[sbaglio]

OOPS - sorry, Karyn, misspelled your name!

[tomandcate]

Supa,

I understand your fears and concerns. I have two boys and since boys are reportedly 4 times more susceptible, I watch them very closely. Now that my first is 4yo I feel a lot more at ease...but the younger is about to turn 2 and we had a scary time when he was 1yo.

If you google "asd video glossary" you will find a link to a bunch of videos of children (non-ASD vs. suspected-ASD) and I found that very helpful.

Also, you should be looking at the checklist for 9 and 12 months. The site asks not to repost the list but here's the link:

Hallmark Developmental Milestones

For our youngest, at 12 months he was not using any gestures, did not play with toys in an age-appropriate manner (threw everything), was not babbling, did not give eye contact (actively avoided it, in fact) and often did not respond to his name being called. Needless to say I was scared to death!

A few things happened between 12 and 14 months (we really concentrated on one-on-one time with him...we went on vacation for a week...he spent a few nights in the hospital with a really nasty cough) but at 14-15 months, almost overnight it seemed, he "awoke" into the most engaging little fella. I no longer worry about him as much (even though he is probably a bit behind the "average"...he is almost 20 months and still just babbling other than saying family names, "ball," and mimicking animal noises)...he understands EVERYTHING, even complex commands/questions, and he plays appropriately, loves to cuddle and give eye contact, has appropriate social interactions with kids and adults, etc.

So I just wanted to give you perspective from someone who's been worried about the same thing. (And by the way, I have definitely spread out his shots because my oldest got very sick after his first MMR and has a fever disorder now - PFAPA - which I believe might be linked, as they have no idea what is causing its onset since the mid-80's). Look for the possible red flags and have him evaluated, talk to his ped. about your concerns because they know what to look for. As with everything, the earlier you catch it the more you can do!

Cate

[KarynB]

Originally Posted by sbaglio

OOPS - sorry, Karyn, misspelled your name!

How rude! Thanks for the info Fadzi, that all makes sense.

[sadiegirl]

Originally Posted by moonbeam23

I believe there is an increase in autism, but not to the extent that it seems. I agree there is a tendency to overdiagnose, as in the 90's with adhd, and now, every child that's a little different is considered as somewhere on the autism spectrum. There is a variance in social skills with children that is normal. Now they're saying all these geniuses such as Mozart and Einstein and Bill Gates are on the autistic spectrum or have Asperbers (which is on the autistic spectrum) When I went to school, we called them geeks, or kids with more advanced vocabularies, different interests, and poorer social skills than most kids. I say this because my son is highly gifted, different and quirky, and teachers have suggested he may have Aspergers. I think that if they label all these kids that are the kids of techies (like in the SIlicon Valley) as Autistic just because they are different - it may account for a big part of the explosion in autism diagnoses. People are throwing around the word like crazy in the educational field.

Wow, thanks for saying this. I have been concerned lately with DS as he shows *some* signs of sensory integration (which is sort of linked to autism). I am going crazy and reading everything but the more I think about it, I feel that yes, he may have some of those traits but I really just think he's different and quirky. His vocab is phenomenal and his memory, well, it scares the heck out of me. He is 3.5 and he will ask me to do something that I promised him to do like 3 months ago. (It really freaks me out for the teen years...I can just hear it, But MOM! You said 3 months ago I could have the car!)

Anyway, I'm not saying that one shouldn't get their child checked out if they see the signs but I DO feel there is this rush to label kids when they may just be "different". Does that make sense?

[manni28]

Hi Manny,

I am just curious about this - how can they require proof of vaccinations? And do daycares actually not allow kids in because of this? Alot of people do't vaccinate due to religious reasons - so what happens then
Also - my son came home at 3 and we had to start the schedule over - by kindergarten he still had not had everything. So do you think all these kids should not be allowed in daycares, schools etc? Honestly just curious, not trying to start anything.

KarynB:

Hi!

