Hi, my name is Katherine. My sister actually is the one I'm writing about. I began to think and wonder about my 3 &1/2 year old nephew (well have been wondering but mainly ) after my talk with my mother yesterday. Somehow just got to talking about child development and him, then autism. My sister's son is not yet potty trained, but then again, I have heard that it can take some children quite a while to potty train. Some up to as late as 4 years old. We got to talking about it with my mom, (and my sister now has a 5 month old baby girl) I said "but I don't really think she's been pushing the whole potty thing with him, specially now that the baby's here, she's too busy." My mom says that she is doing everything now, that she can. For a while, she was a little slack with it, but in the past several months she's been tyring harder with it. I was reading some signs that come with autism, and not sure what to think, cause he has alot of them. My sister for the longest time was out of work, (she's a single parent- now she's working) some of the signs he has regarding other children could be due to the fact he was used to just being with mommy and only mommy, right? Also, he had TONS of ear infections when he was little and had to have tubes put in both ears. I had worked with a couple of people that say their grandchildren were a little slower to develop in speech because of having had the tubes in their ears.
My nephew goes to early childhood development, and they have told my sister that he's actually at the age level of a 19 month old. He is 3&1/2 years old. He can say multiple words, but in short sentences, and also mixes them with babble alot. Of course, could just be the terrible 2 and 3 age! but says he is SOOOOOO naughty in school and is violent alot with the other children for no apparent reason.
Sorry if I am rambling here, just that my mother was thinking that from what she's read, he might have some of the signs of autism. When I asked her if the school would have picked that up in some of the tests they already did with him, she said not necessarily. The school system does not always detect that, you would have to yourself. I KNOW my sister and am sure she would trust the school system to catch this for her, not making her a bad parent, but if WE point it out, she's gonna think we're looking for something bad in her son. How could I or my mother talk with her if he could possibly have it? And could he just have ADHD (can't remember the initials for it, but is on the tip of my tongue)
Sorry so long of an article, ;) just curious about this, cause I love my little guy. ;) ↓
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| Name: irish Amy | Date: Nov 6th, 2007 9:10 PM |
| Angel, good for you for wanting to broach this subject, it will be very difficult if your sister does not suspect anything and you will have to be extremely tender, the fact that he had bad ears when he was younger COULD explain his speech, but her being told that he's at the age level of 19 mths is very worrying, maybe you should start something with that and see what kind of reaction you get, you may be surprised she might just be waiting to see if anyone does say something, I know I had suspicions about my son and relieved when my mum said something and she was terrified of saying anything to me! just be very careful how you do broach it but you have a right to be worried and by not saying anything you could delay the help he may need, I wish you the very best of luck and your nephew is lucky to have a concerned and loving aunt x. ↑ |
| Name: ltl | Date: Nov 7th, 2007 11:35 PM |
| Hi Katherine. I'm curious to know what the school diagnosis is. Did they tell your sister? Did they suggest any treatment/therapy now that they have determined that he is performing at a 19 months old level. What did your nephew pediatrician think?? Have they all suggested something but your sister is not agreeing or possibly in denial?... Honestly, it will be hard for anything to get done if your sister, his mother, does not recognized that there may be a problem. Regardless what the diagnosis your nephew may have now, he needs interventions being a year and a half delayed developmentally. Forget potty training him now, you often wouln't expect a19 months old boy to be potty trained. Multiple ear infections may have a significant impact on speech, so first and foremost, I really think he needs speech therapy regardless if it's due to past ear infections, autism, or other medically issues. Secondly, to have autism spectrum disorder, he would have also social issues (playing with other kids), and some odd repetive behaviors. Seriously it is not up to you to figure out what he has, it is up to those who cares about him to realized that there may be some kind of problem that is affecting his developmental growth, wheather it's psychological, neurological, or physical, he needs to be tested in order to get the appropriate treatments for him. My opinion, sorry that it's so long, that if you drop a hint here or there often enough, although with good intentions, your sister will become defensive. If you going to approach the topic, find a good time when you think she will listen, approach it logically, systematically (have all the documents/brochures) ready to point out, and loving express your concern. Give her some time to be defensive, upset, or sad, then follow up on that later. What I'm trying to say is If you going to say it, say it all at once, but don't mention here and there, because after awhile, people just don't want to hear it. I truely wish you the best of luck, and I agree with Irish Amy, he is lucky to have you for an aunt!! :-) ↑ |
| Name: angelheart29 | Date: Nov 8th, 2007 2:17 PM |
Hello again, angelheart here ;)
I thought read what both of you wrote and am grateful for your advice. My sister and Igot to talking about him and school and how that is going, and I can't remember exactly how now, but I was able to bring up the subject of autism in a gentle way, and asked her if she was curious about him possibly being tested for it seeing the many obstacles he seems to be having with school and other areas too. She also knows a lady with an autistic child, and she brought that up first, that she was actually talking to this lady and asking questions for herself to see if her son might have it.
I have to say, and was glad although I know it is not my place being I am just his aunty, I was glad that the conversation with my sister went so well, she recieved everything so great and did not seem offended in the least. She said she had actually wondered herself, if maybe her son could possibly be autistic and that is why she was talking to this other woman, and that she would love to have her son tested to see if it could be that or something else. She is a single parent, and is on what do you call it.... medicade? medicare? the insurance alot of women in Wisconsin, at least to my knowledge, are eligible for when being a single parent. She has that and said she would want him to be tested, but not sure if her insurance would cover such a thing. So far, whenever we talk about his health or whatever the case may be, it seems she gets really good coverage, so it just might, but who knows.
Also, would anyone here know where a center might be to go for testing. We live in the Racine area of Wisconsin. We would be glad to go where needed, but of course would be good to know there is a local place for that too.
Thank you again for your help. I hope I don't come across as a family member that is trying to "overstep" her bounds too much in wondering about such things. My sister is a very good mother, and I do trust her parenting and her love for her children. But you know, when you are a close knit family such as ours (we grew up the 3 of us together- my mom, my sister, and I) we can't help but be real close, maybe more so than some families. (with no disrespect to anyone, I think you know what I'm trying to say?) ;)
Again, thank you. I will keep you posted! ↑ |
| Name: BlakesMom | Date: Nov 13th, 2007 2:25 AM |
| My 2.5 yr old son has been diagnosed with Autism in the severe range....he was diagnosed at the age of 19 months. What does your nephews pediatrican say.....any concerns about development? Also, does initiate socialization like other 3.5 yr. olds....you know, wanting attention, pointing to objects, make eye contact? Does he pretend play with toys or just fixate on certain objects......or line up toys? Does he exhibit odd reactions to sensory input..loud noises, motion, lights, etc? These are some of the characteristics that point to autism. ↑ |
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