Just recently my almost 5 year old was diagnosed with mild autism. i knew somting was wrong was he was 18 months old, but was in deniel and thought it was just a phase and would get better ( me being first time mum and not being around kids for a very long time, wasnt sure what was typical and atypical development). im still not sure if he really has autism, he has very been very social and has a good sense of humor. His struggles with writing ( behind in fine motor skills) and also his attention span is very low, which has impacted his academics. We enrolled him in tutoring class, but he now hates even trying or making any attempt. I’m so at loss, if he will ever grt a job or live independently in future..i know im a bit overthinking , but just dont have a first hand experience growing up or met any kids on the spectrum. Update - wondering any teaching strategies worked for you? Did you guys hire any tutors specialized in learning disability to help kids?
You're worried if your child with mild spectrum issues will ever get a job? Have you been to the bay area?
Could you please explain what you mean by this
The bay area has a reputation for being autistic, especially when it comes to single woman trying to find a man. Nerdy, awkward, too talkative or doesn't talk enough, hyper focused on work, doesnt know how to joke, socially inept. However, this usually turns out to be a good thing for work. Who else would be so worried about things like leet coding everyday?
First thing is to have him evaluated. Get multiple opinions if needed. Trust your instincts. Don't worry about labels - he was your child before any diagnosis. He will still be the same child. You owe it to him to give him all the support he needs.Remember, ASD is a spectrum, so there's a lot of variations in skills and challenges. Early intervention and therapy is your best bet to give him a normal life. Call up Autism Speaks helpline or visit Understood.org for more resources. Build a support network of your friends and family as it's a tough road ahead. Good luck.
Early intervention is key. Many issues with speech & language and fine motor skills can be completely resolved if caught and treated early. Since your kid is approaching 5, get these professional services ASAP. Request an IEP with your school (if not already in progress) and demand Speech & Language and Occupational Therapy. Don’t focus so much on a diagnosis (though an Autism diagnosis really helps get you services), but focus on getting treatment/therapy for the important deficits.
Get as much professional help as you can as soon as you can.
Don't ever let the American school system let you feel like your child is lesser than or let them bully you around if your kid doesn't fit their mold. I have a 7 year old boy who was barely not on the spectrum, and multiple schools in a "good" school district tried to force him out because he was a handful. Long story short he was bored and wouldn't put up with anything from kids or adults, and he didn't fit in. They would wind him up and then when he had meltdowns would restrain and seclude him. My wife fought hard and ended up getting an IEP, submitting a civil rights complaint (for being told kindergartners didn't qualify for section 504 protections, principal was gone the next school year), and so on. Kids will grow at their own pace, start reading books like The Explosive Child, No Drama Discipline, etc. Even if your kid doesn't have behavior issues it gives great insight into the developing human brain, and can be applied to your own person and how you interact with people at work. Let me know if you have questions, it can be a very difficult time in life...
Yeah, that is something I see here American versus south Asian cultures . I feel the schools here are less inclusive if the child does not fit a certain mold. He is a smart happy kid, and I just don’t want him to feel that there is something wrong with him and he gives up trying . So I was not very thrilled with the labels (I know it can get us services ) . It is just about how he will be treated by his peers or others when he has a label.
Did you put your child in daycares and preschools early on? Doing so makes them socialize more and they realize that they are not the center of the universe. Puttting them in school directly at 4 or 5 is going to be problematic.
With both us working full time, it has been really hard to accommodate therapies in our schedule. More over they have a huge wait list for all these services. He has caught up in speech an language but still behind his peers. but now I notice that he does not feel confident and tends to be quite in school.
Get your child into things that will challenge him. Stop trying to fix what he's not good at all of the time and lift him where he excels. Figure out what he likes and let him go to town or get a personal instructor for it. I'm talking about things that people may only start learning later in life, like programming, an instrument or anything else that could turn into something professional if you started doing it when you were young. Leverage the gift instead of molding him down into a half-normal person. Also, kids don't realize how quickly they can get good at something. They could be experts in something without even realizing it because they have no expectations vs what other adults could or should be doing.
I feel for you OP. I hope you find the right answers. Were you putting a 4 year old in tutoring classes? Like Kumon? Early focus on academic achievement is detrimental to long-term outcomes: www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201505/early-academic-training-produces-long-term-harm%3famp
Just confused and lost , trying to help and do the best I can. It’s really hard to understand what his struggles are. I tried reading and educating myself , still it didn’t really make any sense to me.
It can be daunting. In the process, you will grow up yourself. No pun intended. Have a teenager in the spectrum in public school, mainstreamed with IEP Be proactive parent(s). No provider can substitute you!
Did you give him vaccines when he was younger? They are known to cause these types of issues. So sad.
I don't know why people think ot6s vaccines. It could be a myriad of other things. Shit they put on crops, diesel fumes, lead paint, you name it.
Have you gotten multiple opinions yet? OP, sorry about this. Hopefully he isn’t, just being a kid. Good luck!
I got mixed opinions , development pediatrician thinks it could be language disorder which can affect his education. Child psychologist who specializes in autism thinks he is on spectrum