My son shows some signs of autism could he have borderline autism?

Question

my son Jonathon shows some signs of autism he is very moody all the time. sometimes he won't even let you touch him sometimes he screams and carries on like you are killing him when you did nothing wrong with him I have tried everything to fine the answers for what he has my dad says he is just being a kid but I know there is something wrong with him.

Answer 1

No, he's not just on the border, he's in the capital city and he's the mayor...

and to those 8 people who gave me a thumbs down? Get over yourselves, you humorless pricks

Answer 2

He may not actually be autistic but could have Sensory Integration Dysfunction/Disorder.  I would start with communicating your concerns to your pediatrician and asking for a referral to a child psychologist and an occupational therapist.  The psychologist can evaluate to either confirm or dismiss your suspicion of autism.  And the occupational therapist can evaluate for any sensory integration issues.  Good Luck.

Answer 3

Autism is called a spectrum disorder because everyone with it is a bit different. It's very difficult to diagnose those borderline kids, and you'd need an experienced professional to do so.

It is possible that he has aspergers or even sensory processing disorder. i'd contact your local autism society and ask for a few suggestions for screening. You don't mention how old your son is, but some things like moodiness *is* developmental. Respect goes a long way, if you know he doesn't want to be touched, don't touch him. That's a big sign of autonomy development.

Answer 4

Hi Hun... my twin son Thomas is nine and has severe autism he is also non verbal, you don't say how old your son is ? signs of autism moody is not one of them as far as I'm aware , Thomas has never been moody he loves his own space and own little world, as a 3 year old he wouldn't give eye contact wouldn't play with his twin sister or us and would rather play lining up bricks and playing with wheels, when i go to cuddle Thomas i have to put his arms around me and he is OK for a little while, because your son doesn't like to be cuddled or touched doesn't really mean he has autism, some children dont like to be cuddled autism is a lot deeper than this ...is his speech OK ? does he like to play ? if your still concerned seek help from your GP

best of luck

Answer 5

With autism, characteristics can range from mild to severe. Not everyone shows the same characteristics. I suggest going to the Autism Society of America..they give great info about Autism, Asperger's (high functioning autism), PDD-NOS(atypical autism), and the other Pervasive Developmental Disorders; they also have information about other disorders that have similiar charteristics of autism. You can literally spends hours there reading all the info they have to offer. With the info they have to offer, I knew my son had autism before he was evaluated.

If you feel your son has autism whether it be mild or severe, best is to get a referral from your pediatrician for an evaluation. If he is pre-k /school age, you can ask the school to do an evaluation as well, which is no charge to you. They will test him in all areas of the suspected disability, for example if he would need speech therapy or occupationial therapy, etc. If he is pre-k, they can provide him with early intervention services starting at the age of 3. If I can help more, please contact me through my profile.

Answer 6

It sounds like he may have symptoms of Asperger Disorder.  Bring him to a therapist or a psychiatrist, they are the only ones who would be able to know for sure.  Look up Asperger on Google, and it will be able to give you the descriptions and everything else about it.  My son has this.

Good luck!

Answer 7

I would make an appointment with a child guidance counselor, or a behavior therapist. You should be able to find listings in your phone book under child counselor or therapy. A professional can work with your son and make a diagnosis, if there is something wrong. Or they may find he has a reason to be upset and help you resolve any issues he is having. Think of all the variables that need to be considered: Are you a single mom, or is his Dad gone a lot? Have you lost many people in your family lately? Has he been like this his whole life? Is there a certain time of day this happens? What is his diet like? Keep a journal of all the food he eats each day and take it to a professional therapist or counselor. They may be able to see a correlation between what/when he eats and when he behaves this way. Make sure you record everything from date, time, portions, and exactly what the food is (i.e. Breakfast 7:30 am, 1 1/2 cups fruit loops, 1/2 cup 2% cow's milk, 1 small red delicious apple.  Snack 9:15 am, 10 small caramel rice cakes, 1/2 cup 100% Tree Top apple juice. Lunch 12 noon, Whole sliced Turkey sandwich w/ kraft american cheese, regualr mayonaise, mustard, sm bg cheetohs, 1 six ounce grape juice box, 1 serv. mandarin oranges prepackaged. Snack 3:00 pm, 1 cup Orange juice from concentrate, 8 saltine crackers, 2 slices mild cheddar cheese (3 servings). Dinner 7:00 pm, 1 1/2 cup regular Spaghetti noodles,  1/2 cup spaghetti sauce, 1 cup chocolate milk.

Make sure you are this specific, if not more. Some times little things like dyes, or preservatives in some products can make a difference. Good luck!

Answer 8

There are several rating scales available that will help you discern whether your son has autism or Asperger's. These include the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale and the Gilliam Asperger's rating scale. Your school psychologist may be able to get you these or search online.

