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One of the keys to treatment is catching it early. As the parent of a child with autism, I am always surprised when I talk to people today who still aren't awar

by fecak 12y ago

One of the keys to treatment is catching it early. As the parent of a child with autism, I am always surprised when I talk to people today who still aren't aware of some of the signs that point to the possibility autism. I had assumed they were common knowledge by now. Things like toe-walking, repeating words or sounds (echolalia), limited or no eye contact, and an unwillingness or inability to point to objects are fairly easy things to observe in your own children or even kids you see around town. The list in the link below is a good overview, and the few I listed above are considered 'classic' symptoms to look for. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/basics/symptoms/con-20021148 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectru...

kohanz 12y ago
And for what age ranges are these symptoms expected to become apparent? 1 to 3-ish?
- jasonlotito 12y ago
  Within the first year. There is a list at the bottom of the article, and there have been studies that have shown some signs appear as early as 3-months.
  - dgabriel 12y ago
    When my twins were born, I knew pretty quickly that my daughter was different. While her brother was all eye contact and cooing, she was always in her own world. Without a neurotypical sibling, it might have taken much longer to spot.
- throwaway61 12y ago
  Like with everything around autism, it differs. For me the first signs started to appear between 3 and 5 (or so they tell me) but bigger problems arose around 13. (Fourth throwaway I have to create for 6 posts despite 10 upvotes. The captcha is a real PITA to get through and by now I have to tether 3g to comment anything at all...)
jasonlotito 12y ago
> One of the keys to treatment is catching it early. Well, one of the keys is treatment early. Catching it early doesn't mean anyone is in any rush to treat it early. Don't trust the doctors if they say you can wait or they aren't acting urgently. Early intervention is key.
BasLeijdekkers 12y ago
For any parents starting to get worried: toe-walking is completely normal for many children below 5 years old and even older[1]. Usually they grow out of it as they get older. So I would definitely not consider that a sign pointing to the possibility of autism. [1] http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20120723/childrens-toe-walking-not-sign-bigger-problems http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20120723/childrens-toe-wa...
- joezydeco 12y ago
  But it can be one flag (of many) pointing to a sensory processing disorder and should be noted if other behaviors are seen. My son toe-walked. We did some mild sensory-processing screening and therapy which helped. It also turned out that his tendons were too short and he needed serial casting to get them stretched out far enough.
- fecak 12y ago
  The study you linked appears to have one possible flaw. It reports on whether a child walked on their toes 'at some time'. In the many kids I've been around with autism, it's impossible not to notice the toe walking because it is so frequent. For our child, we would actually be more inclined to notice when she didn't toe walk. If you combine this one with another couple symptoms, it's best to get it checked out.
- Crito 12y ago
  Just to throw a anecdote on: I picked up toe-walking when I was a kid in response to regularly having to walk around barefoot on gross locker-room floors. In my case, I only do it when barefoot, and these days my heels are typically only about about an inch above the ground.
throwaway58 12y ago
> One of the keys to treatment is catching it early. And then given the right information. My parents were told I might never cross the street alone or write the letter K in handwriting because it was too complex. Look at me: I type 500wpm and write software better than most in class. The issues for me arise with planning and social things. I might make plans, but I am never able to stick to them if there is no real urge. If someone is not waiting for something to happen and I don't feel like doing it, it's not going to happen. If I think I can make something in 5 hours and the deadline is midnight, I might start on it 4 hours before midnight. And then there is a whole range of social issues, though I can go to a normal school and normal businesses. My parents just disregarded the entire diagnosis at 6 years old because, look, I could cross the street not much later. Up until about 13 years old, this approach worked fine. It might have been nice to know what really is going on though.
- fecak 12y ago
  Unfortunately, with such a wide spectrum I'd expect doctors and therapists probably want to 'underpromise and overdeliver', as they don't want to get hopes too high. We've seen people who told us our daughter would be talking by 5, 6, 7 - she's 10 now and says some single words but never sentences. Others have told us to plan for lifetime care. It really depends on the type of person that is giving you the information. I'm sure your parents are thrilled with your progress and the fact that you exceeded the expectations of so many people. Thanks for sharing your experience.
  - throwaway59 12y ago
    (Twelve attempts later I've solved HN's captcha and created another account so I can comment again. The old one says I'm commenting too fast despite a few upvotes.) Yes, and I know that. Better this than the other way around. Then again, from what I heard at least, the doctors didn't mention that it might not have to be that way and that I might be able to do all the things they said I couldn't. That time would have to tell. > I'm sure your parents are thrilled with your progress and the fact that you exceeded the expectations of so many people. Thanks for sharing your experience. Thank you for saying that. Embarrassingly (but since this is a throwaway), reading that did make me spill a tear. Talking about it in this thread makes it negative; the way you put it makes it not all bad because I know my parents feel that way and I'm doing my best for them. Thank you.

