All About Autism

[johmom]

Here's the funny thing. I've shared this in like page 400+


My boy is my first child so everything he did/does is \"normal\" to me. What books or sites say is \"normal\" was just ignored - like \"every child is different and develop at different pace (right?). Also he was advance in some ways (talking) but obviously slow in others (gross motor skills). And while he can talk, communication is quite another thing.

But now I have a 7 mth old daughter and now I realise she's hitting all the \"normal\" milestones and that's \"normal\". Okay, she's very lazy physically so in that respect she's slow too. But I put it down to having pretty lazy parents - it's in the genes.

Anyway, he was only diagnosed last yr. Since nursery (N2 - he started sch then), since the first day of sch I've gotten complains abt him. Just went with the flow and assume teachers are biased cos he's not kuai kuai, cute cute, sit there and stone kind. They labelled him as active.

Fast forward to the end of K1, a pd who observed him in a class setting spoke to me after the class and practically \"force\" me to get him diagnosed - in a nice way. But I was still offended. Heh. But she recommended the public route (polyclinic, kkh). So after I simmered down I brought him to the poly clinic and the rest as they say is history.

The moment the case worker interviewed us and interacted minimally with him (K2) she agreed with the pd's suspicion of Asperger's. And ordered various test for him. Again I was not happy cos these things cannot anyhow say have after seeing for two hours, right?

So half a yr later he completed all his tests and it became official.

I think we were very fortunate that he seemed to have gotten quite a bit of help, in terms of sessions, from KKH cdu. And he did learn from his sessions there.

So ya, my child is one of those cases who's obvious to the professionals and totally obscure to lay ppl (myself included). Most lay ppl would just think he's difficult, fussy, sensitive, rude. Now after reading up more and attending sessions with him I see the quirks. But it takes time to accept that \"he doesn't get it\" for many social things.

As the kkh psychologist said to me (when she gave me the diagnosis), \"for someone so intelligent, how can he not know these things?\" My reply was \"then he's just not so smart after all\". :oops:

[sharonkhoo]

johmom:

As the kkh psychologist said to me (when she gave me the diagnosis), \"for someone so intelligent, how can he not know these things?\" My reply was \"then he's just not so smart after all\". :oops:

This is really not acceptable from a psychologist! She, of all people, should know why!

My daughter has Asperger's too, but we are many years further down the road than you. She is now studying for her A levels and seems to be managing OK in school. I expect her whole class and CCA mates have already realised that she is a bit 'different', but I think she's getting along fine. We have done a lot of work with her over the years in social skills as well as life skills, and have resigned ourselves that her rate of maturing is going to be a lot slower than her younger sister. She also has some learning difficulties aside from Asperger's itself so we don't expect great results from her. But we are happy to see her progress.

[Double E]

Mummies

Have u all tried bringing your kid to the dentist? How are they coping? did they freak out? I am contemplating to bring my son to one as his teeth has many brown stains which I can’t brush off. But I am worried how he will react as it is, he is not fond of brushing teeth.

[nugget]

Couragemom:

Hi Nugget,


Any sports that needs our kids to do bi-lateral moves such as left leg/right hand out etc and balancing is good for their motor development. Swimming has an additional sensory input of water against skin.

Hi Couragemom,

Yes, he has already started on swimming. I feel its really helping him to be alert. He loves to ride bike too.

Was thinking of letting him learn TKD at least some self defense skills.

[Couragemom]

Hi Nugget,


Can your son ride a 2 wheels bicycle? If yes, does it take very long to teach?

[Couragemom]

Hi Niu2009,


Hmm… Since your son’s school talk about delay in social skills, perhaps you want to consider signing him up for social class? A lot of private therapy centres offer such social classes like Weecare, Leapfrogs, dynamics etc? You can ask your OT centre to find a partner to do OT together as a start as well.

[Couragemom]

Hi Johmom,


Thanks for sharing your story again. You are right. First-time parents usually can’t tell the difference until the child attends school. For me since both my kids are only 1.5 years apart, my younger son’s ‘differences’ are very obvious to me since young. My husband told me that if our son is our 1st child, we may not spot the difference until later. But it was only when he attended playgroup after 1 month that the Principal highlighted his learning difficulties to me (he was 20 months old) then I galloped into action.

[Niu2009]

Couragemom:

Hi Johmom,


Thanks for sharing your story again. You are right. First-time parents usually can't tell the difference until the child attends school. For me since both my kids are only 1.5 years apart, my younger son's 'differences' are very obvious to me since young. My husband told me that if our son is our 1st child, we may not spot the difference until later. But it was only when he attended playgroup after 1 month that the Principal highlighted his learning difficulties to me (he was 20 months old) then I galloped into action.

Hi Couragmom,

I am looking for social group for him now. 20-months baby got learning difficulties? Cann't believe.

[nugget]

Couragemom:

Hi Nugget,


Can your son ride a 2 wheels bicycle? If yes, does it take very long to teach?

Couragemom,

Not yet. I always asked if he wants to try but he say next time. His OT say to try loosen one wheel first. Then slowly then loosen the other wheel to make it as 2 wheels.

[johmom]

Double E,


I tried bringing my boy to the dentist four times since he was abt 3/4 yrs old.

Every child is different and react differently but here's what mine went thru.

First time, he refused to sit in the chair after 30mins. Even I called it a day.

Second time, he sat on the chair but refused to open his mouth.

Third time, he open his mouth they counted his teeth but that was it.

Last time, the dentist managed to brush one tooth manually without paste. Hahaha

All the sessions lasted 30-45 mins. And that was all the dentist could get him to do.

But now he's in P1 and has seen the school dentist. He didn't tell me what happened but he did bring back a Spider-man toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste... And I have received any calls.