AboutJene Aviram Expertise How do you know if your child has autism? If you're concerned about your child's behavior and would like to know if they're symptoms of autism, I can help you. If you need behavior and parenting strategies, I have many suggestions and ideas to help you. I can also help you with questions on ABA therapy. I cannot answer biomedical questions.
Experience I am one of the co-founders of Natural Learning Concepts, a manufacturing company for autism and special education materials. I am an author and writer and my work on the autism spectrum is frequently published by many organizations and renowned magazines. My son has Aspergers and my nephew has autism.
Publications Autism/Aspergers Digest
Autism Society of America
Autism Today Issue
Spirit Magazine
The Autism Perspective Magazine
Yahoo News
Parenting Magazine
Education/Credentials My original background and education is computer network engineering. A turn of events led me to switch careers in early 2000 when my passion and driving force became helping people on the autism spectrum. I then co-founded a successful company that helps people on the autism spectrum every day.
Question My great grandson displays some signs that may point to autism. He jumps. he likes to line up his toys, he isn't talking at his age range. He will be 3 soon, he doesn't answer to his name,maybe if you yell it. He does give eye contact to people he knows.He cuddles with you, he reponds to our feelings,he counts he repeat what you say and then you may never hear him say that word again.He has a vocabulary of around 30 words.He will take you by the hand and show you what he wants you to do.when he was born i noticed some drainage from his left ear and he has always had some since then but they have never found anything in his ear to be concerned about.Hearing problems run in our family, but the doctor never thought there was a reason to be concerned.He was removed from our home because the home didn't pass sanitary codes and they wouldn't let us find a family member to take him. We found a better place in 2 weeks after that but he had to stay in the foster home for 5 weeks total. he didn't know anyone and he didn't understand why he was taken away.He was removed by ambulance because they thought he had swine flue,he had an ear infection, he came down with it that morning and was being treated with tylenol, we were about to call the doctor, he woke up with his fever spiking and we were etting his tylenol when the social worker showed up(it is more complicated that i can get into right now) anyway he was always on the 95 precentile at the doctors office the doctor told them he as always a happy healthy little boy and never saw any problems, he is bigger than most boys his age. He now breaks out with hives when someone he doesn't know comes near him(he never got them before)especially if they are adult, he cries and clings to mom and tells them to go.He cries sometime at night and when we fiest got him back he would wake up crying and throw up.We took him to his doctor after the first night and that was a nightmare for him,i am sure he thought they were going to take him away from his mom again.He has changed , he lost 4 pounds from his last weighing before he was taken till he got home.We took him to his favorite restaurant on the way home and he ate like he hadn't eaten in days, we had to stop him as he kept choking because he kept stuffing food in his mouth.He was in a hispanic home, they spoke english to us but i don't think thay did that all the time when he was there, he also winces when people wrestle or play fight around him,he gets worried.I don't know if it is fair to lable him at this point with a learning disability when he has the trauma of trying to trust the people he has always trusted,when they didn't keep him safe and at home where he felt safe.
Answer Hi,
I agree with you that it would not be fair to label your grandson in any way when he is trying to deal with the trauma he has experienced.
What a very sad story. It sounds like your family has been through some incredibly tough times. While adults can make sense of events that transpire around them, children don't yet have that ability. Your grandson has been through a whirlwind of events right now. It must have been absolutely traumatic to be taken from his home, placed with strangers and not to mention he was sick at the time, which would have made it feel even worse.
Some of the symptoms you mention such as lining up toys, saying words and then not repeating them again and lack of speech would be concerning if his life was uneventful. But this is very possibly a result of the stress in this little boys life.
I think the first thing to do is to focus all your attention on making him feel very secure and loved. I don't know what the mom's schedule and your schedule is like, but as much quality time should be spent with this boy as possible. What he needs right now is lots of love and attention, someone to play games with him, to read to him, to hold him, to let him know that he's loved. It takes a long time for trust to build back and it takes a consolidated effort but your grandson needs this to thrive.
I also recommend reaching out to the social worker and seeing if your grandson can get some therapy from a licensed social worker or psychologist to help him deal with the trauma he has experienced. I wish you and family happiness and an easy path from here filled with love and harmony.
