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catspurr
Phoenix
Joined: Jan 16, 2008
Posts: 781
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 Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:16 am Post subject: Are some of the early warning signs actually real? |
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Wondering about something...what if some of these early warning signs told to parents are actually normal? Found this checklist today.
http://www.nncc.org/Child.Dev/ages.stages.3y.html
Here are some milestones that made me question this because some of them are what others claim are early warning signs of autism from the link above.
INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT
enjoys repeating words and sounds
(Was told by another parent this was called echolalia)
likes familiar stories told without any changes in words
(Told this was rigid behavior)
stacks 5-7 blocks
(Maybe it's how many??)
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
feeds self (with some spilling)
(I've heard a lady talk about how awful it is that her kid at age 3 spills their food due to their autism)
walks short distance on tiptoes
(walking on tip toes, thought of as autism)
walks on a line
(was told this was obsessive behavior)
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
enjoys playing alone but near other children
(hmm okay. Someone told me it's a sign of autism if the child is not engaged with other children yet watching most children around the same age, they mostly play alone or near but not always with)
enjoys playing with other children briefly, but still does not
cooperate or share well
(Another mom was embarassed by her kid's normal behavior)
spends a great deal of time watching and observing
(Some would classify this as being distant and aloof)
So, are some of these signs just normal childhood behavior?
Did your kids ever stop certain "strange" behaviors like hand flapping, spinning in circles etc..? If so what age? If not, what age is your child now? |
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Fuzzy
Ack! Thbbbt!
Joined: Mar 31, 2006
Posts: 2082
Location: Alberta Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:18 am Post subject: |
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3 year olds spill their food all the time!
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annie2
Deinonychus
Joined: Sep 18, 2007
Posts: 345
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:52 am Post subject: |
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| I think the warning signs need to occur in the majority . . . not just one or two things fitting the criteria. Thinking about it, maybe there aren't necessarily a huge amount of "early" warning signs . . . maybe this is why most child AS diagnoses are made in the 5-8 age group, and not earlier. |
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Aspinator
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Feb 24, 2008
Posts: 74
Location: AspinatorLand
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:03 am Post subject: Early Warning Signs |
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| I think people that are NOT on the autistic spectrum do not realize how broad it is and how diverse each individual is. Some traits/signs exhibited by one person may or may not be displayed by another person. |
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catspurr
Phoenix
Joined: Jan 16, 2008
Posts: 781
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:22 am Post subject: Re: Early Warning Signs |
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| Aspinator wrote: | | I think people that are NOT on the autistic spectrum do not realize how broad it is and how diverse each individual is. Some traits/signs exhibited by one person may or may not be displayed by another person. |
I'm also on the spectrum but just not sure if I'm understanding some of the early warning signs now for babies and toddlers.
I even read somewhere that doctors are now claiming they can spot an autistic newborn because the newborn will focus on the mouth where as a "normal" newborn will look in the eyes? (That's too young in my opinion. Fresh out of the womb! Come on people give the child a chance geez)
My toddler had all the early warning signs. For a month now most of them have subsided and hasn't done them in a month. Are there certain phases that are outgrown and a time frame? My toddler is pretty literal but also eats imaginary food now and the imaginary food part is new concept.
No longer startles over sounds and panics
No longer spins in circles looking at hand
Not flapping hands anymore
not lining up toys and objects anymore
Still walks on toes but not as much
Wants to interact with other kids
Repeats what is said outloud but is now forming own sentences to specify wants
So I'm basically asking if there is a usual time frame where certain stages are outgrown. This as a dramatic change in a few months.
There are some things still there like very picky with food but working on that.
Still gets upset if someone tries to control something like brushing teeth
still has some troubles going from one event to the next but there has been improvement in that area.
