Autism awareness

[CherHell]

I've been home the past few days and I have seen a flurry of news stories on tv about autism. I am happy to see it's getting so much exposure. I have had an interest in learning more about autism because friends of ours have not one but two children who have been diagnosed with autism (they are now pregnant with another baby). Am I just now noticing this because I have an interest or does it seem like autism is finally getting more attention?

[Moodyzblu]

I think Autism has sort of hit the spotlight because of so many kids being diagnosed with it. Makes you wonder why, and whats causing it. My friend, Missy, has 2 dd with it. One is 3 years old, the other is 8 yrs old. Her life has been pretty much hell.
Its also been discussed with me regarding my twins .. but nothing concrete yet. I dont think they are .. but they do show some autistic behaviors. We'll just have to see how this next year goes.

[CherHell]

Interesting. Our friends - the 5 year old had mild autism and the two year old is awaiting a more thorough eval at Georgetown University with a team that is highly regarded in this area when it comes to autism. She appears to show all the signs so far though. I think in the past weeks she is finally starting to speak but will only say letters. She is very anti-social and agressive to other kids. She bit the hell out of my son one day when he was over there for a playdate with the older kid. He is scared to death to go to their house now. He doesn't understand at four obviously that some kids are different. The five year old can function - he attends the same presschool as my son. He is VERY smart. He has been able to read since age 2 or 3.

:grouphug

[Moodyzblu]

My friends older one is VERY smart as well. She just has weird social behavior. She's also bi-polar, so that really makes it interesting. She used to be real aggressive but has calmed down alot now that she's older.
Her 3 yr old doesnt talk much yet .. a few words here and there. She isnt aggressive at all .. just a little "out there" though .. kind of in her own world.

[CherHell]

sounds a lot like my friends kids. the older one too - is a little off socially.

[zak frost]

Isn't it like 1 in every 166 kids are diagnosed with autism? We looked into it when Toad wasn't talking.

[2littlelovebugs]

Cheryl, it sounds like your friend's 5 year old is pretty high-functioning. If he's that smart, and autistic to boot, he may have Asperger's syndrome, which is what Einstein was thought to have had.

I think it's great that autism is getting more publicity. It is such a hard disability to deal with. I used to work with the special ed. department at a high school. I have worked with kids with different degrees of autism. It's great that there are so many people out there concerned with autism b/c experts are coming up with all sorts of ways to try and break the communication barriers with people who have autism.

[CherHell]

yes Zak that sounds like the statistic they are quoting currently. Who knew it was so prevalent? I certainly did not.

[CherHell]

Brandi I think it's great as well. Some people have no idea what the condition is all about - myself included until recently and even now I don't know much but I know more than I did - did that make sense? And I certainly had no idea it was so prevalent.

[YoMomma]

I have to agree w/Brandi...sounds like Asbergers. (spelling?)

[myTrine]

I work(ed) in a spec ed school and the numbers of new students starting every year with some for of Autism is alarming. I'm glad to see it is getting more attention.

[Moonie]

I am glad it is getting so much publicity. The public needs to understand more about it. Heck, I need to understand ore about it.

[Trolldeelocks]

At what age can you begin to detect signs of it???

[myTrine]

At what age can you begin to detect signs of it???

It depends. Children with more severe autism, there may be signs at a young age, low or high muscle tone, delays in rolling, sitting etc. Other children speech delays are sometimes a sign (not saying all kids with speech delays are autistic). A friend of mines daughter was just diagnosed with Asperger's at 10 years old (before now she was dianosed with ADD/ADHD).

[Bella~*]

My son is autistic.

[Wasabañero]

Is it that it's getting more attention, or that it's becoming more common? I know nothing about it... and I have a friend who's oldest son has autism... I need to learn more...

[dawnmj]

The View had a special on Autism I believe it was monday or Tuesday. They had Toni Braxton on and her youngest son has been diagnosed with Autism. She was pretty upset during the show you could tell that it was still really fresh for her and she was trying to cope.

I am glad that there is more information being put out there and people are hopefully learning more and becoming more aware.