Early Signs of Autism

[srm1929]

I met someone recently who has a young child just diagnosed with Autism. She says that she always knew that there was something different about her, even in infancy.

I know there are many who say that their children developed quite typically until an assault on the system (like immunizations). Others who point to a more gradual disintegration of skills.

Is there any one who "knew" so early? I thought that perhaps in these cases that there may be a dual diagnosis. Any thoughts?

[Carrie]

Well I didn't know early, but once the diagnosis came along and I started doing some reading I noted that there were a few possible signs from infancy; my son was very sound sensitive while sleeping - he would flinch any time I moved - I couldn't keep him in bed with me, and he even had a hard time in the same room as me. I ended up moving him into his own bedroom at two weeks old! That was difficult. He was also very motion sensitive and probably had some perefrial (?) vision issues - while I was carrying him, he'd grab on to me for dear life at any quick movement, any change of position, or if anything fast went by. He also had a hard time suckling which is supposedly a sign. So a lot of sensory related stuff. He was also slow to crawl and walk, but not slow enough to be concerned. He developed fairly "normal," smiles and all until those wonderful 18month vaccinations....
Basically because of this, I've decided he was probably predisposed and then something (vaccinations) triggered the more severe symptoms.

[srm1929]

That's interesting. Others have said that their child's propreoceptive (sp) response was different (the movement thing) early on. That being said, my daughter also exhibited some of that between six and eighteen months and she has developed "typically".

And yes, I think there must be some predisposition and an assault.