Autism

**five** · 18-05-2006 22:08

Hi there, I' new here, and have a 4 1/2 year old son with high functioning moderate autism. Just looking for other mums of autism to swap notes with

Cheers, Denise xxx

**Maghan** · 18-05-2006 22:21

Hi Denise

I have a 10 year old girl with Aspergers, which falls in the Autistic Spectrum. She is very bright, but the social stuff trips her up all the time. She also has a bit of an odd gait to her run and walk. But is a very loving and funny (well she thinks so) personality.

**five** · 18-05-2006 22:29

Hi there, good to *meet* you

Looking forward to sharing stories in the future of our special kids

**five** · 20-05-2006 09:19

Hi Stacey

So I'll start off the discussion here, and ask at what age did you get the diagnosis, and how did you react???

Blair was diagnosed in Feb 05, at age 3 1/4 and to be honest I was relieved that he fit into a 'box' so he could get the extra help he needs to integrate into society well

Yep, I grieved, went through the whole gamut, anger, tears flat out etc etc, even now I struggle at times with acceptance, especially on a really good day LOL But then the countless 'bad' days make up for that LOL. Seriously, the dx doesn't make much difference to our lives now, I think the Coeliac disease has more impact, because quite simply, Blair is just Blair, and whther he fits into a box or not, we wouldn't put him back and ask for 'normal', cos he is fabulous just as he is, makes us laugh and cry on a daily basis, and simplifies us as parents, which is never a bad thing

So how did you cope with the dx, and how do you cope on a day to day basis?

**FourAngelKisses** · 20-05-2006 09:29

Hi, I don't have a child with Autism, but my sister in law (she's 25 in June) has it, but she also has Down Syndrome. She was diagnosed a year or 2 ago, but that hasn't changed the lives of my inlaws. They still have to put up with her tantruns, swearing, moaning and laziness.

I worry about their futures, they are both almost 60 and they can't keep doing this forever, but there is nowhere in the state that will take her, so they have to keep doing it.

**Lunar** · 20-05-2006 09:58

Hi five...(gosh that's sounds familiar....LOL)
My DD has Down syndrome and alot of autistic traits but not the diagnosis of autism. Look forward to getting to know you and hearing all about your family.

**Maghan** · 20-05-2006 21:27

At the outset I have to say that the 10 year old is my neice and we have been raising her for 3 years now. I've always been in her life and I always knew there was something different about her. She hated the loud noises and would scream in the middle of the night that someone was using a drill or had a stereo too loud. She's never had the social skills and thinks things that aren't funny seriously are. She was diagnosed when she was four. My sister wouldn't accept it, so she didn't get the early intervention which may have assisted her long-term. I still worry for her future, I fear she will always be an innocent child. The biggest hurdle we face at the moment is the hormones mixed with Aspergers! LOL...

**five** · 20-05-2006 21:32

What a fantastic Aunty you are

She is one very lucky little girl to have you.
The noise thing, oh yes, Blair has recently started with that, and OMG, the weirdest things send the hands over the ears and him running screaming for cover!!!

**FourAngelKisses** · 21-05-2006 06:27

The noise thing has been an issue with my sister in law for as long as I've known her. If my kids cry or get too happy and start laughing, she starts screaming, which makes Matthew scream, and she will start throwing things at people. It gets to the stage where we have to say to the kids "please be quiet, don't fight, try and not laugh too much" but it's hard to stop kids being kids.

Can I please get some more information about the gluten dairy diet for my MIL please?? I've heard it can improve their behaviour and get rid of allergies etc.

**jobak** · 25-05-2006 19:40

hey five

you know me, but i'll post our autism story for anyone else who is interested.

We have a 9yr old boy with Aspergers and only today we were told that finially, we are entitled to the carers allowance

(even though he was diagnosed over four years ago

)
He attends a 'normal' school and we are having a few probs with the SEU at the moment, but ds seems to be going ok through it all. he is a typical ASD kid; no social understanding; very bright; ocd's; sensory issues (the list goes on lol).

Hope to see some of you around the boards and swap notes!

cheers
Jo