by fecak 12y ago

kohanz 12y ago

And for what age ranges are these symptoms expected to become apparent? 1 to 3-ish?

jasonlotito 12y ago
Within the first year. There is a list at the bottom of the article, and there have been studies that have shown some signs appear as early as 3-months.
- dgabriel 12y ago
  When my twins were born, I knew pretty quickly that my daughter was different. While her brother was all eye contact and cooing, she was always in her own world. Without a neurotypical sibling, it might have taken much longer to spot.
throwaway61 12y ago
Like with everything around autism, it differs. For me the first signs started to appear between 3 and 5 (or so they tell me) but bigger problems arose around 13. (Fourth throwaway I have to create for 6 posts despite 10 upvotes. The captcha is a real PITA to get through and by now I have to tether 3g to comment anything at all...)

jasonlotito 12y ago

> One of the keys to treatment is catching it early. Well, one of the keys is treatment early. Catching it early doesn't mean anyone is in any rush to treat it early. Don't trust the doctors if they say you can wait or they aren't acting urgently. Early intervention is key.

BasLeijdekkers 12y ago

For any parents starting to get worried: toe-walking is completely normal for many children below 5 years old and even older[1]. Usually they grow out of it as they get older. So I would definitely not consider that a sign pointing to the possibility of autism. [1] http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20120723/childrens-toe-walking-not-sign-bigger-problems http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20120723/childrens-toe-wa...

joezydeco 12y ago
But it can be one flag (of many) pointing to a sensory processing disorder and should be noted if other behaviors are seen. My son toe-walked. We did some mild sensory-processing screening and therapy which helped. It also turned out that his tendons were too short and he needed serial casting to get them stretched out far enough.
fecak 12y ago
The study you linked appears to have one possible flaw. It reports on whether a child walked on their toes 'at some time'. In the many kids I've been around with autism, it's impossible not to notice the toe walking because it is so frequent. For our child, we would actually be more inclined to notice when she didn't toe walk. If you combine this one with another couple symptoms, it's best to get it checked out.
Crito 12y ago
Just to throw a anecdote on: I picked up toe-walking when I was a kid in response to regularly having to walk around barefoot on gross locker-room floors. In my case, I only do it when barefoot, and these days my heels are typically only about about an inch above the ground.

throwaway58 12y ago

> One of the keys to treatment is catching it early. And then given the right information. My parents were told I might never cross the street alone or write the letter K in handwriting because it was too complex. Look at me: I type 500wpm and write software better than most in class. The issues for me arise with planning and social things. I might make plans, but I am never able to stick to them if there is no real urge. If someone is not waiting for something to happen and I don't feel like doing it, it's not going to happen. If I think I can make something in 5 hours and the deadline is midnight, I might start on it 4 hours before midnight. And then there is a whole range of social issues, though I can go to a normal school and normal businesses. My parents just disregarded the entire diagnosis at 6 years old because, look, I could cross the street not much later. Up until about 13 years old, this approach worked fine. It might have been nice to know what really is going on though.

fecak 12y ago
Unfortunately, with such a wide spectrum I'd expect doctors and therapists probably want to 'underpromise and overdeliver', as they don't want to get hopes too high. We've seen people who told us our daughter would be talking by 5, 6, 7 - she's 10 now and says some single words but never sentences. Others have told us to plan for lifetime care. It really depends on the type of person that is giving you the information. I'm sure your parents are thrilled with your progress and the fact that you exceeded the expectations of so many people. Thanks for sharing your experience.
- throwaway59 12y ago
  (Twelve attempts later I've solved HN's captcha and created another account so I can comment again. The old one says I'm commenting too fast despite a few upvotes.) Yes, and I know that. Better this than the other way around. Then again, from what I heard at least, the doctors didn't mention that it might not have to be that way and that I might be able to do all the things they said I couldn't. That time would have to tell. > I'm sure your parents are thrilled with your progress and the fact that you exceeded the expectations of so many people. Thanks for sharing your experience. Thank you for saying that. Embarrassingly (but since this is a throwaway), reading that did make me spill a tear. Talking about it in this thread makes it negative; the way you put it makes it not all bad because I know my parents feel that way and I'm doing my best for them. Thank you.