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My son is 2 1/2. I put him and his twin brother in ECI (which is free) when they were 18 months. His brother's speech improved but his was still pretty garbled. Recently, he was finally diagnosed with having a weak tongue! We've been doing tongue strengthening exercises and he is really improving. Get an evaluation and keep getting one until he is properly diagnosed. My son was seen by 5 different people before his condition was caught. Good luck.

I have a ASD son (Autism Spectrum Disorder), yes-you need an eval. You can go to the Monarch Schoo. (monarch.org) or the Parish School (look up the parish school in Houston on hammerly in google and you will get their website). They both do diagnosing. ECI will do it, the school system can do it. OK, I am assuming you are in Houston. Anyway, Texas Childrens does a 6 month eval process as well. It does sound a lot like ASD. I also recommend occuaptional therapy and speech therapy now, without a diagnosis. My motto is, got issues-treat the issues not the label. My son is 5 yo and is in regualr kindergarten. He has had intencive therapy since he was 4 yo. We lived out of the country and had difficulty getting him diagnosed. If you need any other advice or suggestions,please feel free to email me. The more you do NOW, the more progress he can make. There is so much out there today.... just get that OT and Speech started.

He definitely sounds like he is autistic. You need to talk to his doctor and get help for him.

J.

When will he be 3? If it is in the next month, you should call your special education department to have him evaluated for a speech/behavior problem. If he won't be 3 for a few months, you need to call in the State of Texas for free to have him evaluated for a Speech or Behavioral problem. No one on this website can diagnose him, although maybe he has an autism issue. Please call the State of Texas, Early Childhood Intervention, or your School District. Honestly, if he is talking, that is an excellent sign, regardless of any behavioral issues he has.

BTW, I have an autistic son. They have very intelligent minds. However, they have to be taught differently than other children, but most grow up to be a normal person, once they get over the speech problems.

Here are some autism videos for you to refer too. See if you see anything even close to your child in the first few of these videos. Even if you do, doesn't mean he's autistic.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/video/index.php

Hi A.,
I see that you've already had lots of advice about what may be going on with your son but I just wanted to offer some advice for YOU. I know it is scary to hear about others whose children showed similar symptoms and ended up being diagnosed with serious disorders. It may be tempting to say to yourself, 'well, my son really isn't that bad...I'll just keep an eye on him a give him some time.' I just wanted to tell you what I've seen with some friends of mine whose children were eventually diagnosed with various issues. Before they got their kids tested and diagnosed, there was a lot of stress and drama in the family. Everyone looked like they were in pain all the time. There was a lot of yelling (usually the parents at each other, sometimes the parents yelling at the children). My heart broke for them. When they finally got the kids tested and diagnosed (one with high-functioning Autism, another with severe dyslexia), they got into therapy and treatment programs and suddenly, these families went from stressed out and unahppy to relaxed, happy, even joyful! Knowing what was happening with their children and feeling that they were doing something about it, and watching their children improve and thrive, made such a huge difference in their quality of life. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't be scared of getting him evaluated...you may find that his behavior is normal for him, but even if there is a problem, finding out and doing something about it will make the whole family feel so much better! Best of luck to you!

I have two children in my family who were late speakers, do not worry. the child is holding it in, and will be your most talkative child.

Don't panic, have him evaluated like the others have said.
I wish you and your child the best.

Hi A.,
I could probably give you the same advice that everybody else is giving to you, but I think the best I can say (coming from a person who faced the same issues before) is to not get scared with all those words thrown at you. Autism, PDD, etc, are big words that can paralyze anybody. Just get your angel checked and evaluated and if if he is diagnosed with any of those things good! it means you are getting help, take every single one of them, if they suggest therapy, school, PPCD at the public school, therapy at home, everything!, it will only help your child and you to learn about whatever is going on with him. Kids are amazing, my boy did a lot of progress thanks to that kind of intervention, it takes work but is worth it once you see your kid thrive.
God bless you in your journey.
A.

He turns 3 in May?

Have him evaluated ASAP by ECI. http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis/ 1-800-628-5115.

The evaluation is free through the state, and they can point you in the direction of any services he may need. Make sure to contact them right away, since it can take a couple of months to get an evaluation, and they only serve children under age 3.