I’ve been busy so I didn't have time to respond. In regards to your question about discrimination, to be honest, my children are priority. I fully back daycare centers /schools that don’t allow children who aren't vaccinated, it's a health concern for everyone involved. I can't imagine being a parent and knowing my child was close to death because he caught a disease from a child that wasn’t vaccinated! Seriously, I’m not a violent person, but I think I would be if I knew my child’s life was in danger because another parent didn’t get their child shots! Me and the child’s parents would have some SERIOUS issues!

Not to judge, but it would seem irresponsible not to have your child vaccinated knowing how diseases spread and endangers everyone’s life.

-Manni

[loveajax]

i feel about adhd how you are describing autism, moonbeam and sadie. my dd is a "ball of energy" and sometimes I think....my gosh, will she have adhd? we were at her school and this little girl (4 yo) was being dropped off and the parents listed a boatload of adhd medications. i really don't "judge" because gosh knows what her doctors say and I am sure her parents know best, etc., but sometimes i wonder if we are just really too quickly "diagnosing" and "medicating" stuff that really may be age-appropriate behavior. i was going to say i am more "old school," but really i guess it is just that i am old!

i also worry about some stuff I have read that seems to suggest that the "rates" of adhd and other stuff are so much higher in adopted children. it makes me wonder why? i am very open about dd's adoption for the most part but i also don't want her falling into some "stereotypes" etc. at school. (of course, if she ends up with some disorder, i want it diagnosed and treated). it's all so scary to try to balance everything!!

sadie, my DD is exactly the same....she brings up "minutia" from literally months even years ago! i wonder if it is the age where there minds are still such sponges that they remember stuff so well?! it's crazy...we call her the elephant!!

[sadiegirl]

I really think moonbeam is onto something...that nowadays we just know more. There was probably autism and adhd back in "our times" (LOL) but it just wasn't diagnosed.

ITA that Mozart, Einstein, Bill Gates etc would probably be diagnosed with something if they lived now. (OOPS! Gates is still living...but ykwim!)

That's why I am afraid to go get DS checked out for sensory integration...yes, he does some weird things---didn't like anything on his hands (until he went to PS this fall), doesn't like slides or swings---stuff like that, that is on the disorder list. I am just afraid to go and have him "labeled" when maybe he's just has a "variance in social skills" like moonbeam said.

ajax, ok...that makes me feel better. A little. Honestly, he does freak me out with his memory. "Mommy, do you remember when Josh was here and he took my toy and I didn't like it?" And Josh was a boy he met ONCE, months ago.

Freaks. Me. Out.

[slugbug0930]

Originally Posted by Stormster

I had the worst worst worst case of Chicken Pox in fourth grade. They were in my ears, mouth, privates EVERYWHERE. I went back to school with the scabs and I can remember how each scab came off. I also have the scars on my face to prove it! 7 of them, still visible.

E is sooooo getting that shot.

The ONLY thing that really resonates with me is the clustering of the shots. How can a doctor know if each and every child's body can and will handle so much at once?

That last part is my problem....DD's little system just doesn't do well with that many differnt things at once. That is why I was wondering if anyone had asked their Dr to spread out the shots or if that was a possibility. I just don't like seeing her that miserable and sick.

[SupaModel]

Originally Posted by tomandcate

Supa,

I understand your fears and concerns. I have two boys and since boys are reportedly 4 times more susceptible, I watch them very closely. Now that my first is 4yo I feel a lot more at ease...but the younger is about to turn 2 and we had a scary time when he was 1yo.

If you google "asd video glossary" you will find a link to a bunch of videos of children (non-ASD vs. suspected-ASD) and I found that very helpful.

Also, you should be looking at the checklist for 9 and 12 months. The site asks not to repost the list but here's the link:

Hallmark Developmental Milestones

For our youngest, at 12 months he was not using any gestures, did not play with toys in an age-appropriate manner (threw everything), was not babbling, did not give eye contact (actively avoided it, in fact) and often did not respond to his name being called. Needless to say I was scared to death!

A few things happened between 12 and 14 months (we really concentrated on one-on-one time with him...we went on vacation for a week...he spent a few nights in the hospital with a really nasty cough) but at 14-15 months, almost overnight it seemed, he "awoke" into the most engaging little fella. I no longer worry about him as much (even though he is probably a bit behind the "average"...he is almost 20 months and still just babbling other than saying family names, "ball," and mimicking animal noises)...he understands EVERYTHING, even complex commands/questions, and he plays appropriately, loves to cuddle and give eye contact, has appropriate social interactions with kids and adults, etc.

