Sad for my nephew, found out he MAY be autistic!

transcriber87 · September 2011

Hello ladies! I just had to get this off my chest and I am heartbroken over it...Here is some history, I might have even posted this a year ago on here... My nephew and his wife had a baby boy and during the first couple of months, we went to visit him and let Cadance meet her new cousin..Well, I thought at the time it was really strange that my nephew & his wife told me that they put movies in their DVD player and sit him in front of the TV and she went on and on about how he just LOVES to watch movies! I thought at the time, I had read about using the TV as a babysitter and how it might cause autism. As the months progressed during his first year, she would say it again, he just LOVES his movies...They do not interact with him but stuck him in a playpen in front of the TV and I saw him myself just sitting there, mesmerized by the TV. And I am talking probably 10 hours of TV a day since he was born. Well, they told me not long ago that he wasn't talking and my mind went back to all the TV watching..He just turned 2 and I hadn't seen him in a while and what a drastic change in him...He was trying to talk and drink out of a cup at 1 yr of age and now, he does nothing! It breaks my heart...We went to his 2nd birthday party 2 weeks ago and he just roams around with a look in his eye, will not answer to anyone..I really hate to say but I think with him being "babysat" by the TV for 10 hours with movies playing over and over, it has done something to him. Now he is in speech therapy but I don't know how often. His mother seems to think he is a pain in the butt, she has even called him ugly...I just worry about him and what will happen to him over the years...Do u ladies think he could be autistic because of the excessive TV watching and no interaction with his parents or other kids?

ebb7 · September 2011

No, I don't think watching TV caused your nephew to be autistic.

Dreamsicle23 · September 2011

I'm pretty sure TV doesn't cause autism. It probably can cause verbal/social delays if he really is just "babysat" by it all day. Or he could have been born autistic and maybe the tv is just a coincidence, or perhaps a way for his parents to cope if he had undiagnosed issues and nothing else soothed him.

j&jp · September 2011

Dreamsicle23:
I'm pretty sure TV doesn't cause autism. It probably can cause verbal/social delays if he really is just "babysat" by it all day. Or he could have been born autistic and maybe the tv is just a coincidence, or perhaps a way for his parents to cope if he had undiagnosed issues and nothing else soothed him.

This. If you're not exaggerating, that's sad, but it didn't cause autism.

susanmosley · September 2011

transcriber87:
Do u ladies think he could be autistic because of the excessive TV watching and no interaction with his parents or other kids?

Absolutely not. I am 100% positive that excessive TV and limited interaction does not cause autism. It isn't as helpful as early intervention would be in facilitating development. But he is NOT autistic as a result of TV and crappy parenting.

transcriber87 · September 2011

Thanks ladies for your response...I just had it in the back of my mind and seriously, I am not exaggerating on the hours of TV, his mom told me and both grandmas, one grandma was really ticked off that they just plopped him in a play pen or their bed and left him to just watch TV, alone in his room His mom said about 6 movies and those are 1 1/2 hours each...Thanks again!

ali0608 · September 2011

smsalat:

If he just sat and watched TV for hours at a time with no interaction, it is speach/social/interaction/tactile/spcial awareness and/or any all or some of those -deficient. He doesn't know anything else, especially if the 10 hours isn't exaggerated.

I wouldn't say that he was autistic because of the TV. I wouldn't say he was austistic at all until he was tested. He may be delayed in many areas due to lack of interaction.

All of what is above is true.

I believe the research on TV watching at a young age has be shown to be tied to ADHD, not autism. And please, learn a little about the word cause. Just because research shows there is a relationship between two things, doesn't mean one causes another. As a stats teacher, this is a pet peeve.

frlcb · September 2011

I seriously roll my eyes at this post. You honestly think because they let him watch tv he MAY be autistic? First of all, yes it is horrible they did that. But he could have had speech issues regardless. Second of all your title makes it sound like they have been told he may be autistic, and really it is just your opinion?

I understand your concern, but jumping to conclusions helps no one.

