For parents whose children have been classified with autism or other disability

I am just curious. . .at what age did you begin to see signs of a disability (autism)? Were there any quirky behaviors that made you feel deep down that something was off? Just wondering. TIA

Re: For parents whose children have been classified with autism or other disability

Noticeable:
DS started to lose skills (language and communication mostly) at 13-15 months. By 17-18 months, there was some clearer signs.

Looking back:
I think around 8-9 months he started to get behind a bit.

Re: For parents whose children have been classified with autism or other disability

probably between 15-18 months.

Re: For parents whose children have been classified with autism or other disability

I'd say around his 1st Bday.
(DS was diagnosed with PDD-NOS) this past fall.

He did the hand flapping.
He was late with a lot of milestones (sitting up, crawling, walking and speech)

Dr.s and therapists answers were "He's OK. Just Delayed".

I enrolled him in a fantastic school/program and it was during his Pre-K transition eval that the school psychologist FINALLY gave me an answer.
I just had that "mommy gut feeling" all along.

Now he goes to school and gets in home services and has come a LONG way!

Re: For parents whose children have been classified with autism or other disability

i'd say at 5-6 months old... i knew and noticed he was delayed.

by 8-9 months i was convinced

flapping, spinning, banging head, not looking when i call his name, stalking and circling toys, i could sit him with one toy and he would amuse himself for HOURS, all his toys had to be upside down and if it spins he spun it.

12 months i wanted him evaled but being a 1st time mother i listened to my pediatrician and waited

15 months he was evaled and informally diagnosed as being on the spectrum

17 months he was given a diagnosis of classic autism.

people that don't know me think i am crazy when i say i knew at 5-6 months old, but when you have a friend who has a child 6 days younger than your child (1st time mom or not) you know.

EDIT: he started Spec Ed, Speech & OT at 16 months and ABA at 18 months. he also goes to school (he is 2.5)

school included he gets about 27 hours of therapy a week

Message edited 3/24/2010 9:18:44 PM.

Re: For parents whose children have been classified with autism or other disability

Now that I had 2 babies after DS with ASD, he was different from very early on. He never focused, was always like in a zone when he was more mobile he'd rock his head back and forth. Learing delays began at 5 months and continued. He's now 5 and although we've made progress it's always been very slow. He still remains basically non verbal but I know it's in there and one day I know the silence will be broken!

Re: For parents whose children have been classified with autism or other disability

Thank you all for sharing with me.

Re: For parents whose children have been classified with autism or other disability

15 -18 months here as well.

Re: For parents whose children have been classified with autism or other disability

Thank you all again for posting. I am so annoyed I just wrote a whole thing and it erased. UGH.

I was asking b/c I would like to write some of my concerns as a parent. But first I want to say that I hope I don't offend anyone b/c that is not my intentions.

I'll start by giving a little background info: I am a speech language therapist with a background in special educ. I have been working with children on the spectrum as well as many other disabilities for the past 15 years. I am now a mom of 13.5 month old twin boys. Conceived through IVF, born 5 weeks early. During my pregnancy until present I always pray that my boys will not/or do not have any disabilities or life threatening illnesses. I am sure most parents pray for that. If my boys end up with any of the above I will love them no less. But of course I would hope to not have to worry about that. (That's where I hope I didn't offend anyone).

I have a few nephews from different siblings with minor learning disabilities. I know that boys have a higher chance of having a disability. (I don't think that is worded right, my brain is mush right now). I guess I worry b/c I have boys and the way they were conceived, etc. My boys are meeting all of their milestones. They just began walking. They are now at that age where I am noticing some quirky behaviors. They are doing some hand flapping and some finger flicking. Am I overreacting or should I be concerned. I am not one that believes vaccines have anything to do with Autism but I guess I am getting a little nervous since they are approaching their mmr vaccines.

Thank you all for reading this if it makes any sense. I see a lot of parents that have munchausens in my field and I don't want to end up being one of them. kwim

Message edited 3/29/2010 1:27:27 PM.

Re: For parents whose children have been classified with autism or other disability

Re: For parents whose children have been classified with autism or other disability

I don't think there is anything wrong with paying attention to these issues as you identify them. For me it was very hard not to obsess about every little thing...it was quite debilitating at one point. But I think that being aware of it is the best thing and then getting the help from EI if they become issues.

Would I have hoped that it turned out differently? Of course I would. I think most if not all parents would say they do. But you take life as it comes at you...head on. I wouldn't trade my son for the world.