people are worrying me

[rachelandtyke]

Last night my best friend was talking to a friend of hers and telling her about Allie and what we've been through and our upcoming speech eval, etc. Her friend starting asking more questions and getting concerned and then asked if ASD has been looked into or considered. My friend is worried about it now, too. At least the SLP didn't say anything about it . . .

[jillgibson]

I'll be praying for Allie. I work with a lot of special needs children and parents are always asking me my opinion on them. It is very easy to say, "Have you considered it could be...." I think it is great to rule out all of the things it isn't. We've had to do that with Avery a few times...like last week's Cystic Fibrosis test. It is terribly scary when something like that is put on the table, but very relieving to know for sure that it isn't the case.

[Corinne]

Hi Rachel, I am so sorry you are going through all of this with Allie. I do not know what ASD is, but I do know that whenever there is something wrong with a child, everyone becomes a doctor and they "know" how to diagnosis and fix it.

Please try not to listen to other too much. It sounds like your are very on top of things from your list of doctors and therapists. Keep doing what you are doing and trust the professionals.

Corinne

[nicoledoug]

Corrine is absolutely right...I wonder why ppl feel the need to give their "medical" advice or even worse say "ohh, there isn't anything wrong with _ " makes me so angry!

[wuvmyangel93]

If your child has issues with speech, sensitivity to touch, lack of pretend play when it is age appropriate, a dislike of being held, snuggled or looked at, severe temper tantrums or behavioral outbursts than yes she should have an evaluation to rule out asd.

If she has sensory issues and speech only than have her evaluated by an OT for sensory integration dysfunction or sensory issues. These can be helped with a competent OT trained in sensory therapy.

Many children talk late and only have speech issues.

So much is out there on asd's now that everyone thinks they are an expert and will tell you if your child doesn't talk they may have an asd.

There are 9 specific symptoms all asd children exhibit at certain times in their life and behavior issues is a big one, not wanting to be held, looked at or doesn't hold your gaze is another big one.

Please remember over 75% of children diagnosed with autism and asperger's syndrome have NORMAL speech aquisition, this does not mean they speak perfect. They normally have issues with reciproactive speech (the give/take of language.)

Children with regressive autism often are the ones with delays in language.

It is also possible to be diagnosed with autism and have normal IQ.

It is a scary diagnosis, but it is not the end of the world or your dreams for your child.

A child with speech issues and sensory issues may also have learning disabilities and/or auditory processing.

Please don't fret over what others think, get Allie evaluated if you want to. Every state has early intervention services provided to you at NO cost.

[rachelandtyke]

Thanks guys. We are having an EI evaluation in a month and it will be multi-disciplinary, so they if there is something we've been missing, I expect them to find it. I have a high regard for our SLPs opinion on things as well. She is in a center that has SLPs, PTs, and OTs, so she works closely with them, can ask questions easily for me, and knows a lot about things we might need to see one of them for. (did that all make sense?) Allie is very social and loves interaction, even with strangers, so that kind of reassures me since the little girl that we know that is ASD is not like that at all.

You guys are right, I need to not listen to anyone else! No need to worry until I know I have a reason to worry. That's what I said when I was pg, and guess it applies now, too!

Thanks for being there for me!
Rachel

[jillgibson]

I think you have a great state of mind to not worry until there is a reason. I think it is also great that you are going ahead with a multi-discipilnary evaluation.

[wuvmyangel93]

many prayers as you go through the full evaluation. I keep looking at your daughter's pictures and reading the posts about her and I don't see asd at all.

I know every child with asd is different, but I know many and we knew at only hours old mine had Autism, but very high-functioning she cannot have aspergers syndrome due to the reciprocal language issues.