ASD Question

Junebug060609

Guessing this is a common thing with ASD, but figured I'd ask.

DS pretty much doesn't point.  Not a shocker there given his dx.  Sometimes he'll put an open hand over a picture when asked to 'show me ___'.  What I've noticed in the last week is him taking MY pointer finger and making it point at the object in question.  Tonight for example, I asked him to show me the moon in the story we were reading.  He didn't move a muscle.  So I made my hand into a pointer and put my hand in his and asked him again.  He took it straight up to the moon.  I guess I'm wondering if it is common for them to do that and if anyone knew why he would point with my hand but not with his own.

He'd done it a few days ago with some characters in a Thomas book, so I figured I'd see what else he knew.  I had no idea until to night that he knew what a moon (crescent moon shape) was.  Very proud of him

mommy0411

My son did this as well before he learned to point himself! To me it's the same as him leading me by the hand to get something. At this point your DS doesn't realize you are a separate person. He thinks you are an extension of himself meant to meet his needs. My DS started pointing after intensive therapy around 27 months but it is still just to get something he needs. He still doent point to share reference at something he is looking at. Also you are getting so close to your due date! Good luck!!

hopecounts

Pretty typical for a kid on the spectrum. DD would do this but ABA and OT both worked on it so she now does her own pointing to show me things, answer a question, etc. Like yesterday at the egg hunt she pointed and said 'look easer bunny Mama' when the Easter bunny came out.

Junebug060609

I had a feeling it was par for the course.  I'm just glad to get a tiny glimpse into what he knows and understands, you know?  I can definitely see the correlation between using my hand to point and taking me by the hand to things or putting things he wants in my hands for help.  

It was this type of thing that used to frustrate me when we were in dx limbo.  I'd think it was great that he was finding a way, ANY way, to communicate, and then they'd be all..."yup totally common on the spectrum".  At least this time I figured it probably was so no wind was taken out of my sails.  Progress, I suppose. 

Hopefully I did the right thing after he did it.  I told him what a good job he did and then used his pointer to point at the same thing and said good job for that as well.  

Junebug060609

@mommy0411 She'll be an outside baby by her EDD (docs orders courtesy of GD).  Crazy to think that in two weeks or less we'll have a newborn in the house!

Junebug060609

No rest for the weary. Aint that the truth!

Also, what is scaffolding speech?
@-auntie-‌