3 yr old severe autisim developmental delay
Posted by
Josie Barnshaw
on 30th July 2009
at 21:54
Hi Kelly
Welcome to the forum. Hopefully we can try to give you some advice re Kyron (lovely name). My son is 14 and was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome 7/8 years ago. He has some sensory issues which make shops difficult for him, although I have to say with the passage of time it is not so bad as it was when he was younger and although he is verbal he does not recognise what causes him to be hyperactive and have meltdowns. I have found that certain lighting causes a reaction, as does crowds and noise. He is hypersensitive to touch, preferring tight grip and hard contact to gentle contact and people brushing against him which provokes an extreme reaction.
What I still tend to do if I have to take him shopping with me, is to go first thing in the morning before the shops get busy, have a list of what we have to get and give him tasks when we are out. Even before he could talk or read he was very good at recognising products, knowing which tin of soup we used or the packaging on anything, so I could tell him to get the things and he would be able to do this. It also occupied him and distracted him from the things that caused reactions.
I also found, even at a very young age (we knew he was autistic from about 3 yrs cos it was picked up in nursery but had to be on a waiting list for diagnosis for three and a half years) that he had expectations of routine and rigid thought processes, for example, we always had to take the same route to go places and the same timetable, ie, going to the shops at 10 am on a Monday, he somehow knew (without verbal prompts) that we should be getting ready to go out at 10 am on a Monday.
If, for instance, you find that it is the noise of the shops, perhaps earmuffs might help, if it is the crowds perhaps finding out when the shops are quiet and going then.
Please let me know how you get on and if there is anything else you want to ask, please feel free.
Josie
Posted by
NickyB
on 31st July 2009
at 09:12
Hello Kelly and welcome :)
My son was diagnosed with mild autism when he was 3 (he's 6 now). I agree that it's awful that you're given the diagnosis and then left to get on with it. I've educated myself about autism mainly via the internet and through forums like this one.
I try to avoid the shops as my boy can't cope with the 'sensory overload' and frequently has meltdowns. He does get very frustrated when he can't communicate, but his language has improved a lot, which has helped with this. Over the years we've come to understand his need for routine and order. It was really hard to cope with at first but we've found we now anticipate most problems without even thinking about it - it's become second-nature.
I'm sure you find lots of support here
Nicky x
Posted by
Elena Goodrum
on 31st July 2009
at 09:40
Hiya kyronsmum, glad to have you here! :-)
Posted by
zehtabit
on 11th February 2010
at 22:58
Hi Kyronsmum
The best advice I can give about going into town/shops is to ask for referral to an occupational therapist. They can do a referral to the disability service to get you a special needs pushchair. My son is 4.5 and has autism and global development delay. He hates walking round shops but will happily sit in his pushchair especially if he has something to eat.
Tracy Z
Posted by
Elena Goodrum
on 12th February 2010
at 09:48
Hiya, Tracy - I sent Kyronsmum an email to let her know you left a comment for her. I don't always do that but since it's been some months since this discussion was active, thought I'd let her know. : )
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Posted by
kyronsmum
on 30th July 2009
at 21:35
hi just thought i would introduce me and my son, i'm kelly 22 and my son kyron 3, has severe autisim and developmental delay. He is currently attending a special needs preschool 5 mornings a week which he loves.
He has no communication at all and only uses a handful of words! most of the time he is frustrated obviously from not being able to communicate his needs. I very rarely go into town with him now as every shop he goes into he has a majour tantrum!!
i look forward to hearing from u etc and hopefully will be able to get some advice from here as at diagnosis we were given nothing except the diagnosis and expected to get on with it which i think is disgusting!!!