Hello everyone, my name is Dave. I'm new to this site. My son Jake, who is 3 yrs old, has scored a 34 on his C.A.R.S. So I have come here for some guidence on the subject of Autism. He has some symptoms of having Autism, although very mild. He does make eye contact with my wife and I all the time, just not to strangers very much. He does "stim" every once in awhile although not as obsessive as some of the examples I've read about it. If I stop him from doing this behavior, he moves on to something else(does not get upset). He is a picky eater, but with bribes and being stern he does eat. I've been told by his day care that he does not bond with the other kids, but I think it's because of his lack of comunication skills. He does talk in 3 to 4 word sentances. The biggest behavior problem he has is "transition".. Basically, I'm wondering if since he has a mild case (or so it seems), if it's feesable to assume that with some outside assistance, he will be able to have a "normal" life, and not need assistance for the rest of his life.

sincerley,
Worried Sick

Basically, I'm wondering if since he has a mild case (or so it seems), if it's feesable to assume that with some outside assistance, he will be able to have a "normal" life, and not need assistance for the rest of his life.


I totally believe that kids can recover. That's certainly our goal for our daughter. What have you looked into so far? What have you read? And welcome!

welcome dreco.. even if ur son turns out to be autistic.. the point is we cant predict our kids future.. and i think that what scares us most about being parents... so my advise would be see a developmental ped... put some of ur fears to rest .. and enjoy ur son day by day and best wishes :bouncing:

Thanks for the replies. Just this past week, my son has done a lot of things that I have read that autistic children do not do. Point at things and tell me to look at them. He makes eye contact with people when he says hi to them. He pretends. Allthough he does these things on a real limited level, it has made me pretty optomistic about his condition. We have turned in his C.A.R.S. assesment, and hopefully we will get an apointment soon.

Hi Dave,

Your son sounds like mine. Riley is 29 months, speaks in single words, or combination jibberish + actual word sentences. He has great eye contact with family, but doesn't always look at others. Plays well, but mostly next to, not together with, other children. Riley always points (because he couldn't speak), and doesn't have any repetitive behaviors other than acting out Wiggles/Blues Clues skits and dance sets. I don't know his exact diagnosis yet--the Ped. Neur said it would be about two weeks before we received it. That should mean I'll have it any day now. For now, he is just saying that Riley shows signs of ASD.

We are in the process of getting him signed up for a combination ABA/Floor Time in-home therapy program, aproximately 3 hours a day for 5 days a week, to start out with. Luckily, in Massachusetts (where we are) this is a free program. I saw the family on Primetime Thursday, and felt so badly that they have to pay such huge amounts of money for what we will be receiving at no cost.

I have just finished reading "Let Me Hear Your Voice", by Cathering Maurice. It came so highly recommended, I couldn't NOT read it! It was a tremendous book, and such an easy read. One of the things that really struck me was that a lot of the principals of ABA can be applied to all of my children--it's a great learning program! Definately read this book.

Good luck to you and your family, stop in here with questions! I have found this board very helpful in the past two weeks, and I'm sure that you will too.

Kit

Hey Kit, Let me know what the diagnosis is. I'm still waiting for my Insurance company to get back with my Ped. in order to find out which place I have to take Jake to see a specialist. I'm thinking it's going to be The Mind Institute at Davis. Seeing how it seems our kids are at about the same level, it would be interesting to see if they get different diagnosis. I will tell you however that just this past week, Jake has really improved. He's pretending alot more when he plays, and he asks me to play with him. He hasn't thrown tantrums when there is a change of routine. I heard from his Day care that HE DOES make eye contact with kids his own age. I think he is just a little unsure how to play with them. I just think that he didn't show any of this during his CARS evaluation. I'm off to get that book.

Thanks,
Dave

Hi everyone (Sorry if I'm in the wrong thread, I mess up alot), My name's James.
I know that evreyone here is a parent of a young child (That now you know they have Aspergers will have a great future, I wish your children luck and hope they have a great life - Not that they need it with all your help and support) with Aspergers...But I'm a 21yr old with Aspergers (Sorry that I'm taking up this thread with a negative post - I just feel lost and all alone..Sorry everyone) and have'nt been so lucky with having the help and parents that they have got. I was'nt diagnosed until last year when I was 20 and have basically been neglected (Like I have since the age of 5yrs by the education system and by my parents from age of 3yrs) nearly all my life, which has led me to have depression (Not sure if Manic D or not) /To just barely be able to learn to read and write (Which was amazing since at the age of 7yrs I was put into a special unit where I was Physically/Mentally and Verbally abused in front of most of the teachers and slightly by the teachers) at the age of 11yrs).
I've just been left by myself. and feel Ugly and like a freak (I'm not sayin that evreyone with Aspergers is ugly an a freak I just feel like that because of whats happened to me..So sorry if anyone thinks I'm talknig about your amazing children)
And finding myself wanting to die and don't find anything worth living for. I'm sorry for shuving in and rudely disrupting your conversation, I just need to talk to someone..

jamealone,

Sorry to hear your sad story.

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My son is 23 years old.

Hi Autmom, I find it very difficult in searching for others like me. I found out like I said that I have aspergers at the frustrating/painfull age of 20yrs old and now I have a found a huge piece of a very confusing part of myself. I've felt/been alone all my life and since I have difficulties in comunicating face to face it's made it very difficult to even have any friends (Let alone someone that would care/love me...Since all the years of being alone I've resolved to myself that I'm proberly not meant to be with some one and that on learning that alot of my problems are hereditary...It would be best that I spared my lost children the pain and suffering of being condemed to try and live in a lonely experiance in a country that has far too few people that want to understand and accept people like myself or the systems/resources that are needed to live - I'm not saying that everyone with Aspergers should not have children..It's just that with the accumalated brain/born dissabilities that are held within my D.N.A. - My fate is something I'd not wish forced on my children...Sorry fo the long winded scary opinion - which is just meant for myself. All the children on this Site that I have been fortunate enough that the caring parents/friends/other concerned relatives have been kind enough to share with me - all of them seem to have the two factors that i feel I've never had, 1. Being assessed in time/with the education they deserve and/or 2. If not all then then some of the family that loves them and will help them to get as good a chance to achieve their potential as any other child (Even children that are'nt as special as them) - plus to have a loving full-filling life. Just so you know what I mean.)
I would love to find adults ages of 18yrs old - 50yrs old that have Aspergers in the United Kingdom (Hopefully somewhere around London). I would also love to be able to chat to other people who have Aspergers all over the world and from all ages.
Thank you for your time and for reading this.

Thank you Autmom for showing me the asperger site, I'll give it a looksie in alittle while...If you want you can call me by my first name...James (Thats if you want to).
Could I call you by your first name? That's if you want to tell me...Can I also ask a special favor of you? It's this - My mum and carer does'nt understand practically anything about Aspergers (Not that I'm an expert or anything). They get upset and angry at me because I don't say things the way they do an that I sometimes forget to think of their feelings (By saying things that if someone without aspergers said would be an insult or something rude..Like "I don't like that dress mum" or saying things in a way that would be taking the mickey if I did'nt have Aspergers..The only time I do say things that are not nice or rude is when I get upset or as a defense if someone says something not nice to me) and they think they can teach/train me not to think the way I do (Bascically "Not be Aspergers" - By continually try to force me to "think the way they do" and that "if they can't then they wont be able to work with me/Have to leave me"). Can you write here what you think about this please...I can't take being put through this pain again (The last people that care for me and who I care for) and I'm afraid that they'll leave me like every one else has...I don't think I could bare being abandond again.
If Not then thank you for all your help.