All About Autism

[specialboymum]

ImMeeMee:

helplessmum3:

Pls load pic of yr material here so I roughly hav idea how its works imeemee

I created it on white board and took a photo of it in my hp, so that I can refer back and blow up the specific sections where required.

It was meant to address the issue when her Ah Ma is watching TV and couldnt hear what was on TV, but I have started to extend it to other family members about how they feel when they cant hear whats on TV.

Its quite a humble story board ... :oops: but hope it helps.

http://i47.tinypic.com/14neka8.jpg\">

Great Job!!! :rahrah:

[schweppes]

ImMeeMee:

I created it on white board and took a photo of it in my hp, so that I can refer back and blow up the specific sections where required.

It was meant to address the issue when her Ah Ma is watching TV and couldnt hear what was on TV, but I have started to extend it to other family members about how they feel when they cant hear whats on TV.

Its quite a humble story board ... :oops: but hope it helps.

Oh wow!! Very impressive, ImMeeMee. Beats my stick figures anytime!! :udawoman:

:salute: :salute:

[ImMeeMee]

thanks schweppes and specialboymum for the encouragement ... so shy :oops: :oops:


Actually there are still information gaps in my story board if you look closely, and will work on them as I go along. But given that this is a first try and it is working, just want to share the joy of achievement where dd3 and myself are concerned, where I feel like celebrating ... :celebrate:

Life shouldnt be a downward spiral into depression and gloom because of our children's condition, even though sometimes it does feel like it. while it is not an occasion for a durian ice cream for me schweppes I do value this moment ...

:please:

[specialboymum]

ImMeeMee:

thanks schweppes and specialboymum for the encouragement ... so shy :oops: :oops:


Actually there are still information gaps in my story board if you look closely, and will work on them as I go along. But given that this is a first try and it is working, just want to share the joy of achievement where dd3 and myself are concerned, where I feel like celebrating ... :celebrate:

Life shouldnt be a downward spiral into depression and gloom because of our children's condition, even though sometimes it does feel like it. while it is not an occasion for a durian ice cream for me schweppes I do value this moment ...

:please:

Actually you did very well already. I remember I did one for my boy to prepare him for the trip to HK disneyland. He still ended up having major meltdown inside the park. After the super tiring trip, I discussed with his therapist on why it didn't work, then we realized I touch on everything from taking bus to the park, buying ticket and entering the park, but I failed to describe in details what to expect inside the park, I only generalize as take the rides, so he was nervous for not knowing what to expect. :wrongmove:

[ImMeeMee]

specialboymum:

Actually you did very well already. I remember I did one for my boy to prepare him for the trip to HK disneyland. He still ended up having major meltdown inside the park. After the super tiring trip, I discussed with his therapist on why it didn't work, then we realized I touch on everything from taking bus to the park, buying ticket and entering the park, but I failed to describe in details what to expect inside the park, I only generalize as take the rides, so he was nervous for not knowing what to expect. :wrongmove:

I'm sure we all learn as we go, and it must have been quite a mammoth effort to have to put up a step by step story on disneyland, cos got so many things involved.

[Blokus]

Hi


I'm a mom of a potential asd 5 year old boy. He's waiting to see the psychologist in a few months time. Meanwhile, I've been reading up & have been wavering between being sure he's not on the spectrum and that he is.

Why I think he's not
1) he can communicate I,e answer questions
2) he's fully aware & in tune with his environment
3) he rarely has meltdowns
4) interacts with me & hub like a normal kid.
5) no behavioral issues instead very compliant
6) no rigid routine; extremely adaptable to sudden changes
7) no repeated behavior I.e hand flapping.
no obsession with toys, plays a variety of toys (cars, trains, grocery, board/card games, blocks etc)
9) plays with toys appropriately.

