DS is 3 1/2 has always been really into numbers, letters, shapes, etc. On the weekend he saw a rainbow at my parents, and went through the colours red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. My mom was find of floored that he knew it all, and did it in perfect order. He knew the alphabet song and could identify letters by sight before two, and is always saying 'red octagon' when he sees a stop sign. He is pretty social, but isn't quite as sweet and outgoing as his twin sister. I know some children on the spectrum can be really into stuff, and obsessive about things like that. For those that have experience, should I be getting him checked out? I don't want to let things slide incase it's an issue, and could be dealt with now. I hope this doesn't sound like a bragplaint. I think it's my nurse brain making me overthink this since early intervention is something that was always stressed when I did well child checks.
Post by underwaterrhymes on Aug 2, 2015 7:31:35 GMT -5
I dont think that what you're explaining is a sign of autism.
Our son is two and a half and knows all the colors, shapes, and alphabet song. He can identify most letters by sight and count to 15 reliably and 20 occasionally.
I don't think this is particularly out of the ordinary and have no worries he's on the spectrum.
If you're worried, though, have you expressed concern to your pedi?
I dont think that what you're explaining is a sign of autism.
Our son is two and a half and knows all the colors, shapes, and alphabet song. He can identify most letters by sight and count to 15 reliably and 20 occasionally.
I don't think this is particularly out of the ordinary and have no worries he's on the spectrum.
If you're worried, though, have you expressed concern to your pedi?
I haven't talked to his doc since he's been well and hasn't had to go in. I know his doctor really well and I know he's say it's fine, and just joke that he's going to be a rocket scientist or something. Obviously since I have no older kids, and really not many friends with kids that age (my friends kids are a lot younger), I figured I'd ask here. I feel so clueless on what is normal or not past the age of 2 in development since that's when the screening tool I used working stops. I'm better with the sick/not sick health stuff, but not this.
Ummm no I think that's normal. My Dd is barely 2.5 and can do all those things. I think grandparents forget what age kids are capable of..
Good! My parents drive me insane when it comes to their 'concerns' about the kids. If I went to the doctor every time they had an issue, we would live there. I feel so clueless about parenting somedays and hate how my parents and inlaws think they know everything about kids. On the bright side, at least MIL's concerns are all old wives tales, like arms up for choking.
My DD has ASD. Being social isn't a rule out for ASD as some on the spectrum can be social just oddly so. That said what you're describing isn't a red flag unless there are other concerns (odd speech/sensory difficulties/hard time pedaling a trike or bike/not alternating feet on stairs/extreme tantrums/etc) Kids on The spectrum can have hyperlexia where they are overly obsessed with letters and words but don't necessarily connect the word to its meaning. This sounds more along the lines of a precocious reader, which some kids just are.
Post by cabbagecabbage on Aug 2, 2015 7:56:15 GMT -5
My daughter can do those things and loves the "hard" shapes. I don't think you're describing worrisome things. However, if you feel something is up, I'd have him checked our for your piece of mind.
Ummm no I think that's normal. My Dd is barely 2.5 and can do all those things. I think grandparents forget what age kids are capable of..
Good! My parents drive me insane when it comes to their 'concerns' about the kids. If I went to the doctor every time they had an issue, we would live there. I feel so clueless about parenting somedays and hate how my parents and inlaws think they know everything about kids. On the bright side, at least MIL's concerns are all old wives tales, like arms up for choking.
Have you noticed anything other than just your kid being smart?
Just very stubborn, has to have things his way. More so just the obsession of the usual pre school learning stuff. I guess I compare him to his twin sister, and she isn't like that, so I have a harder time knowing what is normal or not at times.
Have you noticed anything other than just your kid being smart?
Just very stubborn, has to have things his way. More so just the obsession of the usual pre school learning stuff. I guess I compare him to his twin sister, and she isn't like that, so I have a harder time knowing what is normal or not at times.
Probably they're both typical kids. Just different.
My son has ASD, so I don't know what a "typical" kid is like. That being said, it all sounds normal to me. And there are so many pre-screens that your pedi does up until this point, that I think any real concerns would be identified and noted by now. But, if you have concerns, call them and ask. That's what they're there for.
But I guarantee-fucking-tee he had tantrums when he was 2.
Mine is also pretty convinced that her kids are very special. I agree though, he does tend to me 'special', just the short bus type at times.
ETA - I had to expand on this, because it's pissing me off. You're a NURSE, have concerns that one of your children has special needs, and feel like it's okay to make 'special' and 'short bus' jokes? Who the hell do you think you are? Not okay. Not ever okay.
Have you noticed anything other than just your kid being smart?
Just very stubborn, has to have things his way. More so just the obsession of the usual pre school learning stuff. I guess I compare him to his twin sister, and she isn't like that, so I have a harder time knowing what is normal or not at times.
This would be mildly concerning as lack of flexibility is part of ASD.
Also how much independent socialization does he do without his sister being involved? It would not be unusual for a girl (particularly a twin) to scaffold social interactions for a sibling on the spectrum making them appear more socially adept then they really are. I see it a good but at support group when the kids are playing while we meet in families with an NT sib close in age to the affected child.
I wouldn't depend on a Ped to catch a more nuanced ASD presentation thy are fairly crappy at catching anything less then stereotypical ASD. Trust your gut and don't hesitate to push for a Dev. ped appointment or making one to rule out anything.
As someone who does have a child on the spectrum who had hyperlexia red flags, I don't think 3.5 is out of the realm of normal, although it's still a bit precocious. The "before two" interest in letters would concern me somewhat.
