Need advice please

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2005
Need advice please
4
Tue, 12-05-2006 - 9:42pm

I would appreciate any input from the ladies on this board who know a lot more about this topic than I do. I have 2 and 3 yr old boys. My 2 yr old is the one I need help with. I recently read something about autism and the symptoms and it was something I had never considered, so my question really is whether I need ot consider this and how to proceed.

My son does talk, quite a bit now but mostly only when spoken too or if he is playing with his cars. We almost had him tested for hearing problems b/c he mostly "ignored" anyone trying to tell him something. I determined he could hear fine by whispering "Do you want a cookie" from a few feet away and he turned around for that. He is a VERY active toddler, walked at 8 1/2 months and climbed everything soon after. He does not listen when I say NO (I know could be normal 2YO behavior) but I've been correcting him for climbing for a year and recently started time outs since he turned 2 but it NEVER helps. He has never had any fear and will jump from 3 feet off the ground and prbably higher if he had the chance. He rarely feels pain and I actually have pinched him on occasion just to test him, he has said ouch when given vaccinations but only shed a tear one time. I have caught him pulling his hair and biting his arm. (Not very often but more than I think he should) He sleeps 12 hours every night and ALWAYS has since about 2 months old. He shows affection to his brother but will usually not give kisses and hugs when asked, but will cuddle up next to me or my husband. As a baby, he never wanted to be held, NEVER fell asleep on me or anyone, would always put himself to sleep and would become agitated if I tried to soothe him. He would bang his head or rock his head to go to sleep often but not all the time. Has always had a healthy appetite until recently but my other son also slowed down at 2, when he does eat he shovels and chokes b/c he rarely chews his food, even ped. noticed he basically has no gag reflex at all.

Sorry so long, but there are so many things that I have thought about in the last couple days that went unexplained in his two years and I have always had that gut feeling something was not quite right, mostly in the spacy look he gets and the totally ignoring me. So many times he has scared me b/c he'll run into a parking lot or away from in a store and never stops when I yell no or is trying to jump from something he should not b/c it is dangerous. I currently do not have health ins. b/c my husband and I are self-employed and its costly, it lasped 2 months ago so we are about to switch companies from Carefirst to the Alliance Group so I can't see a doctor till we switch, if he is diagnosed with a form of autism I would be denied for ins. Am I over reacting or am right to be worried? My family and friends have noticed these things too, its not just me though. TIA

Jessica

Jessica

Mommy to Jack (5) and Brady (4)

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2004
Tue, 12-05-2006 - 9:59pm

Hi Jessica,

Welcome to the board. I also have 2 boys, 7 and 10. My 7yr old, Nathan, was dx'd at age 5. I see lots of red flags with your son. If I were you I would definitely get him evaluated. Not saying that he IS autistic, but if you are having that "feeling".....its best to do it and find out. Mom's have an instinct!

Nathan actually does have a gag reflex and issues with food. He wasn't afraid of much when he was younger..but now scared of MANY things! He also slept great as a baby. It just became difficult to fall asleep within the past couple of years. Nathan also has that spacey look...often looks as though he is looking right thru me. And he also tends to be in his own little world alot, where he doesn't hear me when I'm talking to him. His pain threshold is strange too. Sometimes he doesn't feel much of anything, and then other times he over exaggerates his pain! He is very loving and affectionate, but doesn't always need it so much....not like his brother!! lol My 10yr old going on 2....and then sometimes 10 going on 30....LOL!!!

Hope you stick around, its a great board to be a part of! I came here right before I had Nathan dx'd. The support was really helpful...just being able to talk to other mom's who had children just like mine.

michelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-16-2006
Tue, 12-05-2006 - 10:15pm

BREATHE.....
You've got some red flags but a lot of it could be typical behavior
Call Early Intervention and ask for an evaluation.....

Maryland State Department of Education
200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 410-767-0261 or 800-535-0182

Ask for the Infant and toddler program for your county or Balt City...

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2005
Tue, 12-05-2006 - 11:12pm

Thank you for that info. Does anyone know, if I get my son evaluated and if he was diagnosed w/a disorder through the Dept of Education, would this be on any medical records that would prevent me from obtaining ins? Or would it be seperate until I actually saw a doctor for anything relating to it? My mohter sells ins so I know how easily they deny you if they can! thanks

Jessica

Jessica

Mommy to Jack (5) and Brady (4)

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 12-05-2006 - 11:48pm

Well, I would ask your mom for clarification but typically educational classification and medical diagnosis are 2 separate beasties. Also, often with educational testing they are just evaluating to see if the child has any delays in any area so there may not be a diagnosis per se. However, early intervention is a wee different than the older kids so you will want to check into it. You may be able to get him on medicare or such if he is diagnosed.

Also, ask your mom about the whole "pre-existing condition" issue. I was concerned about moving to california and DH switching jobs 7 years ago because my dd was already diagnosed and I had the same fear plus I was pregnant. I was told that denying based on pre-existing condition was illegal or something of the sort. However, I have a friend who has asthma as an adult and has the darndest time with this. So I am not an authority but it is worth checking.

As for the symptoms, some of them are similar to my DS with ASD (sleeping through the night, not wanted to be held to go to sleep), others are more like my DS with ADHD (running away with no fear, etc).

At any rate I would look into an eval and I would make sure to look into sensory integration disorder as well. The symptoms you mentioned really rang true to that particular part of my boys issues. Though I think you should definitely test to rule out or in autism, I think it is worth while to also look at sensory stuff.

Renee

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