9 September 2014

Prayer request

For my son. The short version: He's being assessed to see if he is in the autism spectrum. Puff doesn't think he is, I think it's a possibility. Pray that Puff is right, or failing that, that he is correctly diagnosed and we have the means to give him the help he needs. The one thing I don't want is my son to become a label and a disability. He's really a good kid. He's also an odd one, but mostly he's good.

5 comments:

Mary N. said...

Hi Bear,
I understand what you are going through right now - we've been through this too. My daughter may very well have Asperger's. There were signs pointing to this as early as two. Teachers noticed unusual behaviors at school as well, as did I at home. (She was monitored both in preschool and kindergarten.) On the plus side she is a smart as a whip straight A student but there are also behavioral traits that point toward Asperger's. Her pediatrician chose to take a "wait and see" approach because some of these traits improve or go away as kids get older. And some have in her case. But not all. Of course, I'm always worried that this was NOT the right way to deal with it. I guess it depends on the individual child.

Yes, I will pray. And if it will help I can share with you some of the "red flags" that concerned both her teachers, my family, and myself, especially when she was young.

Bear said...

I thank you for your prayers, and will pray for you and your aughter. My Nephew was diagnosed with asperger's, so I know that range of the spectrum fairly well. Doesn't make eye contact, poor social skills, highly intelligent, early speaker, early reader, obsessions, somewhat hyperactive, etc etc. If Frodo has some form of autism, he is at a different end of the spectrum.

Eunike said...

I've got one on the spectrum too. He's slowly making his way in the world (in his twenties, working part time, living with us, completely bewildered by women . . .) About labels: I've never minded them if they're what it takes to get him help, and he himself is the last person in the world to care how he's labeled. YMMV! Praying for your family.

Suzanne said...

I have three daughters with ASD diagnoses. And sometimes there's nothing to be done about timing. My third daughter looked "fine" to the pediatrician who assessed her at age 2, and she had a "provisional diagnosis" at age 4, but I have no doubt she is now on the spectrum at age 6. Without highly specialized software, you sometimes cannot tell at age 2, 3 and 4. "Wait and see" is all you can do.

Patience said...

My older dd is supposed to be on the spectrum. I didn't find the dx helpful in the school system as it seemed to be a way for them to segregate her and have the attitude "people with her dx can't do xyz". She is 19 now; a lovely person with a wide range of interests. She still struggles with social anxiety (and gets treatment for that) She is very bright. Whatever dx you get; don't fall into the trap of making it your life; the spectrum has become so broad that too many kids are included in this. Our school system with its noisy free form discovery learning is a nightmare for some kids who would have done fine in a classroom with a quiet somewhat rigid routine. I think the best thing you can do is to find out what works for your ds and do it; regardless of what others think is "best" for him; follow your instincts as a parent.