My DD1 could read her alphabet at 20 months out of alphabet books. Before she could pronounce "R", she would shout out "Ock! Ock!" reading the "RR" off of railroad road signs when we turned her seat forward-facing at 23 months. She would read the letters that spell "thank you" off the shopping cart handle while she was sitting in the seat, even though from her perspective they were upside down and backwards. That level of interest in letters, at that very young age, and the fact that she was more interested in letters than functional communication at that age, was definitely a red flag. She still reads at a level significantly above grade level, although her comprehension is not in line with her decoding abilities.
If his communication is otherwise at an age-appropriate level and there aren't any other red flags (in terms of eye contact, joint attention, ability to join a group/interest in interacting with other kids, for example), I wouldn't be too worried -- although of course having a professional's opinion is never a bad thing, even for your own peace of mind. Some kids are more reserved than others, and that's fine. If the hyperlexic tendency is primarily what you're seeing and your kid is otherwise on-point in terms of milestones and development, I wouldn't jump straight to ASD, but I would file it away and keep an eye out for other concerns.
And as an FYI, at 3.5, he's too old for early intervention and would be handled/evaluated through your local school district.
But I guarantee-fucking-tee he had tantrums when he was 2.
Mine is also pretty convinced that her kids are very special. I agree though, he does tend to me 'special', just the short bus type at times.
It's difficult to take you seriously after this ridiculous comment. You are soliciting advice from people with autistic and special needs children and this is what you say?
But I guarantee-fucking-tee he had tantrums when he was 2.
Mine is also pretty convinced that her kids are very special. I agree though, he does tend to me 'special', just the short bus type at times.
That's an incredibly rude statement. Really insensitive. I had planned in responding but this statement makes it clear you're not actually interested in answers, just in dramatically proving your son has ASD despite not having many red flags.
Mine is also pretty convinced that her kids are very special. I agree though, he does tend to me 'special', just the short bus type at times.
It's difficult to take you seriously after this ridiculous comment. You are soliciting advice from people with autistic and special needs children and this is what you say?
You missed her thread from the other day, didn't you? She's batting .000 here lately.
Mine is also pretty convinced that her kids are very special. I agree though, he does tend to me 'special', just the short bus type at times.
It's difficult to take you seriously after this ridiculous comment. You are soliciting advice from people with autistic and special needs children and this is what you say?
Between her CEP posts and this one, I think this week has shown she's insensitive at best and doesn't give a damn about people's feelings.
I was skimming through a thread the other day where there was a link to some stupidness she was involved in but I think I clicked over and the other thread was like 9 pages long. I couldn't invest. LOL
This is just ridiculous though. I can't imagine being quite this ignorant...
DS is 3 1/2 has always been really into numbers, letters, shapes, etc. On the weekend he saw a rainbow at my parents, and went through the colours red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. My mom was find of floored that he knew it all, and did it in perfect order. He knew the alphabet song and could identify letters by sight before two, and is always saying 'red octagon' when he sees a stop sign. He is pretty social, but isn't quite as sweet and outgoing as his twin sister. I know some children on the spectrum can be really into stuff, and obsessive about things like that. For those that have experience, should I be getting him checked out? I don't want to let things slide incase it's an issue, and could be dealt with now. I hope this doesn't sound like a bragplaint. I think it's my nurse brain making me overthink this since early intervention is something that was always stressed when I did well child checks.
Ugh. You pretty much described DS, who has an Aspergers dx, as a young 3. He had his first word- "hi"- at 10 weeks. DH and I never noticed but his dev pedi did back when we submitted videos for a research study on babies on spectrum and rolling over. He had sentences by around 16 months.
DS was really into numbers, letters, shapes, etc. Pi and the infinity symbol were favorites. When my mom brought home her new Ford Escort, 3 year old DS corrected his older cousin who declared it green by saying "no, it's teal". WTF? A few months later we were walking in town and DS pointed to a "funny monkey wearing a fez" fabric on a chair in a window.
That said, I would expect any bright kid who's been to preschool or enriched by mom or even Sesame Street to know most of this material. Your son probably has been screened by MCHAT at around 18 and 24 months as part of a routine well check. While it's possible to not get flagged, DS wasn't, it's pretty rare. When we became concerned and asked for a referral our pedi bet he didn't have Aspergers and told me the only thing wrong with DS was that he was the much loved only child of older parents. He later apologized.
At 3 1/2, I'd expect you'd be seeing other issues if he was on spectrum.
Difficulty with transitions. Poor imaginary play- perhaps using very repetitive scripted scenarios.
A preference for adult interaction over playing with peers.
Not playing appropriately with a range of toys.
Sensory differences- limited diet, refusal to wear certain clothing, difficulty with noises or bright sun, etc.
You might see stimming behavior like flapping or playing visual games.
Flat affect with maybe monotone speech and/or facial expression. DS had RBF before it was a thing.
A special interest which could change over time. DS loved trains- by your son's age he'd memorized the road numbers and whyte notations of dozens of steam engines. Today I bet he could name every operating steam engine in the country, tell you who built it, to whom it was initially delivered and where it is now. LOL, he's at his part time gig at the railroad this today.
He's on spectrum, but he's also an Eagle Scout, college senior and a pretty awesome human.
You'd likely have more Behavior concerns if this was an issue. And don't get too hung up on early intervention. The most powerful therapies we did for DS didn't start until he was closer to 7 (CBT)and 8 (Social Thinking).