AUTISM......

[Racheal1980]

My son got a minor accident while he was 3 years old he was a normal child and talking well after the fateful day the cut was deep near his left eye it was stitched and it healed but ever since that incident all changed he developed symptoms of of autism his speech is difficult it is only baby talk, he soils in his pants yet he is now 5 years old am confused and i don't know what to do any advise is welcome. Thanks.

[emmasue]

My son and daughter were both diagnosed with autism in junior school (they are now 12 and 9 respectively). My son has classic Aspergers. He has always had good language. We used to call him Yoda because of the big words he used made him sound wise for his tiny frame! Between the age of 18 months and 24 months, he changed, though not in language. When he was younger, he used to love dogs and would toddle up to pet any dog he could (he was walking at 9 months). Then one day, at the sight of a dog, he started screaming. From that day on, it was the same any time we saw a dog. He now doesn't scream, but he is instinctively terrified of dogs and backs into a corner. He used to love climbing the loft ladder and climbing frames at the play ground. Then one day he started up the ladder, got half way up and came back down. It took years before he tried it again. He also started waking in the night and screaming for 15-20 minutes with no way of consoling him (fortunately he outgrew that one about 6!). Looking back, it all makes sense, but at the time I didn't know how to explain what was going on. No one seemed to recognise that there was a pattern except me.

Something similar happened to my daughter. She didn't have the language though. She hit her "terrible twos" at around the age of three and a half. She was dry, even at night from around her third birthday, but she soiled herself repeatedly (turned out to be a blockage in her gut). She started demanding routine and we did something differently, she would scream and refuse to do things any other way. She became over clingy with me, especially at bedtimes. To be fair, she can still be difficult and we think she may have PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance). Again, I knew there was something wrong, but no one believed me. Thank goodness they have both been assessed and diagnosed. I just wish they had done it sooner.

If I were you, I would try to get your son in to see a paediatrician. Good luck and I hope you get support soon! x