Does my 10 year old child have Autism?

Question

He doesnt act liek my other 4 children. He thrown intense tantraums. When I call him he acts like he doesnt hear me. He stresses very easily. He gets excited easily. He does not follow directions. The teachers say he is real smart he just doesnt listen so I put him in Sylvan learning center to catch up . He has been there a year. He has only made a little progress. He is the middle child. I get frustrated with him but dont want to overreact cause I dont know what is going on with him. Any ideas??

Answer 1

Autism is usually characterized by anti social behavior, meaning they have a difficult time talking and playing with others.

Also they tend not to look you in the eyes to when you engage them in conversation as would a normaly developing child.

Understanding language is difficult too, what I suggest is asking his teachers what their opinions are and what they think you should do.

Teachers take a lot of psycology, sociology and human development classes so they should have a good idea of things and be able to give some worth while advice.

Answer 2

If it were my son I would call the child study team of the local school district and ask to have him fully evaluated. This is part of what they do and there is no charge. Trust your gut. If you think there is some type of problem there probably is, especially if his behavior is so different than your other children. Autism sounds like a possibility. Are his communication skills behind other children? Does he like to rock or watch things spin? Are his social skills lacking in any area? IF the local school system doesn't act in a way you are comfortable, there are private child study teams that will do an evaluation for a fee. A psychiatrist would also be able to diagnose the problem and if money for that is an issue, look for a clinic. Love him the way he is while helping him learn more appropriate ways of dealing with things. My best wishes to your family.

Answer 3

Has he always been this way or has this just happened recently? Usually Classic Autism begins to present itself during the the infant and toddler years. Usually by the age of three. There are some disorders on the Autism Spectrum that have a later age of onset like Asperger's and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. He certainly has some of the more common Syptoms of an ASD. There are other disorders and illnesses that can mimic the symptoms of Autism. Either way, this child desperately needs to be evaluated. Take him to his pediatrician ASAP. If he has always been like this, then you have missed precious time getting him treated. Talk to any Autism expert and one thing they will ALL agree on is the importance of early intervention. The earlier you begin to address the behaviors with treatment, the better his chances are of improvement. Don' t let this discourage you though because all children can benefit from therapy no matter when it is started. But you need to get the ball rolling or else you are just wasting time your child doesn't have. Your pediatrician can refer you to the school board to get him evaluated. You also need to see a pediatric nuerologist to get an official diagnosis because the school board will only tell you what his weaknesses are and they will give you therapy, But the quality of said therapy varies from district to district. But the school board will not give him a proper diagnosis and you need this to know the proper steps to take to get him help. Also keep in mind that where Autism is concerned there really is no one symptom that all children have. This disorder can present itself in many different ways and the symptoms vary wildly from child to child. My son makes eye contact and is actually quite affectionate with a few select people.And he attempts to interact though it is on basic levels with only people he is familiar with. And the belief that most autistic children are gifted with one special talent is actually false.Savants only occur in about 10 to 15% of all cases.My point is just because your son may not display a common symptom does not mean it isn't Autism Good luck to you and your son.

Answer 4

Autism is hard to diagnose. There are so many factors. On many occations Austistic children are very anti social. They have problems making and keeping social contacts in their daily life. Austistic children usually excell in one thing. It can be drawing, music, singing. I had an Autistic boy in my class for 3 years and he could draw anything. In about 20 min he drew an entire skeleton. He had nothing to look at to draw it, he did it from a picture that he once saw. He can draw insects and animals like they were real. It was amazing. My advice to you is to talk to your childs teacher and get him tested. There is testing that can be done for diagnosing this. If he is diagnosed Autistic, keep in mind that you have a very special job!!! There are MANY groups and camps and things for Autistic children and adults. The problem with things now is there isnt enough people out there that knows about Autism. I personally rally for the testing and help for Autistic children.If you contact your local DCFS or CPS in your state, they can tell you where there are workshops for parents and teachers that you can attend for free most of the time. There are many many books also, go to your local library and read up!!! Here is a website that may help you. Good Luck!!

www.autismspeaks.org

Answer 5

Whether you or your child's pediatrician is the first to suspect autism, your child will need to be referred to someone who specializes in diagnosing autism spectrum disorders. This may be a developmental pediatrician, a psychiatrist or psychologist, and other professionals that are better able to observe and test your child in specific areas.

This multidisciplinary assessment team may include some or all of the following professionals (they may also be involved in treatment programs):

* Developmental pediatrician - Treats health problems of children with developmental delays or handicaps.
* Child psychiatrist - A medical doctor who may be involved in the initial diagnosis. He/she can also prescribe medication and provide help in behavior, emotional adjustment and social relationships).
* Clinical psychologist - Specializes in understanding the nature and impact of developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders. May perform psychological and assessment test, as well as help with behavior modification and social skills training.
* Occupational therapist - Focuses on practical, self-help skills that will aid in daily living such as dressing and eating. May also work on sensory integration, coordination of movement, and fine motor skills.
* Physical therapist - Helps to improve the use of bones, muscles, joints, and nerves to develop muscle strength, coordination and motor skills.
* Speech/language therapist - Involved in the improvement of communication skills, including speech and language.
* Social Worker - May provide counseling services or act as case manager helping to arrange services and treatments.

Answer 6

Let his pediatrian know all of his habits and they will steer you in the right direction as far as therapy or medication.

Answer 7

you could try to write in or read magazine's meant for mums.

by writing in, you get to ask an experienced doctor.

be paitient toward your child, and you will reap your kindness in the long term.