They think my child has Autism
 

I am a mother of two beautiful babies boy. Aydin is four and Ethan two. Growing up, Aydin, never had much to say. He did not start talking until he was around two and a half years of age. That was only because we had a speech pathologist come in and work with him.
Ethan's life started much different then a normal baby's. He was born five weeks early, a whole month. He was due August 30th and he came July 30th, due to complications with myself. (I had pre-eclampsia)
Ethan went through the same phases as Aydin, did not have a reason to worry. He never really talked, he would smile a lot and shake his head no.


Now he is almost two and a half years old and still, after working with a speech pathologist, not talking. Sure he says words here and there. "Baba" "dada" "coco" things like that.

His speech pathologists says that she sees signs of a type of autism called "Asperger's Syndrome". Other then the slowed speech development, he has his own OCDs. For instance, he will spend his play time lining his toys up in a neat little row. I am not talking about just one row, every last one of them is lined neatly to the millimeter from each other. There are other symptoms....TT_TT

My mom believes my youngest brother has it, it makes sense. People with asperger's syndrome are not like other people with autism. It does not retard their mental development. Instead it hinders their ability to just interact with people.

They want me to have Ethan tested, but I am scared..I love my baby no matter what. I don't want him to go through life labeled..and my brother turned out fine. Sure he can be a dick at times but he graduated top of his class at his high school and collage.

Aspergers can seriously hinder a persons social skills. It does NOT mean though that they won't be or attempt to be social. I have a cousin who has it, he's extremely smart (people who have it tend to be actually), he did drama (and was extremely good) and made plenty of friends. He was a bit strange and it was often difficult for him to have conversations without getting frustrated. In this day though I really don't think that's an issue, people are used to dealing with people who are a "little on the strange side". Honestly, I've met weirder people. Just don't shelter him and make sure to encourage him in what he wants to do. From what I've seen, people with Aspergers do extremely well in life, especially if they aren't held back.

My brother is just shy, he does talk to others and has a lot of friends. Sometimes he doesn't get jokes...he thinks we are being serious. It can be funny at times. lol.
He is married too, I know everything will be all right. I guess my biggest fear is telling my husband. He doesn't know yet, that they feel that this is an issue. My husband DOES NOT like doctors. In fact, any time I say something is wrong he blows up on me that I am making things up.

It is a pain, any ideas on how I can bring this up without him thinking that it is bull shit?

I live with my two nephews who are 7 & 8, and they have Autism and Aspergers, along with my sister AND to be believed, myself.

It can be difficult teaching them, but once you find a right method, they could very well soar in what your trying to teach them!

Heres an example of a well to do person with aspergers...

Albert Einstien, if my memory serves me justice, had aspergers.

really?! I didn't know that.

My little brother has it, he's really smart. He knows and can memorize a hell of a lot, he is socially akward to the point he just talks a lot. He really just doesn't know when to stop. But other than that he's just like any other normal kid. I know a few autistic kids as well, who are also very smart.

Thats what my sister said(Shes the one who had my nephews), and she's read a WHOLE lot about autism and aspergers.

I have aspergers autism. I do have trouble talking wih people, but other than that I have not had any other problems.

Well, get him diagnosed. He'll feel a whole better with treatment. As long as he doesn't get to the wrong people in the medical field getting a diagnosis it will do more good than harm. Him getting his disorder treated is better than him not getting it treated. If he doesn't get diagnosed and treatment he will have a more difficult time living a happy life.

Autism is a condition, not a disease. It is not something that can be "Cured." There is no need for a cure.

Well, he can at least find ways to cope with it from a professional, if he gets a diagnosis. Plus, she doesn't even know for sure yet if his autism symptoms are symptomatic of a mental disorder, or if he has something similar to autism, and not autism.

@Drakken

When you where a child, did you find it had to fall asleep?

I can wake Ethan up at 10am (I work nights, so that is what time I get up) and keep him up all day, meaning no naps and he STILL stays up to one in the morning. His therapist says that he has sensory issues...and that is why he stays up...like he has a hard time winding down.

They could be hearing impaired and just bored. My mother used to say that before she found out I couldn't hear well (I was 5), I was talking without vowels and wouldn't respond to my name or anything regardless if someone yelled it out. She had feared that I was mentally retarded, but my cousin did a test on me, and found out that maybe I couldn't hear well. When I got my hearing aids, I could finally talk and respond to other people.

well, just remember that being autistic is not the same thing as being mentally disabled. I'm sure it's never easy for a parent to hear that their child has...anything. But some parents have to worry about their child having a fatal disease, so at least you're lucky that your son has autism and not something that hinders his health. I'm no expert, but I look at autism as just another state of being more than anything else. the right pathways will open for him.

@ Lee

We had both their hearing checked; we though Ethan was hearing impaired because he would ignore us...

but he was just ignoring us. lol

i don't think there is really much to worry about. i'm pretty sure my husband might have aspergers, but it doesn't cause much problems. i know it can be bad, cuz one of his friends has it, and he's about 35 and still living with his mom. but then, as far as i know, he has other health issues which may be the reason he still lives with his mom.

No, not that I can remember. I did used to have a problem with waking up realy early, but that was only for a short period of time.

The label of "autistic" only has as much power as you give it. I'd say get the test and find out as much of the condition as you can. Find out how to cope with it, how to work with it, and how to work around it. You don't ever have to tell your child that there is anything wrong with them, because there's not. It's a condition, and it happens. You don't have to tell anyone that your child is autistic unless you want an IEP (individual education plan) when they enter public school, and even then you only have to tell an IEP coordinator, and possibly the school nurse. There are privacy laws in place that ensure that teachers do not discuss children with IEPs with other teachers, so you should be in good hands, and you certainly have options if your child is being mistreated.

One of my best friends has a certain type of autism, i believe it's the one you are talking about, i'm not 100% sure. Anyway He can go on for days talking to me about his games and their storyplots and what he's done while i moved away for college. But the second i say "oh be right back i'm going to grab something to drink" he will NEVER EVER talk to anyone else that was in the room, unless i'm there. When he actually called me and asked me if i had a girlfriend, because he had one, i was happy for him. To me it seemed like he overcame a small part of his Autism, I just wish i could keep in-touch with him more :D he's been my best friend since the 3rd grade!

Please don't worry. Autism is tough.
I was in love with a man for three years. He had Asperger's. He had so many ladies after him. He's just rather awkward in social situations, and sometimes he doesn't pick up hints.
He is intelligent in certain fields. He can tell you all about bugs and animals. That could lead him to a great path in Zoology.
He's getting more social. He goes to school, holds down a job, and goes to clubs. He's more social than I.
He's always been fine. Sometimes he stumbles with words, but that's very rare.
We broke up three weeks ago, and I believe he already has a new lady. He's the sweetest man alive. He's not dumb.
I'm sure your son, if he has it, will be fine. He may just need a bit more time than the rest of the kids.

Thanks guys, for the advice. It is nice to see that there are other people here that know what it is, and aren't judgmental about the whole thing. I get stressed about it.

If you just test him, it should be fine. He may have a different problem entirely. (though I doubt it) As you said, he is still your son.