You could also setup an appointment with his pediatrician, they should be able to help also.

Yes, yes, have him evaled as soon as possible. It certainly sounds as if your son could place on Autism Spectrum. If he does, the sooner you get him diagnosed, and the proper help, the better his potential outcome. The one lady is absolutely correct in that these children learn differently, but they do learn. Some children on ASD are exceptionally intelligent also.

The first thing I would do is consult your pediatrician. Once that is done, if necessary, get a second and third opinion. You could have many sleepless nights worrying about something that may lead to nothing until you speak to a professional.

Blessings

What does your doctor say?

Not to alarm, but has he been evaluated for Autism Spectrum Disorders. I'm not a neuropsychologist, but they sound like typical behaviors, especially the speech delay and tantrums.

These symptoms are common in autistic children. I would check with your pediatrician first, and he can recommend further evaluation, if needed, by a specialist.

I am in no way an expert on this subject, but I do have a few close friends with children who have been diagnosed with Autism and what you have described sounds exactely like it. Has he been to doctor? Perhaps you should have him checked out to see if he may or may not have some characteristics or symptoms of being Autistic. ofcourse, I have never seen your child so I could be totally off....hope this helps though. Good luck.

i'm a speech pathologist and his communication skills, from what you described, are very delayed. it sounds like there is more going on there besides the speech....please get him evaluated by a speech language pathologist. he can be evaluated privately or thru your school district for free with free speech services at your neighborhood elementary school. what does his pediatrician think?

I would talk to your pediatrician. I am not a specialist in this area, but when I was a practicing physician assistant, this behavior met the criteria for referral for testing for autism spectrum disorder. There is a lot of help for this and I would recommend getting an evaluation earlier so that your son can get special, individualized care to optimize his development.

What does his pediatrician say? Does he go to preschool? If you want to have him evaluated by the public school system, call your local elementary school and they will point you in the right direction. Children who qualify begin school (and any therapies they qualify for like speech, OT, etc.) at age 3.
If you need a support system to help you, in Austin I would call Travis County MHMR or The ARC of Central Texas and tell them your story and they will know exactly the next step.
I have a son with special needs and every person we have met so far because of him, I have to honestly say, has been a blessing and gift in our life. It's hard not to be afraid at first, but these professionals and teachers are doing this work because they love it, and they will help your child and your family life will benefit. Make the first call.

Hi A.,

I am a nurse and I also have 2 children. I am not a Doctor but I think you should check with your pediatrician and ask about autism. I also am the leader of a cub scout den and I have a high functioning autistic child in my den. So many of the things you describe sound like the child in my den. I may be wrong but definitely mention this to your pediatrician.

L.

Please go get him screened for autism right away. These sound like classic symptoms, and there is so much that can be done with early intervention. I wish when my younger brother had similar symptoms in the 50's that the help he needed had been there. God bless you.

It sounds like he is autistic. You need to have him evaluated by a qualified professional.

If his environment is normal (is disciplined consistently, expectations clear, is talked to regularly and required to communicate in return to get what he wants, and that this behaviour is not given in to just because he throws a fit, etc.) then I would take him to my family doctor first to see what he thinks. He could be autistic or something of the like. But, if he is allowed to behave this way and his fits are rewarded with what he wants and he's not forced to communicate with some type of language, then I would say the environment needs to change first. I'm not saying you are or aren't doing these things. But, you didn't hint either way. There are a few parents that don't realize that their behavior or lack of is hindering their child. Babying them too much keeps them so much like a baby. But, if you aren't one of those few, then these are signs that would need to be checked out by a doctor just to be sure, if for only your peace of mind.

A., I'm sorry that you're so worried about your son. I understand your concern. There are wonderful doctors at Thoughtful House in southwest Austin. The Thoughtful House doctors can test and diagnose your son to see if he has autism. If he does, it's not hopeless. There are lots of things they can do to help. Here's their contact info: Thoughtful House Center for Children, 3001 Bee Caves Road
Austin, Texas 78746
###-###-#### Tel · ###-###-#### Fax
I can also offer some help, if it turns out that he is autistic. Please feel free to contact me by responding to this message.

B.

Has he had frequent ear infections? You may want to get his hearing checked. This was the problem with my son. He had ear tubes inserted twice. His speech was really delayed. The 2nd set worked and he has gone through speech therapy and doing so much better. Just my 2 cents.

