yes. But alot of ppl don't want to beleave that any one has autism. Yes some kids are absessed with other things but those kids could take it or leave it. Kids with autism just keep on talking about it and wanting it all the time. It never stops. I would just keep on going with what ever help you can get for your son. there is all kinds of autism and maybe your friends are thinking the worst.good luck hope this helps you some what.

Listen to the professionals. They dont make a diagnosis of autism without lots of testing. You are so smart to get the help your sons needs.


My son was also diagnosed with high functioning autism when he was four years old. Your son's symptoms are very similar to what my sons symptoms were at the time of his diagnosis. My son also had a sensitivity to sound and touch. He was also non-verbal.

The good news is that because your son is high-functioning, you can expect great things from him. My son is currently attending college and is due to graduate next summer. He still doesnt drive a car.

Hi, maybe my site can help reassure your questioning. It is

http://chat1autism.wetpaint.com/page/Home?t=anon

I hope it can help.

Hugs,
Kris

PS: The URL added /page/home?t=anon.... I don't know why...

I know from personal experience, if I say I have aspergers (if they know that's a type of autism) people just say "no you don't" or "I don't believe that." It is the most irritating response in the world. The fact is, high functioning autistic people are different from the stereotypical autistic person because they appear normal. They can talk to people and control their behavior in public. People don't realize what a struggle it is. They also don't realize what goes on in private, how hard it is. Its just that we have the ability to control it in front of people, so we do. I find it very hurtful when someone responds this way because I am telling them of a personal struggle I have had, it usually is a hard decision to tell them, and they completely invalidate it. They invalidate something that is a struggle for me every day. Anyway, the point is they just may not understand what autism really looks like, that it can come in many forms.

that picture of your son is beautiful, by the way

Yeah! He's cute :)

PS: For some reason, when I go out in public, everyone can tell I'm on the Autism Spectrum but I was diagnosed as high functioning...? That is also why I got a service dog to help minimize things...

Kris

I agree with Lawson. Parents of typical children see their kids obessing over certain toys or charactors but the difference is the intensity. My son was diagnosed with classic Autism 10 months ago. I am a nanny and I took my son with me while I cared for another little boy one year younger than he. Therefore I had a close realationship with that family as my son was in their home with me every day. When I told them of his diagnosis they couldn't believe it! The said that he seemed to be just fine. The difference is that I knew my son intimatly and they were outsiders looking in. As much as I wanted to hear what they were saying, I knew they were wrong. If it makes you feel better get a second opinion. It can't hurt. Also does your son recieve any other type of thearpy besides speech and OT? Have you tried ABA?

Parents of 'NT' Children do not understand a child on the Autism spectrum. They hear Autism and think of a child sitting on the floor rocking back and forth not looking at anyone and maybe making odd sounds, or running around uncontrolable flapping their hands screaming. Saddly even many professionals think this. Thats why it's so hard often to get a dx. Try this site.

http://www.childbrain.com/pdd.shtml

http://www.childbrain.com/pddassess.html

I would just like to thank everyone who replied to my request for advice. Every response has been so helpful and inspiring. I really appreciate you all taking the time to offer your stories and support.
Many Thanks to you all.

I agree with everyone here. I don't think you can take advice on autism from people who know nothing about it. All of us here seem to be able to recognize the characteristics in your son without even having met him because we recognize those same characteristics in our own children. You are his mother and you should KNOW in your gut who's right. If you didn't think something was wrong with your child, why was he ever tested in the first place? You know the truth. Just like most of us could have diagnosed our children before the professionals did. Because we know them and we know when something isn't right. Just remember that the average person doesn't understand a thing about autism. You never really know until you experience it. Trust yourself.

