hi there
I have posted on general before about Harrison possible dual diagnoses When It was first mentioned I nearly died and wondered how I could cope with another disa bility and quite honestly stopped posting for a while because I felt really alone (DS plus Autism) I felt I didnt fit in
Not that anyone on the forum made me feel that way but I just felt different. Now his teachers feel he hasnt Autism but his progress is quite slow and he is classed as severe.
I beat myself up pretty much about this as I felt he was severe because I didnt work hard enough with him ( you see I worked as a classroom assistant with kids with special needs
so I felt like I should know it all Harrison I felt should be a high grader because of my knowledge
so what Harrison paed says that alot of the DS symptons can mimic Austism traits

Harrison has these symptons
fasinations with opening and closing doors
spinning plates though this has stopped this now
can only swallow pureed foods and has thickened drinks
he stims alot
poor sleeper
wouldnt play with other kids but does now
couldnt aniciate play but does now
poor eye contact but has great eye contact now
dosent like you touching his mouth with toothbrush
hates getting his hair cut and nails cut
little or no speech

so I just wanted to say although Im still not sure whether Harrison is not somewhere on the spectrum his teachers and pead say no and all this is down to his global delay
I hope this is of some help to all you out there thinking about this
I have now stopped looking for symptons and torturing myself and started loving my child and forgetting the disability loving him for what he is a cute little bundle of fun and mischief
lv to you all and Tom for starting this topic too frm Mary

Have you taken him to a specialist? In general, it is harder to diagnose autism in kids with Ds because kids with dual diagnosis still tend to be more social so the typical autism symptoms are not always present. Autism is a spectrum disorder with a wide range of behaviors on the spectrum.

Yes Tom
I took Harrison to behaviour theraphist or clinical physicoligist I think thats her proper title and she couldnt give us a definite diagnoses either, she said although their were some traits their were also alot of things he was doing that meant he couldnt have it either
she was talking about the wide spectrum of Autism

the most annoying habit that Harrison has is the stiming where he seems to go into a little world of his own and makes this noise it seems to happen more when he;s watching something on TV or in the campervanwhen he excited
At the minute Im saying NO HARRISON dont make that noise he then stops it then I tell him he;s a good boy if I do not tell him He;s a good boy He'll cry He then claps his hands
Am I doing the wright thing ? obviously this draws unwanted attention to him when we are out so id like it to stop
lv from Mary

Mikey is also a stimmer. He likes to shake paper or a towel. I read somewhere that children with autism tend to be anxious and the stimming behaviors are a way to reduce their anxiety. It allows them to block out the things that make them anxious.

I guess at this point it really doesn't matter much whether Harrison is on the spectrum or not. Your approach to the unwanted behaviors should be the same either way... ABA.

And I should add that I think Harrison is very handsome. I love that picture of him!

Thanks Tom
Harrison is a lovely little boy just like his photo He brings us such joy He also the biggest rascal too,How do you cope with Mikey stimming ? do you try to stop it as well
Its so hard to know what to do for the best His teacher tries distracting him
what really is AbA and also does your wee man have difficuilty sleeping Harrison can survive on fours sleep at night then go all through the next day and the same the next night.
Im seeing his paed tomorrow to see if she can give us something as we and he cant survive on so little sleep

I also wanted to say thankyou for the forum you should be so proud of youself for helping so many people around the world to discuss issues and to share their problems with other people who understand
Thanks for all the hard work you put into all
Take care and God bless and your wee man looks a wee cutie too
Lv from Mary

Hi Marianne... could you update us on how Harrison is doing?