Have you had his hearing checked? He may not be able to hear and feel lost.
If yes, have you considered having him checked for an Autism spectrum disorder? My eldest son has one called aspergers. If you find these things early and get intervention the children are much better off in life and get a head start. Good luck!

My son was late in talking. He was diagnosed as a Late Language Developer, and was able to start speech therapy through the public school. When he did start speaking regularly, it was in complete sentences. He really just not does talk that much, though he faithfully calls and talks to all his grandparents on a regular basis
I also got him private tutoring during his early school years. Because of his language delay, he qualified for the Reading and Math lab programs. By the time he finished third grade, he was completely mainstreamed. Each year I spoke with his teachers about his learning needs, that he did well with the concrete subjects, but had great difficulty with abstract ideas.
He was able to hold his own all the way through HS. (He did cross country and track.) He even took some honor courses; but had to take the basic math courses to meet graduation requirements, but he did have some very understanding and willing teachers that worked with him. I did have him classified as a 504 student in high school, so that he could have special testing assignments. (In the testing situations, he needed to be able to get up and walk around, do the movements now associated with autism, to relieve the stress as he had while taking the tests.) This really helped with the exit tests that all students are required to take. He did have to take math several times but he did passed.
He did go on to a small, private away junior college and earn his associate degree.
He does have a very dry sense of humor, just like my dad, and he had several teachers that would stand near him, just so that they could hear the comments he made under his breath bacause they can be very funny yet very thought provoking. (ex: last Sunday at church, when the microphone acted up, his comment was 'that was God talking')
All through his school years, when talking with his teachers, I explained that he had autistic tendencies, but that he is not autistic. Last year I had the opportunity to attend 6 seminars on Autism and learned that he does fall into the umbrella portion of autism.
So I say, have him tested in the private sector, hopefully your insurance will cover all or some of it. Then take this information to your public school so that he can begin early childhood education intervention.
Something that really helped him, was that I read to him all the time, so he was constantly hearing appropiate language. In his early elementary years, because he was at school early, I sent simple books with him to read which improved his reading and comprehension ability. Today he is an advend reader. The city librarians have take him under their wings and have introduced him to many excellent authors and their books.
Though he does still live at home, he does work an almost 40 hour week at a local grocery, he is very out going and greets all the customers, especially the children, with their parents permission. (Parents will tell me that their child really feel special because of the attention an adult gives them and they love seeing him.) He even helps me the first days of school each year, and my class love to tell me when they see him at the store.
He has paid off one student loan and has almost most paid off his second and last one, pays his Mastercard bill as well as the cable bill (since he does enjoy the television, too).
He also is a very attentive uncle that is helping raise his niece, including changing dirty diapers. He has taken care of her when she has been sick (including cleaning off throw up and washing her up), she is almost 5 now.
In reality, he will not never be the average joe, but he can live an average life.

You could have him evaluated through Early Childhood Intervention (ECI), but after he turns 3 everything goes through your school district. Talk to your pediatrician and maybe get a referral for a developmental pediatrician. However, there is usually a long wait. I made an appointment for my son in Jan. and the appt. is in June! It is definitely worth looking into further.

Have him evaluated, you have 5 kids and you know he needs help. I am here to give you that support you need, that is why you wrote, that "let me make sure" in your head, is crying out. Please take your son in, he will be fine and so will you!!!! In my prayers, V.

What does his pedi say? Have you had him tested for Autism?

Have your pediatrician evaluate him; he sounds like hes exhibiting signs of autism. Also, ask for a referral for speech therapy and once hes in school also ask to be placed on special education for speech therapy, which you can then request to place him on SSI for monthly payments, which would include medicaid every month to help with the cost of medical bills for you. You just need to contact the Social security office in town for an appointment and paperwork or locate the application online at their site.

Please take him to the pediatrician as soon as you can.

Run, don't walk to your pediatrician and have him tested for autism! Be assertive and get a second opinion if your pediatrician tells you nothing's wrong.