I feel kinda shocked. I am not sure if I can expect this to keep up because I've learned to expect the unexpected in my own life however I still do get surprised most of the time regardless. |
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tlcoopi7
Blue Jay
Joined: Jan 12, 2008
Age: 27
Posts: 91
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:59 am Post subject: |
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For the sign of the child not responding to sounds and/or not making any sounds, if anyone does noticed it among their child, I highly recommend getting the child's hearing check to rule out deafness. That is a common sign among autism and deafness.
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jat
Snowy Owl
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 151
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:07 am Post subject: |
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| Many of the "signs" are very much dependent on age. It is normal for two year olds to play near, but not with other children. This is called parallel play and is a normal stage of development. It is only when the child continues to play alone, or plays alone longer than other children, that it becomes a cause for concern. Similarly, echolalia is a normal phase in the development of speech. The issue is how long it lasts and how intense the echolalia is. Often, when professionals ask these questions, they are asking parents to make comparisons with "typically developing" children of the same age. Most parents don't have enough experience with enough children of any given age to make a good assessment, and there is a lot of variability that exists within the "normal" range. |
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RudolfsDad
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Nov 27, 2007
Age: 41
Posts: 71
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject: Re: Are some of the early warning signs actually real? |
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I think a lot depends on things like the age of the child, and things like when and how much the child does these things.
| catspurr wrote: |
INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT
enjoys repeating words and sounds
(Was told by another parent this was called echolalia)
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Typical children are very imitative in general. They will often repeat words they hear. I have a two year old son that will often attempt to use a new word that he hears me use. My older son has AS -- he used to repeat things too, but he continued doing it until he was about 4 or 5. That's not typical.
My two year old will often look me in the eye when he repeats things I say -- as if he is thinking "Is this right, Daddy?" My AS son would run around in circles repeating a word and would continue doing it even if I left the room.
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likes familiar stories told without any changes in words
(Told this was rigid behavior)
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I think the key here is age -- very young typical children like familiar stories. My 6 year old (AS) son becomes angry if I change even a couple of words. That's not typical.
| Quote: |
stacks 5-7 blocks
(Maybe it's how many??)
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I think it has to do with how much they do it. When stacking blocks is listed as a developmental milestone, the issue is one of ability: CAN the child stack 5-7 blocks? When stacking blocks is mentioned as a characteristic of AS, it is the intensity and frequency of block-stacking that is unusual. If a two year old stacks blocks 3 hours a day, that's not typical.
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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
feeds self (with some spilling)
(I've heard a lady talk about how awful it is that her kid at age 3 spills their food due to their autism)
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Typical children spill their food at age 3, too. Some children on the autism spectrum, however, have fine motor difficulties that may make them spill food more than typical children of the same age. A typical three year old can feed himself/herself reasonably well with a spoon -- he or she will spill food and make messes but they can do a reasonable job of feeding themselves at that age. My AS son couldn't really use a spoon well until he was almost 5.
| Quote: |
walks short distance on tiptoes
(walking on tip toes, thought of as autism)
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When listed as a developmental milestone, toe-walking simply refers to ability: CAN the child walk short distances on tiptoes? Typical children will do this on request, but most don't habitually walk on tiptoes. Habitual toe walking is not typical.
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walks on a line
(was told this was obsessive behavior)
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I think this is another one that refers to ABILITY when it is mentioned as a milestone (typical children of a certain age can do this on request, but most don't spend lots of time repetitively walking in a straight line just to be walking in a straight line).
| Quote: |
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
enjoys playing alone but near other children
(hmm okay. Someone told me it's a sign of autism if the child is not engaged with other children yet watching most children around the same age, they mostly play alone or near but not always with)
enjoys playing with other children briefly, but still does not
cooperate or share well
(Another mom was embarassed by her kid's normal behavior)
spends a great deal of time watching and observing
(Some would classify this as being distant and aloof)
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Age is the big factor for all of these social ones. Many NT two and three year olds don't really interact with other children all that much on playgrounds. Most will play alongside other children and are interested in other children, but they don't really play cooperatively yet. (By cooperative play, I am referring to things like: One child pretends a toy car is a police car and another child pretends a different car is a bank robber getaway car, and the two children cooperate to produce a story about police chasing a bank robber).
