New here with some questions...(long!)
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New here with some questions...(long!)
| Mon, 05-15-2006 - 9:41am |
I'm de-lurking to introduce myself and to get some information/ask a few questions...My son Liam is 5 (he'll turn 6 at the beginning of July) and he has many behaviors that are getting the best of us. He hasn't been diagnosed with any developmental issues, but on Wednesday my husband and I are having a consultation visit with his pediatrician to discuss some of our concerns.


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http://www.childbrain.com/pddassess.html
Here is an online assessment checklist. It doesn't diagnose ASD but can give you some ideas of whether or not your child may have a PDD and if you should seek further evaluation.
As for questions for the pediatrician, I would just tell him you have concerns and ask for a referral to someone who specializes in high functioning autism/asperger syndrome. Make sure to ask for a specialist. They may not know of someone off hand but it will have them think twice before referring you onto Joe Psychiatrist who doesn't know about the spectrum and sends you on feeling like it was a waste of time.
Also, you can call your local autism society of america chapter and ask them for referrals in your area. The chapters are listed on the main ASA website.
I would also print the results of the PDD questionare at that link and bring it with you. Also go to the OASIS (do a search under "oasis asperger" and you should get thier quick enough. There is a tab for diagnostics or something like that. Under there is the australian checklist for aspergers. It would be another good one to fill out and print to bring with you to a doctor.
I would search and get the links for you but my house is starting to explode so I best go see to my children. lol.
Renee
Welcome to the board! The ladies here are always helpful and have great insight. I don't think your post was long.
Your little guy does sound very bright and I'm sure some of these things are funny when taken out of context (particularly the bottom of the taco comment! cute:)
It's great that he can verbalize these feelings and isn't going into completely meltdown everytime somebody eats something he doesn't like. But it is concerning in that he can't eat his own food at the same time. Food tends to be a big issue with ASD kids because of sticky thinking and lack of flexibility. The perfectionism you describe is also very common (and usually is a form of sticky thinking.) One of the moms here uses "sticky thinky" to describe how our kids tend to get an idea in their heads and can't move on, even if it's something that's out of the question or not available. Like, "I want chips and salsa," but we don't have any and he can't move on to another food choice and meltsdown with dissapointment (common in our house.)
Is your family's vegetarianism a heath or philosophical choice? If you are willing to prepare animal products for him, that may give him some additional food choices. I'm sure you have a list of the foods he likes. Are they bland, crunchy? Lots of kids with food issues tend to stick with dry bready type foods. If you can figure out what textures he prefers maybe you can find some additional foods that fit in those categories.
If it's really affecting his nutrition a good Occupational Therapist can work on desensitizing his mouth and may be able to help him widen his favorites list. They could also deal with smell sensitivity. The school can do an OT eval, but they usually only deal with direct school issues (like writing and fine motor) although obviously this is affecting him during school. Our insurance covered a private OT eval, so we just went ahead and did it that way. If your pediatrician can't referr you to one, try a local autism support group; they may be able to point you in the right direction. Also there's a Sensory Integration Dysfunction board here that could answer some questions too. http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/listsf.asp?webtag=iv-pssensoryint&nav=start
As far as the Ped. consult goes, I'd go in with the attitude that you know something is going on and want some referrals to Drs. that can rule some things out or make a diagnosis. We started trying to figure out what was going on with our DS at the age of 3 and didn't get a dx until last year just before his 6th bday. I like our Ped. but even she thought Sam would grow out of some of the behaviors we saw. If I knew what I know now, I would have said that I know something is going on and I want some names of Pediatric Neuropsychologists and Developmental Pediatricians to rule out a developmental disability. Your son could certainly present as a quirky, sensitive kid to a Dr. who has little knowledge of high functioning autism spectrum disorders and totally blow you off. Or he/she might think you're not an affective parent and suggest a change in discipline and more sleep for your kid (happened to me.) I think the first Psych. we saw thought that I wanted to just medicate Sam when I suggested that he couldn't control himself and I wanted to make sure nothing else was going on, like ADHD or something; I didn't know that Sam could be Autistic and high functioning, but I knew something was up. I would have gone straigt to a Developmental specialist if I had known it was even a possibility
If it turns out your DS is "just" a quirky kid with sensory issues......great! But then you'll know for sure. If he is dx with ASD, you'll have more of an idea of how to help him. The earlier the better, especially with the soical skills.
Good luck!
Chrystee
ALISSA!!!!!
OMG, I was reading your post and was about to reply, and then I saw the pics of Tessa and Liam. It's me, Jen -- Sylvia and Sebastian's mom! Small world!!! I know this board isn't one you want to come to voluntarily, but wow it's good to "see" you!!!
Anyway, you know that Sylvia was diagnosed PDD-NOS, right? She has a lot of sensory issues as well, although she has more tactile defensiveness than issues with smells or tastes. It sounds like Liam might have some sensory processing issues. There are a few great books out there that you can take a look at: "The Out-of-Sync Child" is one that helped me a lot, and Sylvie's OT just recommended we look at "Raising a Sensory Smart Child" (I haven't read that one yet, but it should arrive from Amazon later this week).
But instead of writing more, I'll just call you! It's been a long time since we've spoke anyway... If I don't talk to you before your appt. with Liam's ped, GOOD LUCK and let me know how it goes...
Love,
Jennifer :)
Wow!
Thanks for your feedback--I'll take a look at the checklist.
Thanks, Chrystee--I appreciate your advice and help.
Hi Alissa!!! Just wanted let you know that I am here too! Let us know how the appointment goes. As you know Xander has Asperger's and it sounds very similar to what you are describing with Liam. (Though there is a ton of other issues we have with Xan.)
If you want to talk, email me through my profile.
Good luck!
Hi and Welcome Alissa!
Cute children!
My oldest son Vaughn just turned 8 and has AS. He currently holds that title of World's Pickiest Eater! I feel your pain. I hear on almost a daily basis that the dinner I have worked so hard on "smells awful!" He is very sensitive to smells....he also complains about listening to the disgusting noises everyone makes while they eat.
It sounds like your guy has sensory issues.....it could just be "5 year old quirkiness"....don't know.
I am all for talking to your son's ped.....explain what you see and are concerned about. Follow your gut.....we mom's know are children better than anyone. If the ped tries to do the "wait and see" approach and you feel you have waited enough.....just ask for a referral (to rule out PDD / aspergers / ASD) to a developmental pediatrician or neuropsycholist (or pediatric neurologist) who specializes in ASD.
Good luck....keep us posted,
Christie
Welcome Alissa,
You have to research on autism and answer all questions impartially. Yes, my son had lots of those issues. We are vegetarians too. I supplement him with ensure. Now that he is eating so much better, I have started to dilute the ensure with milk.
Sravan had major issues when things didn't go as per his idea. He would instantly loose communication skill and start tantrumming. We are still working with his communication skill. I am glad your son is able to communicate. Can the school make some accomodation for him to eat in a private place?
A good OT will help get over this eating hump. After working with OT, Sravan has started to try out new foods. He also had major sensory issues with sticky foods and the smells. He couldn't handle so many kids eating under one shade. Currently Sravan eats his lunch in the office along with the office secretary.
Once you get a diagnosis, it is so much easier to ask for accomodations, so his time at school wouldn't be so bad. As a matter of fact, my son will not eat a taco because of the beans and cheese coming out of it. My next food would to make him eat this.
take care,
Anandhi
Thanks, Andie--I might drop you an e-mail one of these days...!
Alissa
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