Raspberry222 · September 2011

frlcb:

I seriously roll my eyes at this post. You honestly think because they let him watch tv he MAY be autistic? First of all, yes it is horrible they did that. But he could have had speech issues regardless. Second of all your title makes it sound like they have been told he may be autistic, and really it is just your opinion?

I understand your concern, but jumping to conclusions helps no one.

I agree here...I'm having a hard time keeping my mouth shut right now... Zip it!

mavs_girl07 · September 2011

frlcb:

I seriously roll my eyes at this post. You honestly think because they let him watch tv he MAY be autistic? First of all, yes it is horrible they did that. But he could have had speech issues regardless. Second of all your title makes it sound like they have been told he may be autistic, and really it is just your opinion?

I understand your concern, but jumping to conclusions helps no one.

I'm confused about this as well. Your title sounds like he may be receiving an actual diagnosis, but through your posts it sounds like just your opinion. Which is it?

posvane · September 2011

I do not believe that TV could cause him to be autistic. Yes, it's not good to put your child in front of the TV for 10 hours without any interaction.

I think if he does not know HOW to interact with other children/adults because of the TV.. that's the issue. He needs to be taught how to engage in conversation, personal space, and patience.

Good luck! It's not easy trying to help family.

transcriber87 · September 2011

Sorry that I have offended you guys and brought an eye roll on with some of you...Being that it is my great-nephew, I am trying to understand the subject, the how, why, etc of it all...My friend had a son who is 6 yrs old now and she did the same with him and his doc asked her about his TV time and the doc thought that might have been a contributing factor. He could have been born like that...I just thought I would get some opinions, yes everyone has them, including myself! I think a mother that calls her son ugly and cant stand to be around him is alarming, but thats just me...

transcriber87 · September 2011

I'm confused about this as well. Your title sounds like he may be receiving an actual diagnosis, but through your posts it sounds like just your opinion. Which is it?

This is what was told to me by his grandmothers and aunts..that he MAY be

susanmosley · September 2011

Honestly, if he zoned out, not engaged, not talking, and not doing anything at 2 (regarding self help), thinking it may be autism isn't really that far fetched, so I don't fully agree with pps jumping on you for saying it may be autism.

But I've been thinking about this post...a lot. If his parents literally leave him in front of the TV for 10 hours, say he is a pain, and call him ugly, I'm really bothered by the fact that they are still parenting him. This sounds neglectful and abusive. Do that feed and groom him? Do they have jobs? Do they have support? Where is he during the day?

Autism is a developmental disorder - likely with a genetic cause that is triggered by an environmental factor. He may have autism, in which case zero interaction + a ton of TV is not helping. But again, autism is not caused by a lot of TV. And any pediatrician that states that should not be practicing.

I'm sorry for your nephew - sounds like he is in a pretty crappy home. =(

transcriber87 · September 2011

Thanks for your post..I am still trying to figure it all out myself and just going on what was told to me. Its a shame to say he is just put aside so she can clean house and play on her ipad, nook, movies...It is heartbreaking to know he is just alone all the time with no affection or attention from the mother. She said she cant stand kids, they are brats..She doesn't work, she is on disability due to bad asthma and even that ran across my mind...with all the meds she was on while she was pregnant, could that have also been a contributing factor due to maybe a lack of oxygen? I don't know much about autism but I have been researching it when I have any extra time. Just last year, he seemed to be developing ok with talking and now, nothing. She just posted on her FB this morning that he "was watching Shrek 3 for the 7357784424th time today, kid really needs to think about retiring this one, seriously" Cadance loves to watch Mulan lately but usually one time and then she is ready to play. I guess with him, he is just following what is going on in the house and shes too busy to want to "mess with him", she pops in a movie..its her way of parenting I suppose...I just worry about his future and about him and his safety.

teacherjulie · September 2011

I am a teacher and recently had a professional deveolpment on the brain and teaching. The professor made the comment that there is a link between tv under 2 and autism. I have no idea where she got her research just a comment she made.

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