. I just sit on his bed and wait for him to come to me after pacing around on the floor or banging his head. Reilly will throw a tantrum when: being corrected, when told NO or when interupting an activity or TV program. When Reilly is not distressed he will give a hug upon request, however this was tought to him. Reilly has sleep problems and will wake at all times through the night. If we put him back into his bed he will head but the floor and sit on the ground. After a great deal of trying to get him to sleep in his own bed after waking up we allow him to get in with us but he will not let us put our arms or hands around or on him. His legs and body are all over us during the night and I often wake up very sore.
Reillys grand parents are afraid to baby sit him or take him out. They have taken him out once where he head but his grandfather and sqirmed on the floor and would not allow him to pick him up or hold him. They have not taken him anywhere since this event. Reilly will give his grandparents a hug but he wont do this upon every request. The child care centre has written a report advising that he tends to parallel play and not interact like other children do but he does tend to make attempts to play at times. Reillys group leader advised that he wonders off when others are meant to sit on the mat and will not sit to eat his food at the table with others. Reilly loves puzzles and peg boards, knows all his colours and can count to ten. Reilly can use a screw driver but he wont use a pencil like a screw driver. Reilly will imitate the dog by barking at the fence when the neighbours come home, eat dog food and drink from the bowl. Reilly carries a soft security blanket with silk edges with him everywhere. He likes swimming lessons but refuses to go under water - terrified.
Reilly ate all his home made solids as a baby and then refused to eat at 20 months where he only wanted his bottle. Reilly has an iron deficiency and after giving him a syrup from the chemist to motivate his motabolism he will only eat bread, biscuits, yoghurt or chicken nuggets. Reilly is infactuated by his father and often pushes his mum away when he is home. Reilly prefers his father do things for him over his mother. Reilly will cry when his father goes to work and say daddy when he comes home but not run up to him if he picks him up on the occaision from child care. Reilly does not have an attachment problem when his mother leaves him at child care, I can generaly give him a kiss and go and upon return he will run up to his mother.
My understading of PDD-NOS is that the symptoms are less severe in intensity and frequency and the child does not necissarily have all the characteristics of other PDD's. If Reilly only has a speech disorder then why are all these other concerning behaviours present and why cant I help him naturally when he is upset or distrressed. Could this be PDD-NOS and does any one elses child have the same problems?
I have concerns that Reilly may have PDD-NOS, he is seeing a peadiatrician who claims that he is too young to be diagnose with autism at this stage but he is also saying that Reilly gave him eye contact and played with a toy in his office which are not specific to autism. Reilly may give a strager eye contact more readily upon meeting them, however his focus and general eye contact is limmited overall and will more times than not respond to his name when called. Reilly will play with toys and has an excessive infacination with trains. Reilly does not present any signs of a stim and will interact with you in play or if he wants something.
Now for the more conerning behaviours. Reilly winges and cries a great deal and will mostly not seek my attention for help when he has hurt himself. Reilly will back into a corner or squirm on the ground when distressed. Reilly will regularly bang his head on the ground walls or other peoples heads. Recently Reilly has developed a new behaviour where he will mouth his arm from the inside of his wrist to his elbow - up and down with saliva from tears etc. When trying to calm him down, his behaviour escalates and he refuses a cuddle or being picked up. I just sit on his bed and wait for him to come to me after pacing around on the floor or banging his head. Reilly will throw a tantrum when: being corrected, when told NO or when interupting an activity or TV program. When Reilly is not distressed he will give a hug upon request, however this was tought to him. Reilly has sleep problems and will wake at all times through the night. If we put him back into his bed he will head but the floor and sit on the ground. After a great deal of trying to get him to sleep in his own bed after waking up we allow him to get in with us but he will not let us put our arms or hands around or on him. His legs and body are all over us during the night and I often wake up very sore.
Reillys grand parents are afraid to baby sit him or take him out. They have taken him out once where he head but his grandfather and sqirmed on the floor and would not allow him to pick him up or hold him. They have not taken him anywhere since this event. Reilly will give his grandparents a hug but he wont do this upon every request. The child care centre has written a report advising that he tends to parallel play and not interact like other children do but he does tend to make attempts to play at times. Reillys group leader advised that he wonders off when others are meant to sit on the mat and will not sit to eat his food at the table with others. Reilly loves puzzles and peg boards, knows all his colours and can count to ten. Reilly can use a screw driver but he wont use a pencil like a screw driver. Reilly will imitate the dog by barking at the fence when the neighbours come home, eat dog food and drink from the bowl. Reilly carries a soft security blanket with silk edges with him everywhere. He likes swimming lessons but refuses to go under water - terrified.
