I am a mum of a special boy who is going to be 7 in a couple of months. I started noticing things with him when he was 1 year old. For a mother to admit this, its kind of horrible to say. But, I'd found it extremely hard to bond with him. He never wanted or accepted hugs or kisses from me. He was such a child full of happiness and always kept himself busy. If family came to visit he would be overly friendly but came across as over the top. Id aired my concerns with family only to be told that "he will grow out of it"
By the time he started kindergarten when he was 3, he never could look me in the eye, even when he tried his eyes would wander. Id asked his kindergarten if they'd noticed anything with his behaviour. They told me he was a distructive child. After going to pick him up one day at kindergarten Id noticed he had escaped from the kindergarten and they hadnt even noticed. Worried about his safety I transferred him to another kindergarten. Id discussed my concerns with them. After a couple of months of monitoring him they said they had noticed things too. He was referred to Early Intervention for a minor to moderate speech problem and for his Behaviour. Id viewed my feeling, as his mother, that I felt he could be on the Autism Spectrum and was laughed at.
He was under this 'service' for a year. I was told that he would not fit their criteria for funding anymore.
He started school and was in New Entrants for one term and the teacher wrote in his report that he 'had a lack of respect for the school rules'
The next year, he had a new teacher for Year 1. Everything seemed to be going well. Apparent from my son still finding it hard to make friends. The best way to explain it would be he has a lack for personal space at times. he prefers to play on his own doing his own thing. disruptions were becoming more fequently and the frustration from the teacher was apparent.
This year, he started in Year 2 with a new teacher. I was so relieved that this teacher finally saw what I had been stressing with the previous teachers. She asked if Id considered my son to be on the Autism Spectrum and I broke down in relief that finally someone had noticed what I had. If asked question in class, he takes statements 'literally'. If given instructions, the instructions have to be very precise.
There is probably alot more but with him being nearly 7, Ive put it down to, just being how he is. I did the Autism Quotient yesterday in relation to my son. I think I answered it as fairly as possible. And for alot of the answers I didnt think it would give him much of a score but still was honest in my answering. Then was blown away to have scored 42. I feel that, eventhough the score on its own isnt an indication of a diagnosis I think that seeking a diagnosis could be beneficial to my sons learning.
Id just like some input or suggestions from other out there with ASD or parents of children with ASD if I am on the right track[/font]
15 Aug 2012, 1:49 am
your post made me smile as my boy also takes things literally and sometimes you have to choose your words carefully. His new school has recognised somethings different about him. he too has never looked in my eyes even when breastfeeding him as a baby. He chooses to play alone and others tend to annoy him alot. Im dreading him going into year 2 in september as it will be a different teacher! Hes also bit another child who ive told the school winds him up when they dont watch (id noticed it on an open play day) and he was trying to take my sons bike away while he was on it so my son bit him! i did feel awful about it but i also thought well id warned them beforehand and they know he dont know how to react
