Thank you to many of you who have expressed their support when I was so worried about Aidan. I think it's time to give you all an update.
About a month ago, I brought Aidan to see a child psychologist for a consultation to see if intervention was necessary. We did a checklist meant to detect autism in children. It's called an M-chat. The result was thankfully a negative. He saw no red flags that could determine autism although somethings were borderline negative, such as the lack of communication, eye contact and affection. However he said that he is very obviously behind in the terms of speech development and because I said Aidan forgets words he had learnt and used previously, he's worried that there might be some kind of cognitive problems. So he recommended going for speech therapy and structured lessons, which we have been attending for a month. I am happy that the therapist did not think that Aidan needs further seesions for structured learning and that he's fine in cognitive development. So he will only be going for speech therapy for now. I would have stopped that too because I think it's kinda kiasu on my part. Afterall, he's only 2 and many people reported that it's normal to have speech delays. But I have already paid for 10 sessions ($135 per hour!) and I do think that it's helping alot. Besides, he enjoys his sessions very much.
I am also very happy to report that Aidan has gotten alot more affectionate these days. He hugs and kisses all the time. He does that not only to me but to all his teachers as well. He can call MaMa and PaPa perfectly now and it's music to my ears. Just last week, he held hands with his friends and walked together. He's blabbering alot which I hope is the beginning of mature speech. Now in his music class, he is also enjoying himself alot. He can now stay in class from beginning to the end without fussing. During story-telling time, he used to demand to go out of the room but now, he will go sit right in front of the teacher and laugh at the teacher when she makes animated sounds. The first time he did that, I almost cried for joy. Today, the teachers commented that Aidan is a very different boy from before. What an amazing transformation! All in all, I am delighted at the progress he has made. I look forward to seeing him grow and develop :)
Showing posts with label Autism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Autism. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Thank You playmates
Just want to say thank you to Aidan's playmates. I am really grateful that Aidan has all of you to play with on a regular basis. For any child, especially so if Aidan is on the autistic spectrum, I think there is nothing more important than to have friends or siblings to play with. So I'm glad that Aidan gets to socialise and make friends at this age. So Thank YOU!
Monday, October 12, 2009
I'm an idiot. Literally.
He's alive, he's laughing, he's happy, he's healthy otherwise. Isn't that all that matters? =)
Friday, October 9, 2009
Worried sick. Literally.
Something's been weighing heavily on my mind for weeks now and especially the last couple of weeks, I have been worrying so much that I got sick and my digestive system went wacko.
Actually, I have had a nagging feeling about it for a few months based on my observation and a mother's instinct. As I read and found out more on the subject, talked to more people who have the experience, the more I think I could be right about my suspicions. I suspect, with good reason, that Aidan is on the Autistic spectrum.
The austistic spectrum is a WIDE one. Thankfully, if he is, he's definitely on the mild side of the spectrum. Let me state the reasons why I feel that he has mild autism, all of which are signs usually present in autistic children.
1. Aidan has few hand, finger movements/gestures such as pointing or waving his arms wildly. He started pointing more only recently, which is kinda late and when he waves, it seems like alot of effort on his part. In the past, when he was given shakers in gym/music class, he could never shake them much.
2. Even when really young, Aidan never really liked to be carried. He's always struggling to break free. He didn't even like cuddling in bed which is something really unusual for kids. Now, when asked for hugs, he will usually not come to you. But he's more into body contact now as he'll snuggle up to me in bed and likes to flop down right on top of me and just lay there. When watching tv on the sofa, he'll lay his head on my arm which feels really nice. One thing he had done only twice as far as I could remember, was resting his head on my shoulders when I carried him. It felt really good to me during those two times. It might seem insignificant and trivial to you but I'd give alot for my child to rest his head on my shoulders again. Sigh....
3. When he was younger, he could be left alone for long periods of time. He was also really non-fussy. I remembered a friend who has a DD saying that I must have alot of good karma to have such a good kid. I'm wondering so if that was a sign of autism, does it mean that I have bad karma then?
4. He has a high pain threshold.
5. He has little or no stranger anxiety.
6. He does not have strong eye contact.
7. Does not like showing affection. When you want to kiss him, he will turn his head away. If you want to hug him, he'll run away. He behaves like a teen, feeling embarrassed when his mommy tries to kiss him in school but it's really unusual for a young toddler to behave this way.
