Wondering about Oliver.

[*Star*]

Oliver is a bit of a handful to be honest.
It started off that when he was tired and I left him he would cry so hard he wouldn't breathe. Then he goes blue and I have to hold him until he takes a big gasp of air because once he realises he's not breathing he starts to scratch at his face and thro himself around.
Now depending on how long it lasts, he can seem to loose consciousness, and that causes his body to breathe. When that happens it takes a minute or so for him to come round fully. And he's still really upset.

Ok so thats the first thing. The next, is he has started to headbutt things. If he doesn't get what he wants, or you take something off him, he'll butt the nearest thing to him. Be it me, the floor, the table, arm of the chair and even amela (though i caught him just in time).

He makes himself sick when he things he isnt getting attention. Mainly happens when he is in his cot and not gone to sleep. or when he is in his playpen.

He's also throwing himself backwards. Wont let you pick him up, and generally does it when your trying to get him to do something he doesnt want to do.

He's also slow with talking. He's almost 18 months old, and we really only get 'hiya' off him. He used to say 'ta' all the time as well, but that's stopped happening much now. He makes an attempt to say cat, yes, bath, mama and dada, but that's it.

He does understand a lot though. I ask him to bring something here and he does. to lie down for istance, or ask him where iggle piggle is, put the tele on, have your juice, be gentle, get a nappy, give a kiss etc. so he does understand.

okay, the reason im asking this is because everything, apart from the making himself sick bit, is a copy cat from what my brother was like at his age. My brother is autistic and has adhd. my brothers type of autism is aspergers, and its high functioning autism.

is it possible oliver could be the same? now im not worried about it, and im not trying to label him with anything yet, but i just want to know the possibility of it. can autism be genetic? im going to do a bit of research on it.

any thoughts anyone?

 

[mum's the word]

I know with asperger's there does tend to be someone else (often undiagnosed) in the family with it, or at least with tendencies.
A girl I worked with just got her daughter diagnosed officially with asperger's and her husband also has just found out he has it, would you like me to get in touch with her to see if she'd speak to you about what her daughter was like at 18 months? I'm sure she would and maybe she'd have some advice for you as she now has the benefit of hindsight. I know her daughter was a handful from day one and now she knows the reasons and has got her settled in a mainstream school things are looking up.
If it's any consolation, Ricky's speech is limited to a couple of words and one phrase-'there it is' and he's coming up to 18 months, plus when he's tired his behaviour is hysterical, aggressive and totally unmanageable.
Many will say it's too early to be thinking of autism/asperger's but when you know someone with an ASD or work with them (as i did for 10 years) you do home in on certain traits, I wonder about Ricky as he thrives on routine, is obsessed with lights and refuses any cuddles/eye contact, all of which are very familiar traits with the kids i worked with .

 

[rhian85]

hun i wouldnt worry about the headbanging....christopher started doing this around the same age, his had would be black with bruising. he STILL does it now everytime i say no or stop him from doing something he shouldnt be. i have been in touch with the health visitor over it and suprisingly she said its normal..toatally normal especially in boys. we were told they do grow out of it by the age of 3 christopher has been doing it today he threw him self to the floor head first full force and now has a classic bruised forehead.

the best way to deal with that is to ignore it, dont tell him off, dont respond to him but go behind him after he has banged his head pick him up and put him on the sofa on his own no TV/toys and let him sweat it out but dont talk to him for a few minutes. then cuddle him make him aploogise (hug/kiss you )

this way he will learn that banging his head just gets his isolated on the sofa and not what he wants. this will get worse before it gets better - ive been there and still there but he now know sif he bangs his head he gets thrown on the sofa to chill out.

pm me if u want any more help with this