Wondering If My Son Could Be Autistic?
Posted: Friday, September 12, 2008
by Karen Davis
Our son Connor, currently has Severe Global Developmental Delay and Hypotonia, I'm also wondering if he might also be Austistic?
Feeding
He can eat with his fingers e.g. bread chips snacky foods, from a plate or dish, when finished he will then try to play with the plate or dish by spinning it, or may throw it on the floor, so it is sometimes best to remove the dish. Connor cannot use a knife or fork, but he can eat reasonable well with a spoon. He likes most foods, does not like too many sweet things like rice, chocolate or sweet biscuits. He will drink from a bottle, and will drink mainly watered down juice. He cannot drink from a beaker or cup. Connor does tend to let you know if he does not want the food or drink you give him, by either pushing your hand away, or by pushing the dish away. He goes through stages where he will push the dish of most foods away. He does tend to get upset and annoyed when doing this, and may tip this dish onto the floor; Connor is not able to tell us what is wrong. When Connor eats you do have to cut it up quite small as he tends to put food into his mouth without chewing it, and will put it in whole. He also tends to put too much into his mouth at one time, has to make his mouth really full before swallowing, and sometimes he has choked with doing this.
Movement
Connor is now walking about 95% of the time, all be it unsteady. Otherwise the rest of the time to get around he will crawl. Connor is crawling and walking. holding on to the banister with two hands when going up and down the stairs at home, without help. Connor will go up easier than coming down. When walking he does not still look where he is going so does not noticed steps, or edge of curbs unless you show him. He is unable to go up and down, even an inch step without help or holding on to something. He does seem good with his hands he can catch and spin a ball, and can pick up and hold small objects, that he is interested in. When walking he is still quite wobbly and he can only go short distances outside with you, after about 100-200 meters, he would want to be picked up and carried or put into the pushchair.
Play
He can play well by himself, but does like to play with us, at times. Connor get's quite aggressive with his play at times. He seems to not play with the toys as they should be played with, e.g. he has got a fire engine, which makes a noise, moves and shakes, Connor just seems to like to spin the wheels and really concentrates when doing this, waiting for the sounds etc. He does not treat it has a moving vehicle, like moving it around the floor etc. He's spends a lot of time spinning toys, swinging toys, throwing the toys or banging them together. Connor does like music and likes you to put on the music for him, but it tends to be music with a beat. Certain slow music or high pitched sounds upsets him. He also likes you to play certain songs over and over again. If you were to give him some wooden blocks, he would not try to build anything, this would also be thrown around or banged together, or see if he can spin them. We've also noticed this in other situation's like bathing him he will spin the sponge around in the water. Connor does enjoy playing with water, likes to feel it running from the tap, and does not bother him if it's cold water. His hands can be freezing but this does not affect him. Connor does have a very short attention span with toys and dose not play with them for long as he loses interest. His play does seem very repetitive and does not do anything new very often, always wanting to play in the same way, with the same toys, objects etc. Any new object will be tested too see if it will swing, bounce or spin or shake if not it is likely to be ignored.
Connor has got a few obsessions around the house that he must play with or look at, e.g. washing machine, fans, shoes, (holds the laces and spins them), also ceiling lights, clocks, microwave, water, and anything he can get to swing, spin or shake. He gets upset if you try to change this. With toys and objects that shake e.g. the fire engine or the washing machine he likes to put this right against his face to feel the vibration. Connor also still likes to lie down or sits in a chair and rocks and shakes his head a lot, anytime of the day. He likes to flap his arms and legs a lot for no apparent reason.
Communication & Language
He can say Mum, Dad, Nan, ta, tick tock, (as we have a lot of clocks around the house). Has recently been counting 1,2,3. Also babbles a lot But these words are said randomly and repeatedly and without meaning. So anything could be dad or dad could be mum etc. We are trying to teach sign language and he is able to understand 2 or 3 signs so far, but does not respond to them very often.
Connor does sometimes respond to his name when you call him, but if he's really occupied with something like rocking etc, he is then likely too ignore you. He is also starting to respond to the word No. he maybe responding to how it is said rather than the word itself. If you do say No not to touch something he will often ignore you and do it, anyway. Also if you say to Connor "Connor want a Bath" he will then take your hand and go upstairs into the bathroom with you and stand at the side of the bath and grabs my hands and points them towards the taps to turn the water on. Connor is now recognising pictures and some words of objects, if you say drink; he will look at his bottle of drink, but only drinks it if he wants too. If you show Connor a picture of his bed, he will go to his bedroom, or if you show him a picture of one of his toys, he will if he wants' too, go and get the toy. If Connor wants you to do something like push a button to make something work, he will grasp one of our hands or arms to get us to do it. Also Connor will pull at your hand to get you to go with him where he wants you to go, e.g. to the kitchen or bedroom etc. Connor does learn by watching what you do and in time will then try and do it himself. He still does not have any verbal language or communication with anyone.
Other information
Connor dose like and learn a lot by routine but if you change it, he does get quite irritable; Connor has always liked his own space, and can get upset when around a lot of people. Connor does seem sensitive to certain sounds, if they a very loud or quite piercing sounds, like babies crying or animals sounds or sirens from emergency vehicles etc.
Connor seems more relaxed in his own home, he does tend to get upset when we arrive at other family houses, and can take him a while to settle. He has been going to Hop Skip and Jump lately and Connor does not interact or play with other children, prefers to play alone, or with adult company. Connor will go to any adult to be picked up. Also he does not know anything about sharing yet, he will go and take anything he wants from another child if he wants it, whether it be a toy or a child's drink. Sometimes the loud screaming or shouting of other children frightens Connor and he gets upset. Cannot yet use crayons or pencils for drawing, he would rather chew them, throw them or gather them all up in a pile, or through them. Connor does give us more contact, but it has to be of high interest something really exciting for Connor to give you eye contact. Connor does have a blank stare at times, and will just look into the corner of a wall, or at the ceiling for no apparent reason. Connor is not yet potty trained, and cannot dress or undress himself. Connor has no sense of danger of what is safe and what is not. Connor sleeps well at night, but does not like to be covered.
When out shopping as long as Connor has got some of his obsessions around him like lights, fans, and big swinging shop banners, he's is quite happy. If not then Connor gets upset and wants to be picked up. Some shops that you go into, you end up coming straight back out, because Connor get's upset at something he's seen or heard that he does not like.
When Connor passes stool they are still loose but he does not have pass stools everyday. He is still getting the redness and hot to the touch of his right ear and red in right arm most of the time, but he has had it in both arms and hands at the same time. Also redness and hot to the touch in the right leg and foot, which also looks swollen. This does not seem to bother Connor though. This seems to be appearing at any time of day, and can last for hours , sometimes all day.
If anyone had any idea's let me know
Many thanks
Karen
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)hi karen,this was a well written, interesting article. i've never heard of these things, so i can't comment, but i wish you all the luck with Connor. maybe if you googled Severe Global Developmental Delay and Hypotonia, if you haven't already.i hope you find something, and i hope you continue writing,best regards,sue thom
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