Wht does autism look like in a 2-3 year old boy?

[BethCO]

I am looking for some BTDT knowledge. What were some of the big signs for you?

[Alice R]

I'm writing a report for a child with autism...I caught this question at the right time. Here are some things we look for. Some children do these things but it is an "odd" amount of these things in an "odd" way that raise a red flag.

For example...lying on the floor is a kid thing BUT children with PDD do it all the time and in an odd way and at odd times...lying on the floor does not mean you have PDD. ;) But when you look at your child lying on the floor and it seems odd and then you have a list of other concerns...

Anyway, these are the things that my team looks for. Again, some children do these things and some children with sensory issues will do these things and not have PDD. But children with PDD do A LOT of these things.


speech:
Lack of understanding
Often seems to be ignoring speech
not talking
Saying some words but they are out of context
Poor speech development
making repetative sounds
Child uses visual cues to understand what is going on. For example: They don't know the word shoes but if you put on your shoes, they will run and get theirs...can fool people into thinking that they child understands the word "shoes" but they really have good visual skills
Difficulty expressing their needs
ignores speech but responds immediately to their favorite TV song
likes music more than speech
difficulty INITIATING speech and communication
can speak more than they can understand
rote speech (memorized speech from TV or books or memorized phrases)
Speech is not used for communication but is just kinda odd...likes to label their trains but won't ask for food when hungry.
speech is very self directed
afraid of loud noises
loves loud noises
pats ears with hands
puts fingers in ears
speech that has "regressed" The child's speech seemed to go backwards around 18-24 mos of age.


sensory issues:
toe walking
hand flapping
spinning self
running back and forth repetatively
poor eye contact or a sort of staring eye contact
tantrums easily
upsets easily
doesn't transition well from task to task
likes spinning objects
likes to stare at the wheels on his cars (more than what a typical child does)
licking objects like the glass, TV screen, table
mouthing objects
biting
lining up toys
odd finger movements
staring at things in an odd way
repetative movements such as opening/closing doors, on/off lights
looking out of the corner of the eyes
watching TV way too close/parent constantly has to move child back
not OK with water/bathing
not OK with tags/band aids/stickers
doesn't like to be hugged
head banging
hair pulling
w-sitting
smelling objects/people
rocking
likes to look at self in the mirror for long periods of time
jumping up and down in place repetatively
lying on the floor (in an odd manner)
chewing/biting on things
can be aggressive

Feeding:
sensitive to textures
will not try new foods
only has favorite foods and won't get off that favorite food
has a favorite food for a few days and then changes
sensitive to flavors (won't eat sweet, only like spicey)
senstive to food temperatures


Other:
OK with being alone
like to watch the same TV shows over and over
obsession with one particular toy or DVD.
not really related to what is going on with people
New people come in the home and the child is not interested
No fear of danger...will jump from high places etc.
very self directed
likes to play with their toys in "THEIR" way and if anyone changes it, they get upset
very interested in visual details and can stare at them for too long
knows letters/numbers at a young age but speech is extremely delayed (can't really talk but can label letters)
stares at letters and numbers
likes to watch the credits roll on the TV
enjoys Wheel of Fortune (back to the letters again)

Things I have personally noticed and probably not clinical but I still notice it: A lot of food allergies. A lot of ear infections. A lot of antibiotics from the ear infections. Some mothers report not "doing well with vaccinations" and getting high fevers after them. I don't hear the vaccination one too often but I do hear it. I had one parent tell me the girl had a seizure after the vaccinations.

AND, most often, a mother will tell me "something is not right with X...I know all children are different but X is just really hard to manage and I am really worried something is wrong with him". And yes, mothers with all sorts of education and experiences will notice the same thing...something is not right and they are worried.

[AmyinWI]

wow Alice- there were a lot of things you listed that I didn't even notice in my little guy, until I read them in there!
My 2.5yo was recently diagnosed "on the spectrum" , which we've suspected for awhile, but having down syndrome really complicates things too.

Here are some things we noticed (and the therapists noticed) to have him evaluated.

Lack of eye contact, or purposely trying to avoid it, or like Alice said- "staring" type eye contact.
Not really playing with toys, but with "objects", while our guy is delayed and often acts babyish- he does things such as banging cupboard doors. A typical baby will bang the door open and explore what's inside. Gabe will bang the door many times, and never looks what's inside the cabinet. He plays with other weird things, like flipping the edge of a rug over and over,or playing wiht the cord of a lamp repeatedly, or spinning the wheels on a truck, but never attempting to drive the truck.

Repetitive vocalization,with rare attempts to make words.
lots of sensory things, likes to rock himself, or rub his head back and forth on the floor, or repeatedly rubbing things on his chin or face. Screaming like crazy with certain sensations- such as getting teeth brushed or hair brushed, or loud sounds. Only likes certain toys, certain foods, etc. Has a very hard time with new food textures, tastes, temperatures.
Like Alice said- he seems to "ignore his name, or other speech" (his hearing was tested and is fine), but play his favorite song or musical toy and he's dancing and clapping.
Very attracted to lights- for example,there is a light on the computer tower,a nd the tv- he will get right up close and just stare at it from an inch or two away. He does the same thing with certain toys that light up.
But that is our experience- our guy has other issues going on- but these are the things our therapists thought were atypical for a down syndrome child,too.