I urge you to contact E.C. I. (Early Childhood Intervention) which is a state funded program to assist with children who might have developmental delays n early childhood. They will provide a free evaluation and recommend a program to assist you or they will provide intervention. YOu should ALSO contact your local school district and ask for their special services for early childhood. Request that your child be tested for Developmental Delays. The earlier you intervene with children, the better chance you have to remedy the problem.
Look up Pervasive Developmental Delay disorder and see if your child has some of these signs. Your pediatrician should also offer assistance via your insurance program.

PLEASE be persistent! Don't take NO for an answer!
P. Humphries
Owner of Creative Corner
Chld Development Center
Houston Texas

It might be time to have his evaluated to see if there are any educational problems such as speech. One of my grandsons didn't talk much until her was over 3 and he had speech problems. Once he started speech therapy he was fine. My own son didn't speak until he started school because she sisters talked for him. He grunted and they figured out what he wanted.

As some other moms suggested, I would have him evaluated for Autism. The earlier you begin treatment and intervention, the easier it will be for him, regardless of the diagnosis. Everything you said about him, except the rocking back and forth, could be an assessment of a typical 3 year old little boy, with delayed speech....it could be as simple as a hearing problem. Take him to the Pediatrician and have him evaluated.

A.,

My son was 'language delayed' although he did not exhibit the other behaviors. We heard of and took him to a wonderful program in Austin called Infant Parent Program on West 10th Street. Phone was ###-###-#### at the time. This was over 10 years ago so I hope they are still around. It was free! We also had experience with UT Speech Therapy Department that we were able to get free. Feel free to email me personally if you have any other questions - and best of luck to you!

R.

Call the elementary school in your neighborhood and ask them what you need to do to have your son evaluated for special needs. There are early childhood programs for kids three years and up, and they really help.

From what you describe, it sounds like your little guy may have some autistic tendencies. (I have a 26-year-old autistic son.) That doesn't mean that he's autistic, just that he may need some intervention to help him learn to communicate and develop social skills that most kids learn on their own.

I know this may be a bit upsetting, but the best thing for your son is to seek help for him. What he's doing (and not doing in terms of the lack of speech) is not normal, and he'll be much better off getting help as early as possible.

Hope this helps.

You need to have him evaluated by someone @ Early Childhood intervention, or ECI. Talk to your pediatrician. I work with special needs children and I would definitely have him evaluated. He should be talking more than that. You could also call you local Elementary School and ask them for the number to the local Childfind place. I will keep you in my prayers.
K.

Hi A.,

My brother is Autistic and from the actions that you described your son portraying is very similar to the early symptoms my brother portrayed. He would barely talk. He did alot of the rocking back and forth and he would act out if he did not get his way. Of course I'm no medical expert, but from personal experience it sounds like it could be autism. I recommend that you have him checked out by a professional so that they can perform a complete evaluation.

A., sorry your having to go through this. I would have him checked for autism. First you may want to evaluate what you can do different if not already. Having that many sibblings to help with him, or help you with him, he may get what he wants by throwing fits or to communicate with talking. My kids are far apart in age, not by choice but it just worked out like that so I had alot of one on one time where I was able to teach conversation. If the other kids are giving in to him to easily I would say have the whole family do things different and work on talking to him more. I could only imagine how hard that would be with having a family so large. Which by the way is so cool and awesome. Congrats by the way. If none of these things work I would have him checked for autism. This is the age where most people do find out because they are at that age where you know they should be conversing more. Good luck and I hope its something that I mentioned earlier where you guys can just make some changes at home.

Please take your child to a good child psychiatrist and have him tested. I would suspect a neurological disorder, autism spectrum or ADD. There is lots of professional help, and the earlier you initiate intervention, the easier it will be on you and your child, and everyone who interats with him.

My heart goes out to you. It takes courage to make contacts and see about getting your child evaluated. Look at all the great support you've received here, and from some who've been there so they can really speak with empathy.

I pray your husband will be open to getting help and that you will both be encouraged by the people you come to know who will assist you in giving the best care for your son. May God grant you the grace to move forward unafraid and with trust for a good outcome.

I am a former pre-school teacher who was one of a team of people who tried to reach out to a parent whose child obviously had special needs but the parent would not face the truth. I know it must be hard but please get help sooner rather than later. It will be best for your child and all who are around him for him to be more understood.

God bless, N.

