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anyone here have experience with autism?

rslhmgrslhmg member
edited December 2013 in Preemies
I know I should probably be posting this on the special needs board, but I feel more comfortable posting here since I'm worried I'm just being paranoid and I'm kind of being a chicken about posting there. We are starting to suspect DD may be on the autsim spectrum (is that the right wording??). She has been having violent outbursts, for no reason we can figure out, she has been banging her head on stuff since she was 8mos actual, and has escalated to the point she does not stop even when shes hurting herself, and she's becoming increasingly antisocial. There are other small behaviors that her grandmother pointed out to us as things dds uncle did/does and he is autistic, including her sleep patterns. She will sleep for 2-3 hrs max and be up and ready for the day. We have talked to her developmental specialist and pedi about the head banging several times over the last 9 months, they told us to ignore it and she would stop, but it has only gotten worse. She actually broke the skin on her forehead from banging her head, and dh and I now feel we have to intervene because she is definitely hurting herself doing it. We have tried every trick we can find, and every recommendation from her drs to get her sleeping as well. I've been avoiding "dr" google, but between my experience with my autstic step brother and dhs brother, we are seeing enough similar behaviors to feel concerned. She does have a developmental appointment later this month, and we are going to push to have her evaluated, I'm just worried that our concerns will be brushed off like they were when we brought them up to her pedi, and that I am just being paranoid. I guess I'm kinda hoping someone here has experienced similar behaviors in their los and can tell me if I'm just being paranoid or if we really do have reason to be concerned. Tyia ladies.


***Edit to prevent confusion about DD's age. Dd is 17 months actual/15 adjusted, realized from the first comment her age may not be clear if my ticker isn't showing.
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Re: anyone here have experience with autism?

  • Kelly_12Kelly_12 member
    This is just my opinion and I have no personal experience with autism but I think 9mos is too young to be seeing signs.
    I remember reading about vaccines and the possible link to autism (not trying to change subject or discuss this issue) and part of the problem with the research is that the vaccines thought to be linked with autism are given around the time that autistic signs may start to present in any child. Those are the 12mo and 18mo shots. So around that age is when signs start to show... Apparently.. So 9 mos may be too early.
    Just something to think about, like I said I have no experience in this area just remember reading that.

    Goodluck to you and my only advice is remember you are the only one truly advocating for your child. Do not let any doctor or specialist brush you off, always go with your gut and push the issue until you feel ok about it.
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  • rslhmgrslhmg member
    she's 17 months, the head banging started at 8 months and at the time we took both drs at their word that we shouldn't intervene, just ignore the behavior and it would stop. You may have got 9 months from where I said we've been bringing up the head banging for the last 9 months since it has been escalating to the point she won't stop when it hurts. Sorry for the confusion, I probably should have put how old she is in case anyone was on mobile or just can't see the ticker for some reason.
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  • luvbostonluvboston member
    You need to have an early intervention consult they will be your best bet if your pedi is an idiot and because she is a preemie you dont need a referral. Also if you are still having problems make an appt with a behavior specialist.
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  • LaciJaxxLaciJaxx member
    I have no experience with autism but I wanted to say that I did similar things when I was young, for quite a few years. I would get so mad and bang my head, pull my hair, etc.... That was obviously about 30 years ago but my mom was also told to ignore it and it would go away. Hard to do, I'm sure. I finally stopped when I figured out it wasn't getting my anything except a headache. I can remember doing it. I would also throw things. I don't know what caused it, I guess I had a horrible temper. I'm not sure.

    Anyway I'm hoping maybe this is the case with your LO instead. T's and P's for you!!!! And I agree with PP, keep pushing the drs for answers.
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  • rslhmgrslhmg member
    I really hope so too. I feel totally selfish and awful for saying this, but I feel like I have too much stress and worry with hoping my current pregnancy makes it to full term to be able to take on anymore if our concerns about dd are correct. Don't get me wrong, if our suspicions are correct, we will do everything we need to for her to have as normal and functional a life as possible, I'm just really hoping we are wrong. She has an appointment with her developmental specialist later this month, and he used to evaluate for our states ei program before becoming part of our nicu clinic, so I feel like he's our best resource for an evaluation right now. We unfortunately havent had to see him since feb (thought that was awesome at the time, until she started having these issues), and its difficult to get an appointment so we can't bring our concerns to him any faster.
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  • Kelly_12Kelly_12 member
    Sorry obviously ignore my comment, I am mobile and tired so read that wrong for her age.
    I would stick with my advice of going with your gut and pushing the issue. If you feel something's not quite right you need to make sure they do a thorough evaluation and takes your concerns seriously..goodluck!
    Really hoping it's just a phase for you and she's fine :)
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  • rslhmgrslhmg member
    Is a developmental pedi different from a developmental specialist? She has a developmental specialist she has seen a few times since she came home from the hospital, but we haven't seen him since feb because she was on track and ahead in some areas for her actual age at the time. We go back this month to see him so I'm going to be bringing up our concerns at that visit. As far as her regular pedi, they are usually really good at working with us, the only other issue I've had with them was when I wanted her tested for allergies and they explained to me the second time I pressed for it that there aren't any allergists they knew of willing to test at her age. I confirmed that myself by calling allergists in and around our area, so that really wasn't something they were just brushing off. I was seriously surprised they seemed to brush us off this time since they never have before. I'm hoping that was some weird fluke since there are only 2 pediatric practices in our area, and the one we use is the only one with experience with preemies, we don't necessarily need that anymore, but it does make me feel better knowing they have that experience.
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