[AmyinWI]

Things I have personally noticed and probably not clinical but I still notice it: A lot of food allergies. A lot of ear infections. A lot of antibiotics from the ear infections. Some mothers report not "doing well with vaccinations" and getting high fevers after them. I don't hear the vaccination one too often but I do hear it. I had one parent tell me the girl had a seizure after the vaccinations.

AND, most often, a mother will tell me "something is not right with X...I know all children are different but X is just really hard to manage and I am really worried something is wrong with him". And yes, mothers with all sorts of education and experiences will notice the same thing...something is not right and they are worried.

ALice- have you read the book "Healing the New childhood epidemics" By Kenneth Bock,MD ?? I think it might interest you. It discusses ADHD,Allergies,Asthma and Autism. He mentions some of the theories are controversial (vaccinations) but I really think he has something there. I know several families with autistic kids that feel the vaccinations played a part.

[Chalane (FL)]

Alice what a great list you've put together! Some physical signs may also be dark shadows under the eyes and what seems like irritable bowl. The preferred foods are usually high in gluten and/or casien (dairy). If your child is affectionate with you don't let an "expert" tell you that it's can't be autism this was among the top reasons it took so long for my ds to get the diagnosis.

[AmyinWI]

Alice what a great list you've put together! Some physical signs may also be dark shadows under the eyes and what seems like irritable bowl. The preferred foods are usually high in gluten and/or casien (dairy). If your child is affectionate with you don't let an "expert" tell you that it's can't be autism this was among the top reasons it took so long for my ds to get the diagnosis.

Interesting! Our little guy is very affectionate with us too , even though he avoids the eye contact- he is such a little sweetie, he loves cuddling and hugging!

[AmyinWI]

Alice what a great list you've put together! Some physical signs may also be dark shadows under the eyes and what seems like irritable bowl. The preferred foods are usually high in gluten and/or casien (dairy). If your child is affectionate with you don't let an "expert" tell you that it's can't be autism this was among the top reasons it took so long for my ds to get the diagnosis.

Interesting! Our little guy is very affectionate with us too , even though he avoids the eye contact- he is such a little sweetie, he loves cuddling and hugging!

[Lisalyn]

Beth,

With Eli, the red flag was regression, or loss of language, that happened after his 15 month vaccinations.

It is common for heart kids to have a delay in development due to hospitalizations, low oxygen,etc. and he always surprised us by being on track as an infant.

When we mentioned the regressed language, his ped. instantly thought it had to be a hearing issue because he has always been a social boy. (Autism does not always mean total lack of social skills!)

His official dx is atypical autism, or PDD-NOS due to his social ability.

Other things we noticed:

lack of real eye contact-he seemed to be looking at you but when we started really watching, we realized he was looking 'through' us.

not following a point, and not pointing at things

spinning, running back and forth, crashing into objects/people

opening and closing doors

lining up toys, objects, food

visual stimming-holding objects very close to his eyes and moving them rapidly

looking at objects from the sides of his eyes

completely overwhelmed when multiple senses are in use-in a large store like Wal mart with the lights, people, sounds, smells; in church with the music, people, etc

oral texture issues-very limited diet-no meat, no veggies, nothing chewy, nothing lumpy; holding or pocketing food and gagging

chronic constipation

total loss of language, vocal stimming (sing-songing), babble

no interest in playing with peers, but happy to play something else nearby others


I hope this helps. :group:

[Lisalyn]

Alice what a great list you've put together! Some physical signs may also be dark shadows under the eyes and what seems like irritable bowl. The preferred foods are usually high in gluten and/or casien (dairy). If your child is affectionate with you don't let an "expert" tell you that it's can't be autism this was among the top reasons it took so long for my ds to get the diagnosis.

So true!

[Alice R]

I have heard that about the shadows under the eyes. Jenny McCarthy mentions that in her book...due to the food allergies, lack of sleep/irregular sleep cycles and chronic ear infections.

I never see it because I almost exclusively work with children of color. ;)

[Sasha]

wow, alice your list describes a friend's child to a t, I realize that all kids will do some of the things, but when there are more that then they do then things on the list that they don't do, I think that's a strong sign.

[Alice R]

Can we archive this thread? It would probably be really helpful to save...autism affects so many families and early diagnosis is so important.

(I don't know who is in charge of archiving threads or how you do it)

Thank you to who does the archiving. :group: :lol:

[Hollie in SC]

:eek: A pop quiz, Alice. :lol: No, it is a great idea. Leslie showed me how to archive when I was up there in August. I'll try it soon--if not PM me with a reminder. ;) We just got back from vacation last night or I'd try it now. :)

[Alice R]

Sorry Hollie! :lol:

[BethCO]

Thank you all for your wonderful feedback! This helps immensely.