My child was a late talker as well. It wound up being that her older sister did all her talking for her. We were referred to our local ISD for initial screening. They also gave us of successful plan of action. All ISDs have specialists that can see your child at any age. It is my understanding that public schools are required to offer early screening to kids younger than school age. My daughter was very young...younger than kindergarten age. That did not matter. Fort Bend ISD even sent someone to our house to observe and make recommendations. This option worked very well for us. It was a place to start. Don't get my wrong, we would have taken her to any doctor that she needed, we had insurance, etc. We were lucky, the ISD did a great job and was all that was necessary. Good luck with everything. Hang in there, all may be just fine. Your son has a lot of siblings to help him talk and compete for attention.

Have you mentioned these problems to your pediatrician? Every child is different and develops at his/her own pace. It sounds like your son may be autistic (small vocabulary, barely speaking, rocking back/forth/throwing fits). You can "google" autism and find a wealth of information. God bless and good luck.

Have you had him checked for autism?

A.,
I didn't have time to read all the advice...someone might have offered this. My son is dx'd with autism and has similar traits. While your son may just be the typical boy that talks late and/or has siblings that do the talking for them, you probably should have your pediatrician do an evaluation on him to rule it out. If he should be on the autism spectrum, the early the diagnosis and treatment, the better for your son. Tempe Weir is a developmental specialist that is highly recommended to do this eval. as well. If I can be of any help - please feel free to email me at ____@____.com. T.

dear A..
i am a grandma from England my son and daughter-in law and grand daughter live in houston. after reading your request, I have a friend at work who's grandson has the same rituals as your son, and he has been diagnosed as Autistic, you may like to have him checked out, it is not as scarey as it seems. There is lots of help out there.

C. England

Hi A.-

As the other moms have suggested get an evaluation scheduled so that you can get a diagnosis. Also, go ahead and start speech and occupational therapy as soon as possible to address his issues. I know this is a lot to take in right now, but the other thing you might want to start doing is looking for a DAN doctor in your area. They will get you on a protocol of diet and supplements that may help.

My son was diagnosed when he was 4 1/2 and we just started seeing a specialist in Conroe a few months ago (he is now 7)who confirmed that he had a reaction to wheat, dairy and soy. Once we took these out of his diet, we saw a big improvement in his temperment and ability to stay calm under stress. I wish I had known about this earlier for him.

The other suggestion I have is in your daily life try to make things as predictable and consistent for him as you possibly can. Even if he is not on the spectrum, this is helpful for all kids but children on the spectrum get overwhelmed by stress when they are unsure of what to expect or what is expected of them. Establish routines so that he can be comfortable with what is going on around him.

All the best to you and your family,
K.

My first thought is that you need a new pediatrician - he clearly needs an evaluation ASAP. If he has an autism spectrum disorder, there are a number of interventions and therapies which could prove helpful. Do NOT put this off. Several of the moms have listed some good resources. All the best to you and your family.

Please tell your family Dr. of this it is important that you do this now.

Since he's 3 he is eligible to be evaluated by your local school system for free. I urge you to do this ASAP for his and your family's sake. Best of luck.

My stepdaughter is 8 years old and exhibits many of the behaviors you mentioned about your son. We initially feared high-functioning autism was the reason. After having a psychological evaluation and testing done 2 months ago, she was diagnosed her with ADHD (inattentive type) and a behavior/emotional disorder. The emotional disorder causes her to be emotionally detached and causes a lack of remorse when punished. She cries minimally and stops herself almost as soon as she starts. She constantly rocks, fidgets, bites the inside of her mouth, flails her arms, etc. and physically cannot sit still for any length of time. I know my information probably isn't as positive as you had hoped for but it is honest. I was hoping you would perceive my response as a jumping point to research your son's behavior or seek help from your pediatrician or other behavioral specialist to help you find answers. We were at our wits end trying to figure her out but are now on the right path with the right information and tools to help her and our family as a whole. Best of luck to you.

Hi. it's time to get an evaluation with a therapist who specializes in Autism/ behavior/speech. Talk to your pediatrician & get a recommendation. has your doctor never said anything before? it's odd that they would not send you to get your child looked at. The state has free services up to a certain age. They work with all kinds of special needs, & they come to your home. good luck. ask your dr. call Tx.children;s hospital for more info. it's a starting point.