I've posted many links to sites that describe Autism, but I realized I have yet to post a link describing "regressive autism." This is where Brycen's autism falls...he developed within the typical range until about 2 years old, and then all of a sudden he starting "losing" words, social skills, and eye contact. Just like many other kids, he always had different "quirks" that was a symptom of Autism...lining up toys, seemed to ignore us when we called his name, fascination with ceiling fans, OCD behavior, etc. But unlike those other kids that also display this early on, Brycen's "quirks" became more profound after the age of 2 and his obsessions last longer and disturb his and/or our daily lives. Some people still have the perception that all Autism starts at birth...children with autism are mute, never speak or babble, seem oblivious to the entire world, are content just sitting there staring into space, won't hug or kiss, and all other "stigma" symptoms. This is far from the truth! That is why it is called a spectrum disorder...there are all types and symptoms of Autism...including children that do display the symptoms I listed above.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regressive_autism
So, here is the question I propose to you. Having a child with any delay or disability is difficult as we all know...whether this was known already when the child was still in utero, shortly after birth, or 2 years down the road. Each parent grieves the loss of the "typical" child they thought they were having no matter when they found out about the child's delay or disability. Do you feel that it is more difficult to find out before your child was born that they would have a disability or to find out a few years down the road after they had already began to develop typically? There are no wrong or right answers to this question...but I am very curious on how others feel about this.
"When one door of happiness closes, another opens;
but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
Helen Keller
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Autism and Our Family
"Autism"----It's one word that can change the life of a child and family in so many ways. Autism Spectrum Disorders are being diagnosed at a rate of 1 in 68 children currently. If you do not already know someone that has been diagnosed, the statistics say it won't be long before you do.
Our son developed typically until around the time he turned 2 years old. We heard words...we saw him play with other kids...we watched as he played with his toys appropriately...we made eye contact with him...overall we understood his wants and needs. In a matter of a few months, that was all taken away from him. He began lining up toys, lost all of his words and signs except for one word "ball", ignored other kids, could not sleep through the night, lost eye contact and the ability to follow directions, and he had no way of letting us know what he wanted or how he felt. It was heartbreaking to see something happening to our child that we couldn't stop!
Brycen began receiving home therapy 1-2 times per month for about 6 months before we realized it wasn't just developmental delays. We knew it was Autism...we just didn't want to say it outloud to anyone. He was officially diagnosed with Autism (classic form and regressive), as well as Mental Retardation in August 2009 by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
We continue to learn as we make our way through this journey with Brycen and we will continue to share this journey with you on this blog! The blog has been a great therapy for us to be able to vent our frustrations and struggles with accepting that we have a child with special needs, while sharing how blessed we are to have a child teach us what life truly means. It has also been a great way to inform others of his progress and changes over the last couple of years.
Thank you for your support of Brycen and our family! We hope you are able to learn something through this blog no matter if you are a parent of a child with special needs or a neurotypical child, a teacher or therapist, a family member, or just someone that is interested in the journey that a family goes on as they learn their child is battling a life-long disorder.
Our son developed typically until around the time he turned 2 years old. We heard words...we saw him play with other kids...we watched as he played with his toys appropriately...we made eye contact with him...overall we understood his wants and needs. In a matter of a few months, that was all taken away from him. He began lining up toys, lost all of his words and signs except for one word "ball", ignored other kids, could not sleep through the night, lost eye contact and the ability to follow directions, and he had no way of letting us know what he wanted or how he felt. It was heartbreaking to see something happening to our child that we couldn't stop!
Brycen began receiving home therapy 1-2 times per month for about 6 months before we realized it wasn't just developmental delays. We knew it was Autism...we just didn't want to say it outloud to anyone. He was officially diagnosed with Autism (classic form and regressive), as well as Mental Retardation in August 2009 by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
We continue to learn as we make our way through this journey with Brycen and we will continue to share this journey with you on this blog! The blog has been a great therapy for us to be able to vent our frustrations and struggles with accepting that we have a child with special needs, while sharing how blessed we are to have a child teach us what life truly means. It has also been a great way to inform others of his progress and changes over the last couple of years.
Thank you for your support of Brycen and our family! We hope you are able to learn something through this blog no matter if you are a parent of a child with special needs or a neurotypical child, a teacher or therapist, a family member, or just someone that is interested in the journey that a family goes on as they learn their child is battling a life-long disorder.
This is a tough question as I sit an play out scenarios with both Taylor and unborn baby Sawyer! We had the genetic tests done while I was pregnant with Taylor because although it would never affect our decision to keep the pregnancy, we wanted to be as prepared as possible. We did not have the tests done this time and to me it is much scarier. I think it would be more difficult for me to find out a few years down the road than to find out before they were born. Perhaps this is because my only options at this point would be to find out down the road so I can rule out the challenge of finding out before the baby is born, but I also think that if one was to find out before birth that their child would have some sort of disability, part of pregnancy is to have time to adjust to all of the changes your family will be undergoing (typical or not).
ReplyDeleteThe fear of anything happening to or developing within my child(ren) is a fear I think I will always for the rest of my life but this extends beyond the possibility of developmental disability to mental and emotional well-being as well as physical health. However, I think this is natural parental instinct. No matter what, I will always love my children and feel incredibly lucky to know that I have a husband who could also handle anything thrown our way!
Here are my thoughts, even though I don't have kids yet. Part of me would find it easier to know before the child is born to have a little more time to prepare mentally, emotionally and maybe even financially if necessary. At the same time, though, knowing in advance wouldn't effect how I would feel about giving birth and providing a life for the child.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't think one way would be easier or harder. I think there are good and bad things about both.
I agree that I think the worrying never ends for all parents...whether it is for our children or if something would happen to ourselves and our children would be without one or both parents.
ReplyDelete