So I just wanted to give you perspective from someone who's been worried about the same thing. (And by the way, I have definitely spread out his shots because my oldest got very sick after his first MMR and has a fever disorder now - PFAPA - which I believe might be linked, as they have no idea what is causing its onset since the mid-80's). Look for the possible red flags and have him evaluated, talk to his ped. about your concerns because they know what to look for. As with everything, the earlier you catch it the more you can do!

Cate

Thank you so much Cate. I just checked out tha site.

[DebCsMom]

Ahhh, the Autism debate! What causes it and what doesn't. We have a daughter diagnosed with Autism PDD/NOS She is 6 years old. She has also been diagnosed with Early Onset Bipolar. Here's my 2 cents...

I read EVERYTHING I COULD FIND ON THE INTERNET AND IN BOOKS! We went through MANY Doctors and "specialists". This is what I believe, MY OPINION, on Autism.

First, most of you know we have 5 children. Only ONE has Autism. All 5 had their vax on the "regular" schedule. Why does only ONE of our children have Autism then? This is what I believe is the reason... When we were first told she had Autism I said to the Dr. ,"no she doesn't, she communicates fine" I'm thinking Rain Man or a child who sits and doesn't communicate at all. A child who is a genious at Math, Art or Music. This wasn't our daughter. We saw MANY Dr's, all giving us the same diagnosis. As research with Autism has grown, the diagnosis has become more spread! More and more children are diagnosed with Autism, because research has advanced to be able to give an ACURRATE diagnosis. Instead of MIS-diagnosing. Autism isn't on the rise...the correct diagnosis is! Alos I believe you can't CURE Autism. If you say your child was/is cured of Autism, then they were probably not diagnoses properly. The symptoms can be minimized or stablized or lessened with therapy, but never CURED. (IMO with all the research I have done).

Same thing goes with diagnosising Bipolar in young children. When I tell people she has Bipolar people are like "No way, she's too young". It has been researched that the children who exhibit these symptoms as children are the same children who are diagnosed with Bipolar as teens or young adults. OR the children are mis-diagnoses as ADHD. We've tried diet, treatments, therapy, etc. Nothing worked until she was put on the proper medications. Which are bipolar medications. She is like a clock with the full moon!!!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE research Autism...ALL OF IT! Not just the link to vax. That is NOT a proven cause of Autism!!!

Deb

[socialkat78]

Sorry I haven't checked the forum in a few days. The checklist should be done 2 times with in a year prior to turning 3. Also, most parents start seeing autistic signs around 18 months old.

[rcg196]

Supa,

Have you considered getting an early childhood eval for your baby? In the state where I live, I'm pretty sure that its free and its a good idea for all children if for no other reason than to have a baseline for the future. Maybe ask your ped (or your adoption agency) for any resources regarding these services.

In the interest of full disclosure, my brother had autism (I say had because he died a couple of years ago) but his was complicated by mental retardation as well (or vice-versa).

I believe that the primary reason for the surge in the number of cases of autism has to do with better diagnostic tools and more families coming forward to be evaluated. That having been said, I would be lying if I said that it still wasn't a source of concern for me from time to time.

Another thing that I would do is to try to put your child in situations where you will see them in relation to their same age peers. Is he or she pretty similar to them (i.e. physical abilities, social development, etc.)? Do you notice any areas where he or she is significantly different? Is your child meeting his or her milestones?

I guess the bottom line in my opinion is to use your own observations about what your baby can/can't do relative to his peers and to get an early childhood eval (I think it's called an Early Intervention program in my state and is free from ages 0-3).

If your child needs therapeutic services (i.e. occupational or physical therapy, speech/language therapy), I think the services are provided on a sliding scale. I got an eval for my daughter when she was around two and I found the professionals who came to the house to be really wonderful. We got a really detailed report a few weeks later.

And, if all else fails, remember that the overwhelming majority of children don't have autism (or cancer or any other scary thing).