Does It Sounds like Autism?

Have him evaluated - school districts generally do this for free. My son is outgoing, etc., but is on the spectrum. Social skills/pragmatic language (conversation). He's doing really well. He was able to go to preschool with the school district where they helped him a lot. He is now in kindergarten and doing pretty well. The school is supportive with OT, speech, and the teacher works with him a bit. He's a bit "quirky", but keeping up - yay!

He sounds like he's 4, quite frankly.

He got better with OT - not every child with autism does.

He needs boundaries and swift, consistent consequences with the hitting and kicking. His home life needs to be calm and consistent and enough attention when he's NOT acting silly.

Dawn

No, it does not sound like autism. I have four kids, all ADHD, one AS as well. I am not a doctor but it sounds more ADHD than autism.

My son is very outgoing, but so are the rest. The difference is he has no sense of what is or is not socially appropriate to say or how long to say it.

Of course it could also be a discipline issue.

My grandson is on the autism spectrum and I've done a lot of reading as well as going with him to evaluations and therapy. Nothing that you said in this post sounds like spectrum issues to me. Aggression can be caused by so many things including lack of teaching about feelings and how to handle them in non-aggressive ways as well as a difficult invironment. Picky eaters abound without an autism diagnosis among normal children.

What did his OT therapist suggest? Because he's improved with OT in a short time, I suggest he may be having or have had sensory issues that can also be unrelated to autism.

I suggest you get an evaluation directly from a professional person/persons. The school district is mandated by Federal law to provide such evaluation free and then, if needed provide treatment. Call the school district office and ask for the phone number for the office that handles such things. In Oregon the office is called (county) Intermediate Education Service District.

With my grandson we also eventually learned about seeing a developmental pediatrician. We wish we'd known about that route in the beginning. This service is covered by my grandson's health insurance. The pediatrician acts as a coordinator and therapist. She made referrals for OT evaluation and treatment as well as speech therapy. My grandson gets services from both the school district and via is health insurance.

My grandson, now 9, was eventually and recently diagnosed with Aspergers. The system was hesitant to give a definite diagnosis until he'd been in treatment for a couple or more years. He, too, is outgoing. The difference is that he's unable to pick up on social clues and is awkward. This does result in anger much of the time. This wasn't so apparent until he was older and still doing the same inappropriate things as he'd done when he was younger.

A 4 yo is expected to be socially immature. What counts is if he's learning with experiences.

Later: Did you choose to remove him from the schools or did they ask you to remove him? If they didn't ask you to remove him I suggest that you were premature in removing him. The school staff will continue to work with him, helping him to learn how to get along with other children. He gets along well at home. Now it's time for him to learn how to get along in preschool. Many children are aggressive. Staff is trained to help them learn how to manage their feelings and get along with other children. It's a process that you may have stopped too soon.

Since your pediatrician suggested, in an earlier post, that your son is not "all that bad" I wonder if you're too sensitive, wanting your son to get along automatically without going thru the learning process. Are you expecting a certain behavior that your son may not have learned yet? Have you given him and the school the time for teaching him?

Perhaps he's not yet ready for preschool, in which case keeping him at home is the way to go. However, at the same time, you don't need to feel that he's handicapped in some way. Kids all mature at different times.

I'd stop looking for something to be wrong and enjoy him as he is. Perhaps get a professional evaluation so that you'll feel more comfortable but stop googling possible behaviors.

After your SWH: You took him out of school because they suggested you contact Special Ed.?? even tho you too were concerned. And now you're involved with Special Ed to get an evaluation. Special Ed does not mean mental retardation or whatever the pc term is now days. Is that why you took him out of school? Special Ed provides help for children who have special needs which includes mental issues but also such things as autism, sensory processing, speech delay, etc. Sounds like you're thinking that Special Ed means autism. It does not.

It is thru the Special Ed department that evaluations are arranged. I'm glad that you're doing that.