Reilly ate all his home made solids as a baby and then refused to eat at 20 months where he only wanted his bottle. Reilly has an iron deficiency and after giving him a syrup from the chemist to motivate his motabolism he will only eat bread, biscuits, yoghurt or chicken nuggets. Reilly is infactuated by his father and often pushes his mum away when he is home. Reilly prefers his father do things for him over his mother. Reilly will cry when his father goes to work and say daddy when he comes home but not run up to him if he picks him up on the occaision from child care. Reilly does not have an attachment problem when his mother leaves him at child care, I can generaly give him a kiss and go and upon return he will run up to his mother.
My understading of PDD-NOS is that the symptoms are less severe in intensity and frequency and the child does not necissarily have all the characteristics of other PDD's. If Reilly only has a speech disorder then why are all these other concerning behaviours present and why cant I help him naturally when he is upset or distrressed. Could this be PDD-NOS and does any one elses child have the same problems?
If it were me, knowing what I know, and having a son with an autistic spectrum disorder, I would probably advise you to get a separate opinion. There is no reason why they cannot diagnose at your child's age. If you look at the diagnostic criteria under DSM IV for autism then you may see yourself whether you child meets the criteria needed.
Echolalia is a speech disorder that is characteristic of an autistic spectrum disorder. His other behaviours that you mention are also consistent with that diagnosis.
Early diagnosis and early interventions and therapies give a better long term prognosis.
In Austrialia there are better services than you seem to be currently receiving.
Does your son also have sensory issues?
Echolalia is a speech disorder that is characteristic of an autistic spectrum disorder. His other behaviours that you mention are also consistent with that diagnosis.
Early diagnosis and early interventions and therapies give a better long term prognosis.
In Austrialia there are better services than you seem to be currently receiving.
Does your son also have sensory issues?
How is Reily now? I read your post, but it has been a while ago. Please update me on his progress. My 3-year-old grandson sounds similar.
At 3, mjthewriter was dx'ed as "developmentally delayed" which was enough to get her into spec ed. and get help ASAP. This gradually unfolded into "autistic-like" and then PDD-NOS (with a slight ADD detour along the way--see previous posts). Even the vague Developmentally Delayed was a good start, but as time goes by and as you and the experts get to know Reilly better, insist on more specific dx.
I meant to add "echolalia" in my "With speech I think I went through a period of it."
I typed a good post but it got lost. Being tagged with the PDD nos myself, it sounds like you’re going through a similar nightmare that my parents went through when I was that age and younger. There’s countless photos of relatives trying to hold me and I am stretched out like a damsel in distress. With touching and sensory, this may get better in time, but chances are you may have to learn to adjust as well as your son. I still can’t stand being touched or poked. If you poke me, that feeling lingers on my skin like a burn. I must rub that area to wipe it off. I take hugs if people ask for them or if I ask for a hug. Backrubs on the other hand are always welcome :)
With speech I think I went through a period of it. With PDD, speech is delayed. (That’s a key thing that separates PDD nos from aspergers. (ask some autistics and they think that’s the only distinction.) I was at around 4 or five when I was able to speak verbally. I remember before then I thought I talked and remember it that way. I can remember some occasions when I thought I said something when I didn’t.
Speech therapy is very helpful, I believe. That probably helped me a lot. At age of 3 it’s really hard to say how it will develop. Try to find as much support you can and use things like early intervention, etc.
When your son retreats into a corner or beats himself, it sounds like his way of coping with over stimulation. I didn’t capture exactly what scenarios your son was in when he gets upset. For me shopping is a huge stressor. Florescent lights don’t bother me unless they are flickering. Other autistics may be more sensitive. I’d suggest checking out the settings where he gets upset and see if you can change some things. Providing a quet place, like a dark room is also helpful. Recently I ended up waiting in a very noisy building. Knowing I was about to melt down at the counter, I had my grandma take care of that business while I sought out an abandoned office to hide in until my appointment.
It takes a lot of patience, and if you need help, send me a pm and I can forward you to my father who has had to go through a great deal with me. He can be very helpful.
With speech I think I went through a period of it. With PDD, speech is delayed. (That’s a key thing that separates PDD nos from aspergers. (ask some autistics and they think that’s the only distinction.) I was at around 4 or five when I was able to speak verbally. I remember before then I thought I talked and remember it that way. I can remember some occasions when I thought I said something when I didn’t.
Speech therapy is very helpful, I believe. That probably helped me a lot. At age of 3 it’s really hard to say how it will develop. Try to find as much support you can and use things like early intervention, etc.
