understanding love

[Guest guest]

I am on another list for children born with Fetal alcohol syndrome.? The

conversation has shifted to how many children are diagnosed with autism but may

really have FAS. One of the moms had her daughter evaluated for autism.

They sat her down and showed her pictures and asked for her to tell a

story about the pictures or to say what was happening.? They said since she

could discern Love from the

pictures that she couldn't be autistic.

Is this correct?? Is that a tell tale sign of NOT being autistic?

?Blessings,

homeschooling Mom to AJ (13), (10), ^l^, (age

6, Trisomy 18 mosaic AKA 's syndrome) and Birgitta (age 5, adoption

finalized 2/1/05 !!, Trisomy 21 AKA Down's Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome,

Autism, SID)

[Guest guest]

This is the DSM-IV criteria for diagnosing Autism (I don't see

anything that says " oh, if they can decipher a picture showing love

they don't have autism " )Kayla meets 7 out of 12 of the diagnostic

criteria, plus she has the regression component.:

(I) A total of six (or more) items from (A), (, and ©, with at

least two from (A), and one each from ( and ©

(A) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at

least two of the following:

1. marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such

as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to

regulate social interaction

2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental

level

3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or

achievements with other people, (e.g., by a lack of showing,

bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)

4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity ( note: in the

description, it gives the following as examples: not actively

participating in simple social play or games, preferring solitary

activities, or involving others in activities only as tools

or " mechanical " aids )

( qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at

least one of the following:

1. delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language

(not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative

modes of communication such as gesture or mime)

2. in individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the

ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others

3. stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic

language

4. lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative

play appropriate to developmental level

© restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior,

interests and activities, as manifested by at least two of the

following:

1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and

restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity

or focus

2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional

routines or rituals

3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g hand or finger

flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)

4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

(II) Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following

areas, with onset prior to age 3 years:

(A) social interaction

( language as used in social communication

© symbolic or imaginative play

(III) The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder

or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

Ecki

Mom to Kayla (DS/ASD, 4/5/04) and Laurie (PDD-NOS, 7/12/01)

http://oppositekids.blogspot.com/

>They said since she could discern Love from the

> pictures that she couldn't be autistic.

>

>

> Is this correct?? Is that a tell tale sign of NOT being autistic?

>