Autism? What do you think?

[addictedtocloth!]

Don't know where to begin. My son is 4 years old, just started talking normally within the past year, he will be 5 in June.

He was diagnosed with PDD at three years old, went through speech therapy, occupational therapy for a year or so until we stopped because my ds hated it (whole nother story)

Son has severe sensory problems, this child seems to be a prisoner in his own body, will not wear clothes in the house because they hurt him so badly that he will lie in the floor for house screaming (the clothes are soft, not tight, we try to accomidate him) he spends alot of time doing odd things like staring into space. He is very delayed for his age. He has trouble eating, he has limited foods he eats and if we offer anything other than his list of few foods he has a meltdown and screams for HOURS ON END about it.

In public he wonders aimlessly around, eyes wide with what seems like no purpose, he just goes. We have to keep him in the stroller or he will wonder with his mouth open, eyes wide. He does this alot at home too. Its like he is un reachable alot of the day. This child is in his own little shell of a world.

I know he is young, but I thought by 4 (almost 5 years old) that I would be able to "reach" him but I am not. We cant have conversations because he does not "Get" it. He answers yes and no and doesn't comprehend anymore than that really. He does talk more than that, just doesn't seem to "get" normal things that I think a child should age should get.

Example

How did you like going to the park today?
him: park? i go park, yes yes yes. i went there. yes yes yes yes.

what did you do?

him: eyes wide as if he doesnt seem to understand the question? will say yes.

did you swing?

him: yes

tell me about it

him: i swinged i swinged yes yes.

He doesnt carry on a whole lot of his own conversations. Id love to hear him "talk" to me for once. I want him to tell me about his day and talk with me.

Does it sounds sound like he has something going on?
What do you think?

[littlest birds]

Well, he's already been diagnosed, right?

Definitely something going on--are you trying to distinguish between autism and PDD-NOS?

[addictedtocloth!]

Yes I am. I was told PDD was not Autism, just "delayed"

[littlest birds]

Well, my understanding is that PDD-NOS usually means there are numerous symptoms that are indicative of autism, but that the autism diagnosis doesn't exactly fit 100%. So there would be something distinctive that rules autism out or makes it questionable.

PDD-NOS, Asperger's and Autism are all very closely related, and there is another I think that I am not remembering that is less common.

I, and many or most professionals, think of all of these as autistic spectrum disorders and sometimes a child definitely on the spectrum will get a different diagnosis at different times or from a different evaluator.

Have you seen the diagnostic criteria for these? They can be really helpful for parents to gain understanding and process the information we know about our children and put it in order. I don't have any links, though...

[mimim]

Originally Posted by addictedtocloth!

Yes I am. I was told PDD was not Autism, just "delayed"

Autism falls under the umbrella category of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or even just plain "autism" are often used interchangeably with PDD. Pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) is the diagnosis they give when a person meets the qualifications of ASD, but doesn't fit into the other spectrum categories, which are Rett's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, autism, and Asperger's syndrome. PDD is not a delay, although they can be associated with language delays, etc, but they are not something that is grown out of.

A developmental delay is a diagnosis that is often given to preschoolers or toddlers to avoid labeling them too early, but still making therapy and other interventions available. School will very often use developmental delay as a special education category until 1st or 2nd grade and then reevaluate and give a permanent category, for example.


It does sound like "something" is going on if the conversation you posted is typical of him. Have you seen the special needs forum here?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...play.php?f=157

[Altair]

I agree with the PPs-- PDD-NOS is part of the autism spectrum disorders, but it's not the same thing as a diagnosis of classic autism. It is not a "devlopmental delay."

one thing jumped out at me from your conversation... many kids with ASDs have trouble with "wh" questions. he might not know what you're asking when you say
"when did you go to the park"
"what did you do at the park"
"who did you go with"
etc.

he just hears "go to the park" and the answer is yes.

You can help him understand "wh" questions by always saying what they mean together. "who did you go to the park with, which person did you go to the park with?" "when did you go to the park, what time did you go to the park?" what questions are harder. "what did you do at the park, tell me the things you played at the park..."

wh questions tend to take a LOT of time.

what kind of therapy is he getting now? have you heard of RDI? www.rdiconnect.com

starting therapy young can make a BIG difference in school transitioning and how he matures socially/sensory/etc.