8. He is really extreme when he dislike something. Will scream and want to be removed immediately. For e.g. when sitting down in a circle for songs or story telling, other kids will enjoy this activity. Even when they don't they just appear bored and walk around the room. Aidan will however, scream, cry and throw a tantrum wanting to get away from it.
9. Late speech development. He doesn't even call me or his daddy. He has about 6 words in his vocab. The most telling sign is that he will forget words learnt before.
10. When asked questions like where is the cow, dog, cat, pig in picture books, he will not point to them. I like to think he knows them but it's a problem when he doesnt want to show you. Or maybe he really doesn't know and that would mean something is wrong with his IQ :(
11. He has never pointed to his nose! Unlike other kids, when you ask him something like where're your ears, he'll not show you.
12. Instead of pointing or telling me what he wants, he'll tug at my hands, wanting me to go with him to what he wants.
If you're familiar with autistic children, you'll recognise that these are symptoms present. I have made an appointment, as recommended by his paediatrician to see the developmental paed at KKH but the earliest appointment I could get is in Jan. The long wait is killing me! I hope that if there's a need for early intervention, I'd like to do so asap. I think I need help too. I'm worried sick. Literally.
Actually, I have had a nagging feeling about it for a few months based on my observation and a mother's instinct. As I read and found out more on the subject, talked to more people who have the experience, the more I think I could be right about my suspicions. I suspect, with good reason, that Aidan is on the Autistic spectrum.
The austistic spectrum is a WIDE one. Thankfully, if he is, he's definitely on the mild side of the spectrum. Let me state the reasons why I feel that he has mild autism, all of which are signs usually present in autistic children.
1. Aidan has few hand, finger movements/gestures such as pointing or waving his arms wildly. He started pointing more only recently, which is kinda late and when he waves, it seems like alot of effort on his part. In the past, when he was given shakers in gym/music class, he could never shake them much.
2. Even when really young, Aidan never really liked to be carried. He's always struggling to break free. He didn't even like cuddling in bed which is something really unusual for kids. Now, when asked for hugs, he will usually not come to you. But he's more into body contact now as he'll snuggle up to me in bed and likes to flop down right on top of me and just lay there. When watching tv on the sofa, he'll lay his head on my arm which feels really nice. One thing he had done only twice as far as I could remember, was resting his head on my shoulders when I carried him. It felt really good to me during those two times. It might seem insignificant and trivial to you but I'd give alot for my child to rest his head on my shoulders again. Sigh....
3. When he was younger, he could be left alone for long periods of time. He was also really non-fussy. I remembered a friend who has a DD saying that I must have alot of good karma to have such a good kid. I'm wondering so if that was a sign of autism, does it mean that I have bad karma then?
4. He has a high pain threshold.
5. He has little or no stranger anxiety.
6. He does not have strong eye contact.
7. Does not like showing affection. When you want to kiss him, he will turn his head away. If you want to hug him, he'll run away. He behaves like a teen, feeling embarrassed when his mommy tries to kiss him in school but it's really unusual for a young toddler to behave this way.
8. He is really extreme when he dislike something. Will scream and want to be removed immediately. For e.g. when sitting down in a circle for songs or story telling, other kids will enjoy this activity. Even when they don't they just appear bored and walk around the room. Aidan will however, scream, cry and throw a tantrum wanting to get away from it.
9. Late speech development. He doesn't even call me or his daddy. He has about 6 words in his vocab. The most telling sign is that he will forget words learnt before.
10. When asked questions like where is the cow, dog, cat, pig in picture books, he will not point to them. I like to think he knows them but it's a problem when he doesnt want to show you. Or maybe he really doesn't know and that would mean something is wrong with his IQ :(
11. He has never pointed to his nose! Unlike other kids, when you ask him something like where're your ears, he'll not show you.
12. Instead of pointing or telling me what he wants, he'll tug at my hands, wanting me to go with him to what he wants.
If you're familiar with autistic children, you'll recognise that these are symptoms present. I have made an appointment, as recommended by his paediatrician to see the developmental paed at KKH but the earliest appointment I could get is in Jan. The long wait is killing me! I hope that if there's a need for early intervention, I'd like to do so asap. I think I need help too. I'm worried sick. Literally.
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