Autism, do you think my son might have it?

Question

My 4 year old step son has some problems and I fear they might be pointing toward a mild case of autism.

He won't eat and when he does, he throws his food up or takes hours to eat lets say 1/2 a peice of pizza.

He has trouble opening doors that require you to turn then push, he often gets locked in places because he cannot open the door.

He cannot connect the fact that (for instance) 5 peanuts mean there are 5 peanuts. He counts each as 12345 instead of one peanut, 2 peanuts...etc...no matter how much we work he cannot do it. He only says 12345 because we count them first to show him how. He memorizes 12345.

He cannot tell the diff between letters & numbers.

He has trouble connecting with other children his age.

His speech is actually really good but he always repeats everything you say to him. He can repeat it 5 times before he gets what you said.

He cannot tell the difference between colors but has memorized all of his flash cards.

We have been teaching him for over a year. Everyday he has an hour of learning time but he hasn't learned anymore than when he came to us. (his mother was abusive and she lost custody) But everyday we try to teach him letters, numbers, colors, and shapes. If it appears he has learned something he forgets it 5 minutes later like we never taught it to him.

Another thing, he is really bothered by sound. He is putting his hands over his ears at things no normal person would think was loud.

Please keep in mind we aren't stupid and will be having him tested. We just cannot do that today and would like some ideas now.

Answer 1

There is a few things you mentioned that sound a lot like autism, such as:

He has trouble connecting with other children his age.

His speech is actually really good but he always repeats everything you say to him. He can repeat it 5 times before he gets what you said.

He cannot tell the difference between colors but has memorized all of his flash cards

The repetative speech is called echolalia, and trust me, it can drive you nuts! My son doesn't repeat every phrase, but he has certain dialogs that he has to repeat every day, at specific times.

It's not the fact that he can't differentiate the colors that makes me think autism, it's the memorizing the cards. They are SO SMART, and find ways of compensating. I have to smile at that one, even though I know you're frustrated. The next two CAN be autism, or sensory integration disorder, which often mimics autism.

He won't eat and when he does, he throws his food up or takes hours to eat lets say 1/2 a peice of pizza, and the loud noises I think you said? Those are typical for both disorders.

The rest of it doesn't necessarily point to autism, but COULD be an effect of autism. The fact that you've been going over these things for a year points to a learning disability, POSSIBLY, but not necessarily, he is only four. It does take some kids a little longer to get these things. Not every child is ready for pre-school at such an early age, it's just our society that pushes that on them. But, it is definitely something to keep track of, and to mention when you do take him in. I would really recommend reading THE OUT OF SYNC CHILD. It explains Sensory Integration Disorder, and shows all the different areas of his life that can be affected if he is not perceiving information properly from his senses. You'd be surprised how important that is. All kids with autism have sensory issues, so it's worth looking into. Good luck to you, and try not to panic.

Answer 2

Try to educate yourself about autism by visiting the numerous websites, reading books and talking to your pediatrician. Autism is one of those conditions where every case is different, and requires individual attention without stereotyping. It sounds like he might have some sensory issues, or learning disabiliies. The only thing that sounded like autism was that you said he had problems connecting with children his age; autistic children commonly have social difficulties. Just keep working with him, teaching him and playing with him; show him how to interact with others. Remember you are his role model. Don't let him drift off into his own world; engage him in this world, spend time with him. You will be rewarded.

Answer 3

cannot dignose that via nternet take him to your pediatrician have them send him to a mental health place that concentrates on autism and other related disorders .he may just be 4 and having some minor troubles but if he has anything other than a minor learning problem it is best to get tested early and get him the schooling he needs . but also beyond the learning difficulties take him to counseling for the abuse at the hands of his mother he needs some place to talk about that and let what ever he is feeling out that is a huge thing for a child to go through abuse by a parent and then put in a new living situation he may still be having trouble adjusting to everything which can bring on disorders so it is always best to take to a trained professional who deals inthis so he can get a proper diagnosis.good luck to you and your family and your lil boy

well sensory is part of autism .well here is some clues (my kids have high functioning autism)
does not make eye contact ,lack of speech or correct speech, does not understand personal space ,in some cases the kid does not talk but will repeat what ever you say to him like if you say sam do you want a cookie instead of saying yes mom he will say sam you want a cookie back to you ,they have to have a routine cannot go off the routine or they will have a fit,they will do something repetative like a rocking motion or line things up over and over my son would rewind videos at a certain point over and over ,he will not interact with kids period if he does he may interact with younger ,usually the talking is a good clue.he sounds like he does the talking like i said the repeating what you say on the counting of the numbers .the site i have listed gives the symptoms.well i hope this is helpful sorry my answer wasnt more informative early part
The severity of symptoms varies greatly between individuals; however, all people with autism have some core symptoms in the areas of:

Social interactions and relationships. Symptoms may include:
Significant problems developing nonverbal communication skills, such as eye-to-eye gazing, facial expressions, and body posture.
Failure to establish friendships with children the same age.
Lack of interest in sharing enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people.
Lack of empathy. People with autism may have difficulty understanding another person's feelings, such as pain or sorrow.
Verbal and nonverbal communication. Symptoms may include:
Delay in, or lack of, learning to talk. As many as 50% of people with autism never speak.2
Problems taking steps to start a conversation. Also, people with autism have difficulties continuing a conversation once it has begun.
Stereotyped and repetitive use of language. People with autism often repeat over and over a phrase they have heard previously (echolalia).
Difficulty understanding their listener's perspective. For example, a person with autism may not understand that someone is using humor. They may interpret the communication word for word and fail to catch the implied meaning.
Limited interests in activities or play. Symptoms may include:
An unusual focus on pieces. Younger children with autism often focus on parts of toys, such as the wheels on a car, rather than playing with the entire toy.
Preoccupation with certain topics. Older children and adults are often fascinated by train schedules, weather patterns, or license plates.
A need for sameness and routines. For example, a child with autism may always need to eat bread before salad and insist on driving the same route every day to school.
Stereotyped behaviors. These include body rocking and hand flapping.

Answer 4

My step mom has an autistic son who's 14. large boy. yet he is going loopy while he hears the be conscious devil.My dad thinks he is going loopy becuz of the medicine that he's being given.i do no longer comprehend.....yet i think of he could be precise.

Answer 5

http://www.daylon.com/autism/

There's a link to a paper I wrote on the topic during my senior year in college. Hope it's somewhat helpful

Answer 6

Try to remember that he is only 4. If you are that concerned about his development, talk to his pediatrician about sending him for testing. No one here can diagnose him via Internet.

Answer 7

that is very sad, and so is Autism if it goes untreated. you should have him tested. good luck to you and best wishes, not always an easy thing to deal with...... my best friends son is Autistic.