When your son retreats into a corner or beats himself, it sounds like his way of coping with over stimulation. I didn’t capture exactly what scenarios your son was in when he gets upset. For me shopping is a huge stressor. Florescent lights don’t bother me unless they are flickering. Other autistics may be more sensitive. I’d suggest checking out the settings where he gets upset and see if you can change some things. Providing a quet place, like a dark room is also helpful. Recently I ended up waiting in a very noisy building. Knowing I was about to melt down at the counter, I had my grandma take care of that business while I sought out an abandoned office to hide in until my appointment.
It takes a lot of patience, and if you need help, send me a pm and I can forward you to my father who has had to go through a great deal with me. He can be very helpful.
Wish i would have thought of the epson salt, my 6yr old (3 at the time) would cry while she was sleeping and even after she woke up. I believe it had alot to do with skin sensitivity. louloumum find your self a few good doctors, its a long process no matter what u do. But if your child does have Pdd or autism it's best to find out and get the help that he needs. My daughter has had intence in home therapy for 6 months now and there is such a difference in her speach and her behaviour.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
If you think that your son has more than a speech delay, please get him evaluated for PDD-NOS or Autism. The sooner you have the correct evaluation, the sooner you can help him with additional speech, Occupational therapy and other therapies that will help him. My understanding is that the earlier you start the therapy for children with PDD, the better the chance of improvement. If you are in the USA, you need to also get your school district involved. In addition to private therapies that you have to pay, the school district should provide you free therapies under the federal law of "no child left behind" to get him ready to Elementary School. Regarding sleeping, please Google epson salts and do some research on giving epson salt baths. I had the same issue with my daughter not speeling through the night. I started giving her epson salt baths and she started sleeping through the night after one week of these baths. Three years later, I still give her about three baths with epson salts every week. Epson salts are cheap at the local pharmacy. You also need to look at the literature on casean and gluten free diets. Again Google and obtain a book called "Children with Starving Brains". Too much milk is not good for some children. You might try to eliminate milk for about a month and see if his behavior improves. Later eliminate gluten/wheat and see if his behavior improves. In my view if parents suspect something about a child, you need to get as much information as you can from a Child Development Doctor. This will allow for early help.
Children with autism or PDD may have eye contact, but eye contact is different and limited when present, generally. My daughter has limited eye contact. She will look at people when they are physically active with her, such as when they pick her up above their head, spin her around, bounce her up and down, playing chase. She will not look at people when they talk to her or play normally with her. She has to be revved up sensory wise to look at someone. I do not think that is normal eye contact. Looking at someone initially, maybe your boy is checking them out, but if he isn't looking at them later on, that's not normal, so you are right to question that. His other behaviors sound like something is up too. Don't let people tell you that you are just being a bad parent and not having discipline with him (I hear that a lot with my daughter). If there is a behavioral problem due to a developmental delay, it's not your fault! You have to do the best you can to change the behavior. Well, you probably figured that one out, just wanted to point it out just in case since I'm starting to go through that right now with my 2 year old when I take her out places. I really hope he doesn't have PPD-NOS or autism, but he has some sort of delay, it sounds like. I'd go to a developmental pediatrician. 10 to 20 minutes in a regular pediatrician's office is not going to give them an acurate sense of the boy's behavior. They should listen to your concerns, not ignore what you are saying. In that 10 to 20 minutes, he might be on his best behavior. They doctor needs to trust you and what you say has happened on a daily basis. Your boy is almost 3, and as my mom always said, it's the terrible twos and the worse threes, and with a developmental delay, with language delay, that will probably make that time period really hard since he can't communicate so well. So, hopefully he's just going through a stage that will get better as he can communicate more, but his behavior would pose concerns, that a developmental pediatrician should address, or at least go to a second regular pediatrician and get a second opinion and try to get a referral to the specialist. The speech therapist may have better insight than the pediatrician, as well, since the therapist has been seeing the boy for longer stretches of time and may be able to recognize similar behaviors in other children they are giving therapy to. The speech therapist also may be able to recommend a doctor to see.
Good luck. I'm sorry you're going through this time of figuring things out. It's very hard when we want the best for our children.
Good luck. I'm sorry you're going through this time of figuring things out. It's very hard when we want the best for our children.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Community
Fearing autism, many parents aren't vaccinating their kids. Can doctors reverse this dangerous trend?
Yummy eats that will keep your child healthy and happy
What to expect in your growing baby
Is the PS3 the new Prozac … or causing ADHD in your kid?
Autism expert Dr. Richard Graff weighs in on the vaccine-autism media scandal.
Could your home be a haven for toxins that can cause ADHD?