You need to understand that autism is a communication disorder. If your son is normally verbal and can express his wants and needs, he probably is not autistic. If his verbal skills are very poor, then it may be a possibility.

In addition, because of their very poor communication skills, autistic kids are very anxious in social situations because they cannot read social cues. Some of them can't even speak. If your son socializes and speaks normally, it may not be autism.

To read more about autism and to understand it, get Temple Grandin's book, "Thinking in Pictures." This really helps you understand the characteristics of autism.

Asperger's children have no trouble communicating, but it is the content and context of communication that they lack. They have very little interest in the person they are talking to and cannot take another person's perspective. They usually have an intense interest in a specific subject and it is hard to get them to talk about something else. They also cannot read social cues, but they don't know it.

Finally, seek the school's help with your son. Go to the school counselor and explain your concerns. This will either get a plan going to consider special education services or you will get some information as to whether or not you should worry.

Answer 9

You can go to www.autismspeaks.org...they show videos with examples of children who are autistic at different ages.

Also...have your pediatrician exam him or go to a developmental pediatrician.

Not every child shows signs of autism...I don't know why anyone would tell you that. I have three lovely children...and the only one I actually had any worries about was my youngest one. (and that was only because he wasn't talking as much as I thought he should have been)

And I just love parents that say that it's just "a phase" or "because they are a child"....my oldest son has ADHD...and my whole family kept saying..."it's because he's a boy...he needs more exercise...it'll pass"

You're his mother....if you have concerns definitely address them with your child's Dr. If nothing else it will help you to understand what is going on and why. And early treatment of autism has shown great strides in the productivity and quality of life that these children can experience when they grow up.

Good luck. (and yes...there are different degrees of the severity of the disease and even different types of the syndrome like Aspergers Syndrome)

Answer 10

Do not let any doctor tell you they understand your child BETTER then YOU his Mother...... because it is NOT possible !!

Here are a few things to look for...

Signs and symptoms

In general, children with autism have problems in three crucial areas of development — social skills, language and behavior. The most severe autism is marked by a complete inability to communicate or interact with other people.

Because the symptoms of autism vary widely, two children with the same diagnosis may act quite differently and have strikingly different skills.

If your child has autism, he or she may develop normally for the first few months — or years — of life and then later become less responsive to other people, including you. You may recognize the following signs in the areas of social skills, language and behavior:

Social skills

Fails to respond to his or her name

Has poor eye contact

Appears not to hear you at times

Resists cuddling and holding

Appears unaware of others' feelings

Seems to prefer playing alone — retreats into his or her "own world"

Language

Starts talking later than other children

Loses previously acquired ability to say words or sentences

Does not make eye contact when making requests

Speaks with an abnormal tone or rhythm — may use a singsong voice or robot-like speech

Can't start a conversation or keep one going

May repeat words or phrases verbatim, but doesn't understand how to use them

Behavior

Performs repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning or hand-flapping

Develops specific routines or rituals

Becomes disturbed at the slightest change in routines or rituals

Moves constantly

May be fascinated by parts of an object, such as the spinning wheels of a toy car

May be unusually sensitive to light, sound and touch

Young children with autism also have a hard time sharing experiences with others. When someone reads to them, for example, they're unlikely to point at pictures in the book. This early-developing social skill is crucial to later language and social development.

As they mature, some children with autism become more engaged with others and show less marked disturbances in behavior. Some, usually those with the least severe impairments, eventually may lead normal or near-normal lives. Others, however, continue to have severe impairments in language or social skills, and the adolescent years can mean a worsening of behavior problems.

The majority of children with autism are slow to acquire new knowledge or skills. However, some children with autism have normal to high intelligence. These children learn quickly yet have trouble communicating, applying what they know in everyday life and adjusting in social situations. An extremely small number of children with autism are "autistic savants" and have exceptional skills in a specific area, such as art or math.

Best of LUCK

Answer 11

There is no such thing as borderline autism, you either have it or you don't. Everyone has certain autistic traits some more noticeable than others. If you feel there is something wrong with your son, then you should do something about it straight away. As his mum you know him better than any one else. Go and see your doctor and ask for a referral to a clinical child psychologist, tell him how you feel and don't let the doctor try and put you off by saying it is only a phase or all children behave like this at times. I have been through the same battle with my own autistic child and it has taken nine years to finally get a diagnosis. I wish you well and do what you think is best for your son,good luck.

Answer 12

Go to www.autism.com

It is the web site for the Autism Research Institute in CA.

click on "diagnostic checklist" .It will explain the E-2 form, a questionnaire you fill out,they put in through the computer, and give you the answer you are looking for.

From there you can decide, with the help of your son's pediatrician,if a developmental evaluation is necessary.Listen to your gut! Good luck!

Answer 13

Everyone displays some forms of autism. But in your son's case, it would be best to have him tested. Consult your pediatrician. They can recommend someone.