speech and understanding

hi jojo - my son was 3 months short of his 3rd birthday when he was diagnosed.  The social side is difficult for anyone on the spectrum.  Remember it is a spectrum so autism will affect your child but to what degree and in what ways?  This will only tell with time, altho the diagnosis, if detailed, will help.   So will the appropriate educational environment.  My son was never particularly bothered about other children when he was a child.  He preferred adults, poss because they understood his use of language better, so he would go to them for what he wanted.  He would take a liking to certain adults but we were never sure why.  As he couldn't see the full picture of any situation, he would be basing his likes and dislikes on an incomplete understanding of the person or situation.  There again, there were people he didn't like and I could understand that!  As he's grown up he understands more, has a larger vocabulary and takes more of an interest in people.  He has always had problems following sequences.  He lacks social skills but unlike people with aspergers who are more aware, he doesn't get depressed as I don't think he has insight to that degree.  He's a stickler for some things being a certain way whilst other things don't bother him at all.  He still gets attached in his own way to certain people but it's on his terms! He has a poor understanding of families and what it means to be part of one, but on the other hand some people are important to him.  Basically he'd like us all to do what he wanted all the time.  Unless upset he's a happy personality, with his own interests who's building up an understanding of the world he lives in and making progress. I'm proud of how far he's come and he continues to develop.  Your child will also develop and mature so don't take what I'm saying as a template.  Just like any child, no 2 are the same.

hi jojo - my son was 3 months short of his 3rd birthday when he was diagnosed.  The social side is difficult for anyone on the spectrum.  Remember it is a spectrum so autism will affect your child but to what degree and in what ways?  This will only tell with time, altho the diagnosis, if detailed, will help.   So will the appropriate educational environment.  My son was never particularly bothered about other children when he was a child.  He preferred adults, poss because they understood his use of language better, so he would go to them for what he wanted.  He would take a liking to certain adults but we were never sure why.  As he couldn't see the full picture of any situation, he would be basing his likes and dislikes on an incomplete understanding of the person or situation.  There again, there were people he didn't like and I could understand that!  As he's grown up he understands more, has a larger vocabulary and takes more of an interest in people.  He has always had problems following sequences.  He lacks social skills but unlike people with aspergers who are more aware, he doesn't get depressed as I don't think he has insight to that degree.  He's a stickler for some things being a certain way whilst other things don't bother him at all.  He still gets attached in his own way to certain people but it's on his terms! He has a poor understanding of families and what it means to be part of one, but on the other hand some people are important to him.  Basically he'd like us all to do what he wanted all the time.  Unless upset he's a happy personality, with his own interests who's building up an understanding of the world he lives in and making progress. I'm proud of how far he's come and he continues to develop.  Your child will also develop and mature so don't take what I'm saying as a template.  Just like any child, no 2 are the same.