What is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. Some people with ASD have a known difference, such as a genetic condition. Other causes are not yet known. Scientists believe there are multiple causes of ASD that act together to change the most common ways people develop. We still have much to learn about these causes and how they impact people with ASD.

People with ASD may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. There is often nothing about how they look that sets them apart from other people. The abilities of people with ASD can vary significantly. For example, some people with ASD may have advanced conversation skills whereas others may be nonverbal. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others can work and live with little to no support.


Info from www.cdc.gov.



MILD SYMPTOMS

  • Loss of previously acquired speech, babbling or social skills

  • Avoidance of eye contact

  • Persistent preference for solitude

  • Difficulty understanding other people’s feelings

  • Delayed language development

  • Persistent repetition of words or phrases (echolalia)

  • Resistance to minor changes in routine or surroundings

  • Restricted interests

  • Repetitive behaviors (flapping, rocking, spinning, etc.)

  • Unusual and intense reactions to sounds, smells, tastes, textures, lights and/or colors


SEVERE SYMPTOMS

  • May also have symptoms from the mild list

  • be nonspeaking or have echolalia (repeating words or phrases they hear)

  • prefer solitary activities

  • interact with others only to meet an immediate need

  • seem unable to share imaginative play with peers

  • demonstrate a limited interest in friendships

  • engage in repetitive physical behaviors like rocking, blinking, or spinning in circles

  • express extreme distress when asked to switch tasks or focus

  • aggressive behaviors


Reason for this Site

My husband and I have two boys with Autism. They are definitely two extremes. It is a challenge raising two children with such extremes. You want to be able to do things with the one child but know that the other child would not be able to handle an/dor would be overloaded sensory wise, that it would not end in a good result. So, I'm going to talk about our journey of raising our two boys.

Autism is a spectrum condition. There is no knowing where one child is going to end up on the spectrum when you begin to suspect Autism. No two children with Autism will be the same. So, when you have met one child with Autism, you have met one child with Autism.

Our youngest, is super mild and chill with everything. Our biggest difficulty with him is he didn't like school. When the pandemic hit, we started virtual school. When that was no longer an option we began homeschooling. It has been a joy homeschooling him and seeing him learn. He still doesn't like school, but like I said, he is super chill and he doesn't give us any difficulty about getting his schoolwork done.

Our oldest, on the other hand, is on the more severe end of the spectrum. Our oldest is very rigid in his routines. He needs to know what is going to happen when and he doesn't like it to be changed. If he is doing something, especially something fun, he will need countdown prompts to when the activity will end and he will need to move on to the next activity. If he does not get those prompts, it could lead to difficulty getting him to change.

He also does not like to be touched by other students. He can get aggressive and attack if he's hit or bumped into by other students. It's always very stressful when we have to take him shopping, as we are unsure how he might react if someone bumps into him.

Doctor's appointments, lab visits, x-rays, and preparation for surgeries always made me feel like I would have a workout. He would become aggressive and I would have to hold him to get done what would need to be done. He was always very strong when he became aggressive, but as he got bigger, it became much more difficult.

He has put holes in the wall of his room.

He has spent the last four years living at a private residential school for kids with Autism. That has been the biggest blessing for our family. He's had the structure that he needs, the 1:1 staff he needed, and we couldn't provide, and it kept us safe at home. Right now we're trying to find an adult placement for him and I'm going to be sharing the difficulty of that process when you have a child with severe aggression.