At what age can a child reliably be diagnosed with PDD?

[merwin]

My son started getting words around 1 year old, had about 5 of them that he would say regularly and then something happened. Probably a huge coincidence, but shortly after one of his big rounds of vaccines, he went back to not talking at all. Now he just turned 2 years old and has some issues that I see as potentially troubleshooting. People tell me it's just the terrible two phase, but this is something that's been pretty constant since about a year and a half.

He doesn't speak. He will occasionally make elephant and train noises if asked. He grunts, points, or whines if he wants something. He frequently slaps himself or bangs his head against things when he gets even slightly upset (which can happen very easily). He doesn't get upset when actually does hurt himself (bump his head into the metal support under our desk), fall down and skin his knees, etc. He gets insanely focused on the task at hand sometimes, which usually involves trains, cars, or his Nick Jr shows, requiring us to say his name 4 or 5 times for him to look over at us and acknowledge that we exist. He is almost impossible to divert from his current task. For example, if we are outside and need to go inside, he will flip out.

The thing that gets me the most is that he understands EVERYTHING you say, but won't talk at all. For example, if I lay out 3 board books that look the same, one of which is Go Dog Go, and ask which one is Go Dog Go, he will pick the right one. He will point out any Dora character that you ask for. He will flip through pages until he finds the elephant, etc.

I do understand that much of this can be explained away with the "terrible two's", but when I put it all together it seems troubling to me.

[elleng]

1. Hi, merwin.

I can't answer your questions, not being a professional (just a mother,) but I'd suggest you discuss these matters with docs. Pediatrician reliable? Go further than that.

AND good luck.

[merwin]

2. We have his 2 year appointment with the pediatrician in the morning.

However, as a pediatrician, one of his most important jobs is telling parents that nothing is wrong with their kid, and it's all in their head :) So, I think I may be taking your advice and seeing someone else as well if that happens.

I'm just looking for practical advice here, not really medical advice... I've got a brother that's an ER doctor for the Army for the medical part of things ;)

Thanks!

[merwin]

3. Just had his 2 year checkup this morning.

We are being referred to a developmental specialist to get him checked.

This was just a horrible visit in general though. He has a temp of 100 (after Tylenol), plus had to get Hep-A shot in his leg, and then have a blood draw for anemia and Celiac's disease (I was just diagnosed with it a month ago). He was not a happy camper.

[elleng]

4. Sorry about not-happy camper,

but very pleased to hear about referral.

Was gonna say if your pediatrician REALLY only tells you good news, well, you know what to do!

GOOD LUCK!

[merwin]

5. He just called me back and told me that Sam scored fine on the M-CHAT. However,

while filling out the one-page yes/no questionnaire, I couldn't help but feel that it was the most ridiculous thing ever. Like, how do you answer 'occasionally' on a yes/no form?

Before going to the Dr, I had filled out the following online test:
http://www.childbrain.com/pddassess.html

It seems much more logical as to how to diagnose PDD. Being a spectrum of different disorders, I feel that yes/no just doesn't cut it.

[TrogL]

6. That's sounds like waaay beyond PDD

No, I'm not a doctor but I've got Asperger's so I've done my homework.

It's also waaaay beyond terrible two's. I've had normie two-year-olds. They won't fucking shut up. They're in your face practically 24-7 wanting something or other. That's why it's called the "terrible two's".

You need to get him into a neurodevelopmental clinic to see someone who actually understands the autistic spectrum.

[merwin]

8. It's very frustrating for my son and I... he is incredibly smart, understands everything you say,

but won't utter a word. He's been getting more and more frustrated with life as well, to the point where nothing we do can comfort him.

Example...
For a few months now, he's had an off and on thing where he wakes up around midnight screaming, spends at least 10 minutes screaming while we're holding him, won't even lay down in our bed willingly. Although, the last couple of days he only screamed for about 5 minutes after we got him, and went to sleep in our bed with only a few minutes of calming down.

I don't even want to tell my regular doc about that part, because he's the kind of parent who believes in tough love. Let them scream it out. He also told us to hold him down and brush his teeth.

Luckily, I'm a strong believer of NOT following every word your doctor says. They've all got their beliefs about parenting, and I've got mine :)


It's 12:30am, and I hear my son screaming out of the blue. Time to sign off for the night!

