I found out this past month that my oldest boy that will be six years old in a little over a week. Does have Autism, Expressive-Receptive Language Disorder, and ADHD. All that in it self is a lot to say. I already knew that he had a language delay, he was already diagnosed with that years ago. My husband and I also highly suspected that our oldest does have ADHD just because he is so hyperactive and inattentive at times that is off the charts. The Autism diagnosis surprised me, because of how heightened he is to most emotions.
Looking back at all he did and all we went through kind shows off warning signs, and makes sense on that could have been the Autism. For instance, when he was a baby he would not sleep on his own very well. It took him till nine months before we could even try to get him to sleep in his own bed. Then we would have a lot of sleepless nights where he would cry himself to sleep. Even though we were in the room with him and giving him support. He just wanted to sleep with mom or dad. That took about 3 months to get him used to sleeping in his own bed in his own room.
If anything would throw off his routine such as sleeping at grandparents, or staying out later than normal. Than it would back lash, and it would take about a week at least to get him back to sleeping on his own again. After his brother was born almost a year and a half ago, my husband just had him sleep with him downstairs. Now, that is what he is use to, wants to sleep with "daddy" all the time.
Thinking back on all I just mentioned is mostly around these three areas: repetition, routines, and sensory. He needs that body there to sleep. I have researched ideas on what try to get him to sleep on his own. Will we try this out yes, but it will be a slow process because that is what works for our family.
Picture schedule, honestly, that should have been like a light bulb for me, I learned that Autistic children especially take well to picture schedules. That is the best way at school and at home (when we he feels like using it), worked for him to understand what is going on. One other idea we are going to try out is also a rewards chart of sorts, to help him understand consequences. Also want to work towards doing things that are positive, and not just do things because he wants to. Something that our boy has big struggle in, is understanding how is behaviors affect others. He like most children think that they should get something because they want it and see it.
The big thing I have noticed with him, and trust me I do know that not all children are alike. He is very open to suggestion. Such as when we were at the store today, we were in the Tupperware isle. He saw pictures on some of the Tupperware of lunch. So he said, he needed that for lunch as well.
I never truly thought after learning about everything that is going on with my oldest would open my eyes to want is strengthens and weakness are. Because I thought I already knew them all. Oh how I was wrong on that one.
He is very powerful to persuasion, so that means we really have to watch what we have him, watch, and say to him. Along with, what others say to him. As I thinking about this, I have to cut back more, what shows we allow him to watch and what video games we allow him to play.
Now I have been searching for visual aids, and what do to in the home for Behavioral needs help for his Autism. Do I think he is beyond hope, no way. He has made such progress especially this year. This has been a blessing in disguise. He is in a Autistic based classroom through our local public school. Granted is it as intensive as lets says a school for for Autism, no. Do I think he needs that kind of help, no. Why, because he is very high functioning, he can express his needs pretty well. The things that he really needs help with is language, and he getting that at school and through at home center. Will I seek out the extra help for his behavior, more than likely, just to help him better be able to make friends, and how to better approach children his age.
Goodness that boy wants to play with everyone, he calls everyone his "friend". I mean everyone, cousins, neighborhood children, classmates, and occasionally his younger brother. He is such a loving boy and will give anyone that he gotten close to hugs hello and goodbye. I will post more after I make some calls and do more research. Have a blessed evening.
