I have to boys aged 2 and 3. My oldest falls on the autism spectrum but is mildly affected. With him we knew somthing was "off" from the beginning. Well my youngest has been very healthy and what I would consider normal. He even talks ALOT for his age. Has good vocabulary and pronounciation. Well I have been concerned latly b/c he has been calling me daddy and his dad mommy. He has used correct words for quite sometime so I wonder why this is happening. Like earlier today my boyfreind went inside to grab somthing and Jay looks at me and says "where did mommy go?" I said thats daddy silly boy. But its been happening frequently. I have also notice he has been scratching his head alot. I have looked for lice, rash or anything that would cause him to scratch and thers nothing. He really doesnt even scratch its more like brushing his hand across his head and grabbing hair but looks like hes scratching. He also has been headbanging for quite sometime while going to sleep. He bangs for a long time on his door then moves back to bed and falls asleep. I am setting up an appt with his Dr but what do you all think about this? Thanks in advance!

setting him up for a doc appt is good.he may get a referral to a neuro from that apt which considering the behavior he is displaying right now,would be a really great idea.the fact that he is having some confusion symptoms and he is 'doing things" to his head would possibly indicate some sort of an issue with his brain?when a child has a strange symptom or sensation since they cannot really relate it to anything or to you,they will sometimes display rubbing,scratching or some other odd behavior in an attempt to try and 'rid" themselves of it?do you know what I mean?animals will display behavior like this with pain or some other sensation as well.scratching seems to be a biggie with like at least my dog when he was having a painful infection kid of under his fur?he would also lay the area on the floor and run his body along the floor in an attempt to just 'do or change" what he was feeling.

I know your child is not a dog,but the same lack of being able to relate the sensation or pain or whatever it is that they are feeling applys.perhaps your son is "feeling' something in his haed.most kids will not repeatedly touch an area unless there is 'something' kind of telling them to do it.you know?the head banging would also indicate a sensation or something that is in or on his head that he is trying to get rid of or change.he just wants it gone and is attempting,in his own way to try and do that.

a full neuro eval by a pediatric neuro would really be your best bet here in my opinion.the ped neuros know a bit more about how children display certain symptoms and would be the best type of doc to have to try and figure out what it is your son is trying to communicate to you.

i cannot even begin to try and even guess at what may possibly be causing your sons confusion and odd behavior but this does need to be fully evaled by someone who knows kids and how they display the sensations and pain they may be feeling.possibly doing an MRI on his brain may show "something'?

just really discuss the need for a ped neuro with the childs ped doc and hopefully there wont be any problem with getting that referral,if your ins co requires one.also try and keep track of what you are seeing him display(just use a journal or something) and when with regard to symptoms and when the confusing type symptoms show themselves,believe me,this will help alot when you actually see the neuro and even just his ped.by writing down when you are seing this occur,you might even pick up on a pattern of actual behavior that could be happening in response to some certain stimuli or even something he eats.you just never know.i do wish you luck with this and hopefully this is possibly just some sort of phase he is going thru.but you need to be sure there is nothing actually wrong.please keep me posted on how things go,K?marcia

Thanks for the response! I have been wondering if it may be neurological because he runs funny too. I dont mean his leg movement but he moves his arms and hands in a "different" manner while he is running. Of course it is still an emrging skill so its possible it has nothing to do with it at all. He also doesnt show any other autism symtoms. He is so social and friendly and thats why I am a little confused. I will certainly be talking to his Dr though. She has been excellent with the care and referrals for my older son so I am sure we are in good hands. Thanks again!

so how are things going at this point?has he been to see the doc yet?the neuro?just wondering.any new symptoms?this really does appear to be some sort of a neurological issue,i hope you can get him to a neurologist without any major hassle.this is really who needs to evaluate him.good luck.marcia