Obsessions

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2005
Obsessions
6
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 4:14pm

Hi all,
I have mentioned in the past my concerns with Ella's development. She has been in E.I since she was 6 weeks old, then for PT(she had torticollis) and ever since with OT for sensory processing problems(she's tactile defensive). Her speech is being evaluated for the second time next week. She was evaluated about 5 months ago and was way ahead but I still felt there was an issue. A lot of what she says is unintelligable to others at times although I understand her most of the time. Her speech is a little "rehearsed and unnatural" at times to me and that is what concerns me the most. She sometimes uses echolalia but not in the way you would think typically more like she repeats back in the form of a question without reversing the pronoun, almost like she's trying to bide time and process what's been said. She still seems to be fearful around other children but I think that maybe more tactile defensiveness rather than a lack of awareness of others. I was trying to see if she fit the criteria for ASD and she probably would fit the criteria except for the restricted interests and always following rountine part. At her age Jake showed a very strong interest in Thomas the tank and talked constantly about it and played out the same senario everytime he played, he played with nothing else. She plays with a variety of toys and is really into pretend play right now but at times it's very rehearsed. I guess my question is, is there always a restricted interest to get a diagnosis or narrow interest etc. to get a diagnosis or if you meet the criteria in other sections but not in that they diagnose anyway? At what age did you see the obsessions first start?

Teresa

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2005
In reply to: baboig
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 4:16pm

I forgot to mention that she is very monotone at times.

Teresa

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2004
In reply to: baboig
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 10:58pm

Teresa,

Nathan was dx'd at age 5 with HFA, and he did not have an obsession or particular interest at the time.

The DSM-IV Criteria states that you need to have something in this category:

3) restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities as manifested by at least one of the following:

a) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus.

b) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals

c) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms

d) persistent precoccupation with part of objects

This is only part of the DSM-IV Criteria though....hope it helps. Nathan started getting interested in things probably around the age of 6. He started out liking Thomas and monster trucks....really loved the wheels. Then he moved onto little items he could carry, like action figures, or other little toys that he became fascinated with. His big interest is Star Wars now. And he has recently become interested in maps, the world, states, and natural disasters. He tends to be interested in different things at one time....he doesn't just focus on one interest.

michelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
In reply to: baboig
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 11:00pm

Well I would say Ella should definitely have her people call Cian's people, lol.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
In reply to: baboig
Sun, 11-19-2006 - 10:04am

We should throw Siobhan's people in the mix...


She is 6½ and I still oscillate between "Spectrum or not". Her obsession is subtle, and not as pervasive as Peter's.

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: baboig
Sun, 11-19-2006 - 3:19pm

I'll throw Dave's people in too, lol.

Dave has some definite restricted interest areas. When he was that little it was sticks, swords, bats. Anything straight he could swing around. He would break things to make them. It was a huge problem as someone was always getting hurt and we tried to hide or take away anything he could possibly make a sword or such out of but that proved very hard indeed.

When he hit say 3-5 the stick think continued but it was more lightsabers and swords and he liked to dress up the part as well so he likes his Darth Vader Voice Changer. He then picked up an interest in k'nex and later legos. HE was into trains for a while and then Emily got him into this whole pretend world they call "Thomas". They make up stories and have all these characters, etc. They do this all the time.

His interests still are restricted to weapons (swords, etc. particualrly from movies like star wars or pirates) with dressing up, lego's, and k'nex. He enjoys an occasional video game if it has swords and playing thomas with Emily.

His other activity was dumping boxes and lining them up and piling the contents. Yeah, that was fun.

Caits obsession started from birth. Animals, animals, animals. Never changed doubt it ever will. Her first word was dog.

Mike is more like Michelle's Nathan. He didn't really have one particularly one but rather it would be a certain video and video character. Then when he figured out lego's he added that to his obsession. Electronics and legos are still his special interests.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
In reply to: baboig
Sun, 11-19-2006 - 7:09pm

Right now, at age 9, we have finally got Malcolm doing something like an obsession, with Pokemon. But he can leave it, he talks about LOTS of other things, he can definitely walk away from Pokemon area in a store and yet ... his playing started out very repetitive in the past when he was very little. Now there is quite a bit of variety in his play. And he sure does love Pokemon.

And he is on autistic slectrum, but everyone (the many, many experts) always say "sorta yes, sorta no" -- this past week we met again with our neuropsych to continue to discuss different possible school programs and she said that we must always emphasize the mildness of his spectrum dx, but still it is where his problems are coming from -- NOT behavioral problems, etc.

Sara