All About Autism

[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.

[johmom]

Slmkhoo,


I think I misrepresented that statement.

The psychologist was trying to explain to me what the problem was since I often live by that long river in Egypt.

I probably said, "how can u tell?"

And that was probably her reply to it… He can grasp many concepts and is intelligent and yet there’s this problem of mind and perspective.

So ya… I did not accept the diagnosis for a long time. Sometimes I still struggle with it. But then he’s quite a textbook case in terms of social awareness and communication.

[sharonkhoo]

johmom:

Slmkhoo,


I think I misrepresented that statement.

The psychologist was trying to explain to me what the problem was since I often live by that long river in Egypt.

I probably said, \"how can u tell?\"

And that was probably her reply to it... He can grasp many concepts and is intelligent and yet there's this problem of mind and perspective.

So ya... I did not accept the diagnosis for a long time. Sometimes I still struggle with it. But then he's quite a textbook case in terms of social awareness and communication.

Oh, I see. Well, I think we all understand where you are coming from. It will get better over time if you keep working with him. If the child has good understanding and memory, he can use that to make up for the instinctive way other kids learn social skills. I have to constantly talk to my daughter and explain why people say and do things in a certain way, what they mean, how she ought to respond, and generally help her understand the world. She's now 17, and over the years there have been higher intensity times when environments change and more has to be taught, then there will be plateau times when things are more stable. The next thing we'll have to deal with is probably BGR...

[Couragemom]

Hi Nugget,


Thanks for the advice! Will file in my little black book.

[Couragemom]

Hi Niu2009,


Yah, at 20 months he was ‘different’ from other kids. Luckily I also suspect something was off, thus the whole journey began so early for me.

This afternoon, I just said a tearful good-bye to my son’s old playgroup principal and his Chinese teacher who always took special care of him and always have a kind word for me. Really grateful to them for taking care of my son for the past 10 months with patience. I really hope my son will continue to meet such good teachers in his difficult journey.