Why I think he is
1) fleeting eye contact
2) does not or will not approach people when need help but to us, parents- he will
3) poor or no social skills. Very much always alone in group play.
4) cannot answer open ended questions like 'why?'
5) sensory issues to sound & clothes texture (wet, tags) but mild & can get over it if we distract him. He has also overcome a few (thunder, drilling noises) over time.
6) cannot read my emotions. When I'm crying, he can still come up to me and ask for say, his milk. But when asked, he can tell I'm crying but no empathy on his part. Neither did he show any joy/anger/jealousy after I return home from my second delivery. Instead the first thing he did was to ask me for my iPhone. :roll:
7) does not respond to outsiders. But when prompted he will mumble his answer with no eye contact.
cannot describe his needs/wants with his own words tend to parrot after what I taught him how to ask/say in that particular situations. It always seem that I've to teach him the exact sentence to say for every situation. Although he knows how to tweak them & use them in appropriate context. However, this has improved over time.
9) likes to ask repeatedly 'where are we going?' even though he's been told many times over.
10) cannot maintain conversation.

To the naked eye, he seems very normal. That's why my friends & relatives say I'm overly worried. But from my own readings, it seems that it's highly possible that he's on the spectrum albeit very mild. I think alot of us think autism as those who seem indifferent all the time & has outward signs like hand flapping, jumping. But based on what I've gathered, not necessary. It can also be so subtle and some may be not be diagnosed or at a much later age. I've read some mummies sharing of their kid's signs & despite the dr's assessment it was hard to accept because the kid is communicative. But a person who is verbal (like a normal person), appears to be smart can also have autism. The thing is the spectrum is very very broad.

So I'm suspecting that my son has autism. But his cognitive learning is advanced & he's compliant & non disruptive in his kindergarten class, I believe he's able to go mainstream?

[Blokus]

The other red flag is, he used to pretend play that he's in the train or lift- or so I thought. Recently, it occured to me that he might be pretending that he is the lift or the train. Yikes. I asked him once, and he said he was pretending to be the lift then I said 'HUH?!' and he quickly corrected himself. But he might just be trying to get the 'right' answer- he's scared of giving the wrong answer. On the other hand, he has pretend play to be a teacher or a cashier.


And when playing, I can hear him quoting from YouTube videos he watched. hardly, I've heard him using his own words while playing.

Very worrying.

[Double E]

Blokus

Does your boy communicate with his teachers in school?
He may be have communication delay, not necessary autism. I have a friend’s son who is also 5 plus years old. Similar signs as your boy but Doc diagnosed him as communication delay not autism.

[specialboymum]

Blokus,


ASD is a spectrum and it is too complex that it is impossible to tell whether the person is autistic or not based on a checklist. I think you have already did the very first important step i.e to list down his behaviors and issues of concerns, it certainly help to identify the help he might need. I wish I was calm and organized like you when we first suspect my boy to be autistic.

I suggest you consider sending him for OT and SLT while waiting for diagnosis. What you have in the list is pretty good enough for the therapists to plan a suitable program for him

[Blokus]

Double E: thanks for replying He communicates to his teacher but just answering questions & not conversing with them. I thought it was a language delay too but imagine my shock when dr suggested we send him for autism test. Although dr say she wasn't sure if it's his personality or a disorder hence she suggested to get hin tested just to get it out of the way. And even tested positive, it would be mild.


Specialboymum: no, I'm far from being calm. If I can be honest, I've been lashing out on him, coming down hard on him whenever he shows signs of autism. I'm so ashamed to say this. I think this my 'denial' stage. I feel so horrible every time I watch him sleep or when he's away at school. But when he's awake or home, I'll start jumping at him at every wrong.

Yes, he's already been seen by ST who said he didn't need for any therapy. But I feel her test mostly touched on receptive language & very little on expressive. So Ive asked to see another ST. For OT, we had a very bad first session. The boy was jumping all over the place, wasn't taking his turn on the board game etc. But yet at home he can take his turn, play without running all over the place. So we were surprised by his behaviour. Good thing though OT, is willing to observe him 2nd time taking into account that he isn't normally like this. So now, we are thinking if we should just go private to quicken things up. I'm worried that he's 5 and intervention may be too late for him