As typical children start to reach kindergarten age, though, most like cooperative play of the type I described above. My AS son liked watching other children and didn't mind playing near them when he was 4 1/2 years old but he never engaged in anything resembling cooperative play. That was a key factor leading to his diagnosis.
A few unusual behaviors don't necessarily mean the child is on the autism spectrum. Some NT toddlers hand flap, some like to spin the wheels on toy cars, some pretty much ignore other children -- but NT children usually don't have more than 1 or 2 autistic traits. |
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catspurr
Phoenix
Joined: Jan 16, 2008
Posts: 781
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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| RudolfsDad, that makes alot of sense. |
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jaleb
one cool mom
Joined: Dec 05, 2006
Age: 36
Posts: 2940
Location: Kentucky
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:38 am Post subject: |
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wow, my four year old has ALL of those warning factors. We actually have an appointment tomorrow to have him officially diagnosed. He was previously screened by the school system and they determined he "likely had autism" but they don't diagnose, and since they won't qualify him for speech or OT (even though he really needs it) we are going ahead and taking him to the child psych that diagnosed our oldest son.
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"Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is
fighting some kind of battle". |
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catspurr
Phoenix
Joined: Jan 16, 2008
Posts: 781
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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Jaleb, good luck with that.
I think other people are kinda confusing me right now. Have you ever experienced those other people that don't understand the spectrum of autism pretty much tell you they just don't see it so it's not there meanwhile you've been seeing it for quite some time?
I don't know what to do. My child has stopped alot of the things I've been seeing for years and I know to expect the unexpected.
It's just really difficult when others put their two cents in. I'm trying to figure out what is best.
Okay, let's say your child was showing all of the signs and 75 percent of those signs went away after you spent alot of time working with your child. Would you not seek a diagnosis or would you just keep doing what you're doing, go with the flow and attempt to mainstream?
I like others input. In the end it will come down to my own decision. |
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jaleb
one cool mom
Joined: Dec 05, 2006
Age: 36
Posts: 2940
Location: Kentucky
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:47 pm Post subject: |
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It's hard to say, my oldest had a lot those same warning signs and they some disappeared, but he developed new or different things. He used to be that kids who sat outside the group and played alone. Now he does like to play with others but wants to control and dominate the situation. Some things remain the same like poor eye contact. He is almost 8 and hasn't walked on his toes for a few years now. Yet he has developed (or rather not developed) poor fine motor skills and is very clumsy. So it is really hard to answer your question. some of the warning signs are geared toward younger children, but they can change as they grow older. I think it probably comes down to your judgement, you know your child better than anyone, I would trust your gut instinct.
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NT mom of two ASD boys
"Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is
fighting some kind of battle". |
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BeautyWithin
Deinonychus
Joined: Feb 07, 2007
Posts: 375
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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| catspurr wrote: |
Okay, let's say your child was showing all of the signs and 75 percent of those signs went away after you spent alot of time working with your child. Would you not seek a diagnosis or would you just keep doing what you're doing, go with the flow and attempt to mainstream?
I like others input. In the end it will come down to my own decision. |
In this case I'd carry my child to a developmental pediatrician and if applicable get a diagnosis.
You would be able to choose if you'd share the diagnosis with the school or not.
For my son, he was diagnosed at about 16 months and I let the school know when I registered him. They have assessed him and we already have some intervention strategies in place for when he'll start school.... He will be mainstreamed and the whole class will have a visual schedule so he won't be singled out. There will be a TA in the classroom but she won't work directly with him all day... She willl take him to the 'small' bathroom though since he has issues with smell. They'll also use 'time timers' in the classroom - not only for him but for the other students too. He's already met his teacher and we're going to start reading a social story to prepare him for school. |
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