[TrogL]

10. WTF????

he's had an off and on thing where he wakes up around midnight screaming, spends at least 10 minutes screaming while we're holding him, won't even lay down in our bed willingly

Been there done that, even recently. Ask Craftygal.

They're called night terrors. They are NOT nightmares. I tend to wake up and find something wrong with the room. Usually it's something out of place like a pair of shoes, which I then hallucinate as something else, often a cat. Since I'm well aware that a cat isn't supposed to be in the room I panic.

...hold him down and brush his teeth

He's got to be fucking crazy.

The absolute LAST thing I need right then is somebody touching me, especially around my face. If he's OK with you holding him while he screams it out, that's fine but it may even be enough for you to be in the room.

If he seems to be focused on something in the room find out if that's the issue and do something about it. It might be something so simple as making sure the closet door's closed or his shoes are in the "right" place.

[merwin]

11. Usually when I come in the room he's still laying down on his belly like he's sleeping,

except with his eyes open and crying. He does realize that we're there, as he usually starts to accelerate his crying when we come in. If we leave him alone for a few minutes before coming in, he usually is sitting up in bed screaming.

[TrogL]

12. I may be barking up the wrong tree...

but I still think that's a night terror.

Try walking through his line of vision, see if he tries to see around you. If he does, figure out what he's trying to look at and take it out of the room unless that upsets him more.

Also try being in the room but being very neutral, not doing anything, not talking, not making eye contact and see if he still goes to screaming.

Damn this is frustrating. makes you wish auties were telepathic.

[Kajsa]

7. Merwin, this is the age when my son's

autistic behavior patterns started to emerge.

And yes, his speech was very delayed.
His comprehension was good, but his attention
was either obsessing on one thing or extremely scattered.

I'm glad you're getting an assessment.

If you get the " everything's fine" from any doctor,
find another one.
We know in our hearts that something is going on with
our kids.

Wishing you the best in everything, especially finding
good, competent doctors who can help your son.

-from one who has been there, many times.

:hug:

[merwin]

9. We just got the call back from the developmental clinic in the area...

They can't see him until mid-July. Time for more hurry-up-and-wait.

What most pediatricians and primary care docs don't get is that alone, the individual signs of Aspergers don't mean anything by themselves, but when you start putting them all together things start to become clear.

[Muttocracy]

13. I don't know about exact ages for diagnosis but a family member

works with many kids on various places on the autism spectrum (also kids with physical disabilities, Down syndrome, combinations, etc.), and she works with them UNTIL the age of 3, when they start to get care under the school system. That's the situation in her state - have you found out what the situation is in your state? Maybe search for "early intervention" services in your state?

What I hear from her is that many pediatricians have little training in child development. Some are great, and I'm sure more are becoming aware now than when she started in the field a few decades ago. Good luck!

[merwin]

14. Status Update ... and a couple more questions

So, my son finally got his words (at 2 1/2 years), and is throwing words around like crazy. I kind of feel like he's surpassed many other kids his age in the last couple of months.

Aside from the sudden jump in speaking capability, he's also having other issues that seem more than just terrible two's still. The last month or so have been terrible with sleeping. Every night at bedtime now, like clockwork, he flips his shit when it's bedtime. Hitting and screaming in what I can only describe as uncontrollable rage. Sometimes he will actually go to sleep with only 5 minutes of rage, but if he wakes up in the middle of the night, the rage is back. And when I say rage, I mean blood curdling screaming like you're knifing him, to the point that he will make himself throw up if you don't intervene (which usually happens after 30-45 minutes).

He's also taken to self-stimulation, in the form of ear rubbing, usually when he's anxious, angry, or tired.

Kind of like he's got two personalities... his happy running around personality and his insane one. No quiet calm one, but I guess that's what having a 2 year old is like :)

[Left coast liberal]

15. I would also try to access a local Child Find, birth thru 3 program.

We hooked up with them at 18 months when my son was showing speech delay. He is almost 5 now and he does has a severe speech delay and pretty pronounced food allergies.

We found out he was allergic to wheat/gluten, whey/dairy, eggs, soy, spelt, rye, barley, peanuts. It absolutely broadsided us but damned if his speech and attention really improved. Like within a couple days.

We also try and get him to take Omega 3 & 6 for brain development. Good way to get it is Hemp Milk; high in fiber, protein and Omega 3 & 6.

Come visit my blog:

http://coaxingwordsfromshea.blogspot.com/

Good luck