New Here - Autism Spectrum Message Board

CindySue74 · 05-02-2005, 08:21 PM

Hi everyone! I'm so glad I found this forum; I'm hoping some of you are smarter than me and can give me some tips.

I have an almost 3 y/o who was recently given an educational diagnosis of autism. We are on the waiting list to get a medical diagnosis.

My little guy has some language delays, but he is verbalizing some. EI (he's had services since September) has been very helpful in getting him going on PECS and he now can say "I want..." I'd guess that his language is at about 1.5 years. He has always had a lot of the typical austim spectrum characteristics besides the language delay, including lack of desire to be social with other children, lack of eye contact, a strong need for order, a strong need for cleanliness, inflexibility, fixation on certain objects (like puzzles), etc.

Now here's my question: what he has never shown until recently is hand flapping, tip-toe walking, and repetitive vocalizations (uhh...uhhh....uhhh). This all appeared in the last couple weeks and has been increasing in frequency. Is this typcial for kids with autism? Do new symptoms constantly appear? I just had myself adjusted to reality when reality changed!

Thanks in advance for any input.

Cindy

jeffreys mom · 05-03-2005, 02:25 AM

Hi Cindy, Welcome to the board. I have been coming on here since February and have found a lot of comfort and knowledge here. I hope it does the same for you. My son was dx in March with PDD/NOS. He has made many improvements in all areas of his development since I got involved with early intervention. One thing I have found is that new behaviors crop up and sometimes disappear through his stages of progression. I find Autism to be very mysterious as the typical day to day predictions just aren't predictable. Is the school system treating your son as Autistic as far as services go with out a Medical Dx? If not, the official DX will open the door to intensive services which will help these new behaviors as they creep up. Best of Luck and again welcome

bjm32 · 05-03-2005, 06:08 AM

Hi Cindy,
My name is Bunny and I have a 12yr old son w/Autism. He hand-flapped since he was a baby. Through the toddler years he started the vocalizations and humming along with the hand-flapping. He cycles his "self-stim" behaviors as well as the food he eats, and his overall mood. This, for some reason, happens to be the worst time of year for him. I went through the same thing with him when he was first diagnosed. I thought the hand-flapping was the full extent of his behaviors and was surprised when the others started, no one warned me that other behaviors would begin to emerge. Hope that helps! ~Bunny

marissamm · 05-03-2005, 07:51 AM

hi cindy, my son is 16 dx since age 3.he shows new behaviors all the timeand he will rotate them out.like non stop eye blinking he will do that for month and then change it to licking his shirt collar. then he will roll his fingers, and on and on it goes. and the 1 habit that he has done since birth his tweaks[pulls] his penis and jewels, he doesn't masterbate he says he is adjusting.but he does every 10 second he says it is in the way. so hopefully your son won,t do that a lot of autistic boyz do that.

CindySue74 · 05-03-2005, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffreys mom

Hi Cindy, Welcome to the board. I have been coming on here since February and have found a lot of comfort and knowledge here. I hope it does the same for you. My son was dx in March with PDD/NOS. He has made many improvements in all areas of his development since I got involved with early intervention. One thing I have found is that new behaviors crop up and sometimes disappear through his stages of progression. I find Autism to be very mysterious as the typical day to day predictions just aren't predictable. Is the school system treating your son as Autistic as far as services go with out a Medical Dx? If not, the official DX will open the door to intensive services which will help these new behaviors as they creep up. Best of Luck and again welcome

Yes, he has an educational dx of autism spectrum. He is currently getting 90 minutes 3 times a week in a structured TEACHH class.

Thanks for the welcome. I was so excited to find out that there were other parents online with similar circumstances.