Have him evaluated and do not care about a diagnosis. Just get some help/therapy for the issues.

J.,

Call LADSE- I think you are in district. http://www.ladse.org/about/member-districts/

Have him evulated. and they will determing if services are an option for you. You might need to go through your school district. We did, and my son now goes to preschool every day and they work on any issues with OT and other services.. They are truly wonderful there.

Good luck.

The book "The Out of Sync Child" is a fabulous book. I wish a teacher would have read it and helped me when I was a kid:

I, myself, have sensory. It is neurological. Sadly, I did not receive any help ( back then). It was a struggle. I can tell you that I have never and will never grow out of my sensory integration dysfunction. I have to keep up w/ a sensory diet and brushing my skin to feel in sync. The appropriate excercises for sesnsory are key. I am a parenting instructor w/ training in helping parents of kids w/ sensory. It was easy material to learn since I have it.

Have him tested by the school or tested privately !!! Go with your gutt. I just got off the phone with a Mom who has a 10 yr old boy. It has gotten so hard --and her son is suffering. I told her where to get him tested. She knows it needs to be done , but, she is hesitant. I TOLD HER THIS: Have him tested. If he doesn't need OT, have ADHD, anxiety, need a 504 plan or an IEP--- You can rule it all out and work on a discipline plan.

The preschool teacher should be aware of his hitting and that he has sensory. Then, come up w/ a strategy. Some kids with sensory seek excessive amts of sensory input. He might need to jump, etc... in his sensory diet but, yet, can get aggressive w/ others in a group setting. How does the teacher handle this?

Also, sensory can adversely affect emotional and social development. It can be hard for these kids to make friends or be pt of a group. Sensory defensiveness can cause aggressive behaviors or just the opposite.

Sensory could overlap w/ something else. That is where a proper evaluation would come in.

If it were me, I would continue to bring him to OT. He does have sensory.
Also, he will need to be guided during the hitting, etc... So, have the teacher pull him away when he hits and have her guide him with the words he needs to use. If he continues to hit, tell the OT. She can provide the teacher with the proper instructions for a child w/ sensory.

Feel free to write to me any time.

The diagnosis "Autism" is so very broad. I wasn't sure about my son b/c he had different "quirks" My ped sent us to a neurologist who said "NO, he is not autistic." His preschool teacher directed us to an Intermediate Unit. When they first evaluated him, they also said "NO" but after observing him at school one day they told me to bring him back for revaluation. They did the ADOS testing and yes! He did fit requirements for High Functioning Autism. He now has speech and OT to help him communicate with his peers and socialization. Have him tested and go with your gut ...if you are uncertain about the diagnosis have him reevaluated. Good Luck

Look into/research Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). There are different manifestations of it along with varying degrees, from mild to severe.

Books I recommend:
The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Stock Kranowitz, MA

Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) by Lusy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR

The Autistic Spectrum: A Paren'ts Guide to Understanding and Helping Your Child by Lorna Wing, MD

With the proper therapy/help to help them "help themselves," most children with SPD will be able to self-monitor themselves as they get older.

My 13-year-old daughter does quite a good job of monitoring herself. When she's having issues, she lets us know so we can help her figure out ways to deal with whatever problem she has. But we worked with her from little one to get to this point.

What kind of feedback have you gotten from his preschools? What does your child's doctor think?

As the mother of a 4 year old son with High Functioning Autism, I don't think this is the issue with your son. Based purely on the few children I have seen and what we were told during his diagnosis. Austitic children tend to be repentative, either in speech or mannerisms. Creative play is also delayed. My son is also very outgoing, but you can tell when you talk to him that there is something different. With that said, you can never go wrong with further testing. He might have more of a sensory disorder which would affect his eating habits and how he relates to other children. Good Luck!

Doesn't sound like it , to me but obviously , I'm no professional. The fact that he " pretend plays " , makes autism unlikely.

