Re: Introduction/

[Guest guest]

Hi - our son, Darwyn, is 4 1/2 and your description fits him so well. 

We're still on a waitlist for ASD diagnosis, but his Speech therapist who has a

child with DS/ASD recommended we get the diagnosis as he reminds him of her son

at that age.  Recently there was a thread about whether these behaviors began at

about age 3 for most kids (definitely for our son - he " lost " his 2 words,

reduced eye contact and stopped looking at strangers).  Some kids on the other

hand seem to have always had these traits.  You may find it interesting to go

back a month and read these.

I agree - the giggle fits are cute and the hand staring too.

Take care,

Introduction

To:

> Hello, my name is and I just joined this group.  My

> husband and

> I live with our 6 children in Massachusetts.

>

> I am concerned that my 38mo son (has DS) is showing

> characteristics

> of autism.  Today I plan to call his PCP to discuss how to

> go about

> evaluating him.  Some reasons I am concerned:  He only

> makes eye

> contact with family or a few other people he knows well; stares

> at

> his hand a LOT (we always joked that he is checking a schedule),

> stares at the ground whenever in the stroller or at lights when

> being

> carried, punches his forehead and jaw repeatedly when upset-- or

> bangs his head on the floor, severe hypotonia, nystgamus, only 5

> words and/or signs, has 15 minute " giggle fits " at nothing every

> night, which are really cute but I've just read are a

> characteristic

> of ASD.

>

> He really is a joy to our family, but some of these things have

> been

> nagging at me lately.  He loves to cuddle with his dad and

> me, and

> absolutely adores his 14yo brother.  He also did well with

> his

> therapists and they never voiced a concern beyond the eye

> flickers

> and hypotonia.

>

> So I plan to browse the links and files available here and try

> to

> learn, and also try to get him assessed.  He did receive EI

> until he

> turned three in October, and I work with him at home now. 

> (We home

> school all of our children.)

>

> L

>

>

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