JsDad183 wrote:
Trust me I'm not basing her diagnosis off these posts. There are just do many websites that contradict each other that it gets kind of confusing when you start reading. I'm simply sharing the things that I see, and trying to decipher what is important and what is not. I appreciate everyone who has contributed!
Just to be clear, I didn't think you were. I mean, it just seemed to me that is was being implied that people would do that. I know some people would, but you just seemed like you were requesting advice and input, which people gave. I commend your parental vigilance.
Also, to answer an earlier post of yours, about noting the difference between a child with ASD, ADHD or an NT kid, I think a lot of people get distracted by lists of 'warning signs' and such like. I know I did, when I found out about ASDs. I questioned my mother about a raft of different things regarding my development and behaviour.
This is a purely subjective anecdotal experience, and not an objective description of the difference between an ASD child and an NT child.
From her description, the difference between me, a child with an ASD (suspected, but highly suspected), and my brother at the age of 3 was routine. I watched the same film (The Lion King) everyday, several times a day. I wouldn't interact with people unless they pushed it, I refused communication although my communicative skills were good. I never babbled, talked to myself as a played, or made up 'stories' for my toys. A car was a car and obeyed the rules that cars were bound by, a bouncing ball was a ball.
To my brother, a car was a rocketship, a ball was the world. My brother chattered away to everyone, about anything. One day he'd be running around pretending his hand is a gun, another day he'd be playing with mud, or whatever, basically he did whatever. Routine was just the time mum called him in for lunch, for me it was everything, and even if parents weren't enforcing it, I was.
But, not every child with an ASD with have one of their main problems being repetitive and restricted behaviour.
I know you've probably seen this, but, the DSM criteria as it is currently:
(I) A total of six (or more) items from (A), (B), and (C), with at least two from (A), and one each from (B) and (C)
(A) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
1. marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction
2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people, (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity ( note: in the description, it gives the following as examples: not actively participating in simple social play or games, preferring solitary activities, or involving others in activities only as tools or "mechanical" aids )
(B) qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at least one of the following:
1. delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)
2. in individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others
3. stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
4. lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level
(C) restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least two of the following:
1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
(II) Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years:
(A) social interaction
(B) language as used in social communication
(C) symbolic or imaginative play
(III) The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
I think at the moment the last part of it is the most important, does she have problems with any of those? Only you can answer that, as we don't know your child.
(P.S. Sorry if my tone is off, or I seem impolite, I don't intend it at all.)
Let me start by saying, I had no clue you were on the spectrum, I figured you were a parent of a child on the spectrum. You obviously had a very mild diagnosis, and/or great therapy. I appreciate you sharing your personal experience with me, the fact that you realize what you were missing in yourself is incredible. As far as "thinking outside the box", I thought the example I gave about the Gumby video was a good example, how she recognized the family order just by watching them interact. Maybe this was not a good example.
As far as the DSM criteria, yes I've read it before, and the only one that sticks out to me is idiosynchratic language. She started talking at such an early age, I remeber her going around for a day when she was about 1 and a half, shaking peoples hands saying "Nice to meet you", Like stated before no echolacia, but she does use phrases she's heard. I thought that was normal. Her communication skills are excellent, and always have been. Here interest in what others are doing or showing us what she's done has NEVER been a topic. Sometimes I think the kid just wants to know everything. It is near impossible for my wife and I to have a conversation without her chiming in or asking "what are you talking about guys". The whole using toy improperly is another confusing topic for me. Some state that if a child can't make a phone out of a lego block it's a sign, other say if the crash there cars into blocks instead of racing them, it's a sign? Very confusing topic for me. The other thing which has driven me crazy for awhile that may match a criteria is when she's mad or scared, she gives me this "slackjaw" look. I have brought her to the mirror when she is upset, and asked her if she liked looking like she was mad. She responds no, and puts on that cheesy all teeth 3yr old smile. Noone has ever mentioned autism or a problem they've seen in my child other than a few who said she was bit hyper for her age. Wherever we go, people stop and ask how old she is, because she talks past her years. So once again, other don't see a problem, just me. Maybe I'm just watching to closely cause I'm petrified of what is going on inside her brain. Whatever happened to a simple broken wrist or a bad cut. Physical problems are so much easier to identify over mental.
27 Jun 2012, 1:31 am