The only person who knew for a fact my 10 year old was autistic at 4 was the speech pathologists. His doctors and teachers didn't know until he was 8 The excuse has been aspergers is hard to diagnose.Which is similar to high functioning autism. Please take advantage of all the help you can get know, this will minimize how different your child will appear to others Like you wrote people have a hard time believing there is any autism. Too many parents would love to have earlier interventions, I know I am one of them

When my child was 4 his occupational therapist told me she thought my son had Asperger's Syndrome. I took him to his pediatric neurologist who was seeing him for ADHD, ODD and OCD and he said Kristopher did NOT have asperger's syndrome.

In the early years many of these things can be dismissed away. HOWEVER, at the age of 9 he got the Asperger's Syndrome diagnosis and by this time it was quite evident that he was NOT like his peers of the same age. So, don't let parents of "normal" kids dissuade the diagnosis.

See, I let the neurologist do that and I wanted desperately to believe him. But, it did NOT do my son justice.

Instead, he did NOT get all of the help he could have gotten. In addition, all of the things you are talking about are common among aspie's and for you to have noticed these things about your child . . . well, trust your mother's intuition.

The one thing I always knew was that Kris was "different" and that no matter how many diagnoses he got: ADHD, ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) everything never all added up.

When he finally got the Asperger's Syndrome diagnosis and we went to seminars about the disability and learned more, well, all of a sudden, everything added up.

While I don't wish for anyone to have a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, the sooner you realize what is going on with your child, the sooner you can help him/her.

I strongly suggest that you move forward with the diagnosis you've been given and just give it time. As your child gets older, there will be NO doubt in your mind or in the minds of others who know your child well.

Having a diagnosis is better than trying to put the pieces together and constantly trying to find the answers.

Trust me on that!!!

hugs,

gaylek11

when Max reached around 2 I knew something was wrong. I was put off doing anything about it because of family and peer pressure. Max has a twin sister and he had been the 1st to sit up, crawl,walk,talk,catch etc etc you get the picture. when he began to regress EVERYONE was saying it was because he had a twin sister who was being a bit bossy, talking for him so he didn't have to talk etc and I listened.....it was exactly what i wanted to hear......but you know in my heart I knew something was wrong with my baby. Facing up to that was the hardest thing i have ever done in my life.
It continues to be a daily struggle ten years later. I think that to give birth to a special child is in itself devastating, to have a child injured and left with learning disabilities is devastating, to give birth to a normal healthy baby who is progressing just fine for a couple of years and then "Autism" ( and no-one can tell you why) is beyond devastation. We are all dealing with this daily and I for one salute every parent out there with a child on the spectrum. The public don't get it, the doctors don't nor do the schools and my biggest guilt is that by the time I've managed to cope with a "normal" day I have no energy to advocate or instigate change. Maybe in the future...............
Wow I just realised how much i've said :-)
hugs everyone

Maxiesmom, you said, "my biggest guilt is that by the time I've managed to cope with a "normal" day I have no energy to advocate or instigate change."

Oh, sweetie, you are so NOT alone. I marvel at those folks who have a special needs child and get legislation changed and other things to help all children with asperger's.

I simply was NOT put on this earth to accomplish that. I do the best I possibly can to understand my son and what he needs and wants. I advocate for him every single day and I deal with his behaviors and tend to his needs and it's all I'm capable of doing.

Is that enough??? I don't really know. But, it's really more than one lady can handle, ya know???

So, just know that you are NOT alone in this. I am at the end of my rope and there is NO time in a day for ME, ever!!! I walk around with letters tattooed on my forehead, N-O-N, because I've always felt like a non-person in my own right. I'm just Kris' mom, Kris' caregiver, Kris' support line, Kris' whatever!!!

There is no time left for anything else. . . not even to just be ME!!!

You are NOT alone! I canNOT feel guilty for that because I just am who I am.

hugs,

gaylek11

When Daniel was 3, we had a friend who had worked with autistic kids who did not recognise his symptoms. She could not believe it when a year later he was diagnosed. Granted, she didn't live nearby and didn't interact with him much. I would go ahead and get early intervention for your son, while treasuring all the ways in which he is normal. Autism, in some ways, is like taking some normal traits and amplifying them.