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I'm so new to this.

Nickyboynoo

Hi,

My name is Nick and I'm a dad of a beautiful four year old boy who we believe has some form of Autism.

We are in the long process of getting a diagnoses at the moment (which is seems very frustrating) and I am in need of a bit of clarity or guidance.

For a while now I have had niggly thoughts that he may have had 'issues' but through a mixture of denial and inexperience in the matter, it has taken until his fourth year for it to become glaringly obvious. 

More about my gorgeous boy.

His communicable skills are not to par with his peers, this wasn't at first apparent as he progressed well but then the progression stopped. He talks a lot but his range of conversation is limited. He cannot have a full conversation or start one.

He cannot sit still in one place for too long, attention span very limited. Very hyperactive.

My son also goes into a world of his own. At times he is responsive and alert, at others you can be talking to him and he doesn't seem to know you are there.

Then on to his sensory issues. He doesn't like certain noises, (especially children screaming) he will tend to scream mimicking the child. He panics when the phone rings and rushes to give it to us to answer. Hand dryers in toilets are a big no too. I don't know if this is linked but from a baby he never liked bright light? 

He has terrible mood swings, can be happiest boy alive then be screaming then back to calm. Other times there's no calming him at all.

He started school a few weeks ago and over that time his issues have seemed to have increased. His mood swings at home have becoming slightly more frequent and intensive.  Also I have noticed he puts his hands over his ears and closes his eyes when he gets upset, this is new since school start. 

He seems to like to go but he just doesn't interact with the other children as of yet. I have spoke to professionals and have been told about hypersensitve autism and that sometimes noises, hustle and bustle can actual pain a child suffering with this and I feel so guilty sending him if he is suffering. Problem is getting to know how HE truly feels is extremely difficult.

i know this is a ramble but it feels good to get some of this off my chest.

hello btw, if I haven't already said.

  • Hi again - transitions can be difficult for all concerned.  I hope your parent teacher evening was a positive experience.  Sensory issues could well be playing a part with his difficulties, as could changes in routine.  Did you gently question staff at the p/t evening about these concerns + were you reassured?

  • Hi,

    thanks for your reply.

    His school seems nice, his teacher the same and I know they have dealt with an autistic child before so that helps. He also has an acutely disabled girl that is in his class too so I'm confident they understand his needs.

    The thing is I thing it all comes down to his sensory issues. I'm thinking a busy bustling class room could be a problem for him?

    In the last few days he seems to have settled a little more and I have a parent teacher evening tonight so I'm hoping the confirm he is settling better.

    Maybe it is just daddy not coping well with the transition.

  • Hi - sounds like school is really stressing him out, which is not at all uncommon, espcially if he hasn't got the support he needs + also if the teachers etc don't understand how autism affects him as a person.  Check out the home page and/or ipsea about getting help for your child at school.  You need to understand how his sensory issues affect him.  The way I do it is to image a noise, taste, touch of whatever that I don't like + the multiply it massively.  Then I imagine being unable to get away from that.  As a neuro typical person this is the best I can do.  In some ways he reminds me of my son when he was little (now an adult who still has noise sensitivities + can be over-exuberant or terribly distraught at times).  And yes, school can have a v profound affect on our children, a detrimental effect if they don't know about autism.  They are neuro-typical at school, not autism orientated, so interpret an autistic child's behaviour in an NT way.  This doesn't help our children at all, quite the reverse.  Parents also need to learn as much as they can about autism + how it applies to their individual child so they can help.  I appreciate he isn't diagnosed yet but it's always worth visiting a variety of schools to see whether another 1 might be more suitable.  My son went to autism specific schools + for him they did a v gd job indeed because they understood.  

  • Oh and to add, in the last 3 days he has began to wet himself again? Can starting school have this profound effect on a ASD sufferer?