Sounds like learning disabilities and his behavior is a result of his frustration. You need to have him fully evaluated by a neuropsychologist. Not just any neuropsych, interview them go with school referrals etc. some people might say its too early but it's sooooo not. Please help him he is crying out for help with his behavior.

no
he is behind in some areas that sound like they are all related to one thing.
I once read a book where the girl has a photographic memory from literally weeks old, but she was trapped inside a body that has cerel palsy and couldn't control her muscles. A doc asked her to stack some blocks like he had done but of course she couldn't do it so he said she was basically a mindless vegetable. Once she as able to communicate everyone realized how brilliant she was.
Your kid just needs to catch up in ONE area. You can't label him simply for missing one skill. Try buying the book Coping with the Picky Eater and follow that plan and you will solve those issues completely.

As far as the behavior at school, may not have been the right school for him. Some kids do better in a Reggio or Montessori environment, some do better in a traditional one. Some teachers clash with some kids. Just find the fit for him.

There can be "outgoing" children on the spectrum. Part of a spectrum disorder is having trouble socially - so a child can be outgoing, but inappropriately so.

How are his communication skills? Is he able to communicate his needs appropriately? Does he have any "quirks" that seem to get in the way?

Have you talked to your pediatrician?

I just "consulted" with a local day care about a 2 year old they had that was very aggressive with other kids. First all he did was hug the other kids. But now it is full blown aggression. My first thought was sensory issues - that he was overstimulated. The director said, "but he isn't with that many kids at a time...usually just 2 or 3". And I said - it's not just the kids that are stimulating in a day care environment...it is the kids, any sounds the toys make (battery or nonbattery toys), the lights (florescent lighting can be awful!), if there is music playing, if teachers are talking or having side conversations, all of the posters/pictures/artwork on the walls, all of the stuff hanging from the ceiling...and I went on and on and she said, "Oh..."

Another thing I told her was that he could be hitting/kicking because he needs/likes that sensory input. OR he doesn't know how to ask or get involved in play with another child. So, he hits/kicks and that gets a reaction and in his might he might think "hey! they talked to me!" so he keeps hitting/kicking.

Does he respond to any type of consequence for his actions/aggression? Is there a certain time of day they seem to happen most?

Look into Sensory Integration Disorder - I believe it is "on the spectrum" but works a little differently than some other spectrum disorders.

Otherwise, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. Or - get in touch with the school district...depending on how things work in your area...now that he is 4, he should be able to be evaluated by district professionals and provided services (Early Childhood program) if he qualifies/needs services (and this can be in any area - speech/language, OT/PT, sensory, social, etc.).

Good luck!!! :-)

My friend's son is on the spectrum and he is very outgoing! Your description (not sure about the pretend play) could describe my friend's son. But, it could also describe a 'normal' child. Your state/district should have a free program that can evaluate him.

Definitely not LFA
From what you've written doesn't sound like HFA.

It does not sound like autism to me. In fact, he sounds pretty normal. Even the behavior with peers.

Just because a child is aggressive with peers, doesn't mean that there is something wrong. To me, parents are always looking for the easy way out by slapping a label on their child for misbehavior. That way, the parent doesn't have to be responsible for correcting the behavior because it's not their fault - it's a "condition." B.S.!!!!!

Your child is aggressive because you have not taught him self-control and because he has gotten away with it. You may not think you let him get away with it, but if you punished it effectively, it would stop.

Sorry, mama, but you, not your pedi, have some work to do.

Hi,
I have a now 18-year old son who is on the Autism spectrum, so I speak from personal experience. Your instincts are most likely correct. I can tell you one of the markers of autism in difficulty (degree varies, of course) with engaging in pretend play such as dress up. Autistic children more typically engage in ritualistic ways (such as lining up plates, cups, etc). Also remember, your son's only 4, silly comes with the territory at that age (any age really, depending on personality). If you have real concerns, you can request testing for him from your school district. Please feel free to contact me offline.
S. Redfern