ADHD, Dyslexia, Language Processing Disorder, Anxiety, Emotional Outbursts, Speech Deficiencies, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Complex Neurological Issues, Yep, meet Hyrum.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

"It's not Autism," he says

Here I go, launching a new blog. This one is for my absolute joy of my life: Hyrum.

Hyrum has always been such a bright-eyed busy boy, but there have also been some red flags going up around his mental development.

So much so, that when Hyrum turned 4, I took him to the pediatrician to ask the question no parent really wants to ask "Does he have autism?"



In preparation for this visit, I had made a list of every indication that he might be autistic, and a list of every indication why he might not.

I made this list when he just barely turned 4, and I still (miraculously) have it, so here it is:


Things that Worry me:


  • Doesn't understand new ideas sometimes. Example "Are you my sunshine?" "NO! I'm Hummer!"
  • Gets Daily uses mixed up (calls me daddy.)
  • Still doesn't know colors. Yellow is "Hot." White is "Milk." Brown is "Chocolate." and Black is "Dark."
  • Only know some of his shapes.
  • Doesn't understand instructions well, especially if you give a lengthy instruction.
  • Doesn't like loud noises.
  • Likes to be alone.
  • Quick temper/outbursts
  • Hypochondriac
  • Has weird word issues. Example: Spiders were spiderman, now spiderman is spider.
  • Groups words together weidly. Example: All trains are "Thomas." All clothes are "pants." The word "Butter" stands for all bread and sandwiches. If it's not water, then it's juice (even if it's milk.) When first learning to talk, water was "more." 
  • Mixes sentences up: "Go downstairs, the chair."
  • Adverb issues: If I say to him "ask him nicely." He turns to him and says "nicely."



Things that Comfort me:


  • Always imagining things and acting out things.
  • Affectionate (for me and his brothers.)
  • VERY expressive gestures and copies and reads others expressions.
  • Sense of humour.
  • Plays with toys
  • Okay with change.
  • Plays with others he knows well.
  •  Doesn't have any unusual physical behaviors or reactions.
  •  Excellent eye contact.
  • Coordinated.
  • Good sleep habits.
  • Expressive intonations in his voice.
  • Not clingy-loves nursery
  • Emotionally sympathetic.
  • Figures out how toys work and builds
  • Tries to make others laugh
  • has good dexterity
  • initiates social play with well known friends.
  • Asks questions.

I read all this to the pediatrician, and before the visit was even over, he informed me that it was his definite opinion that Hyrum did not have autism.

I'll never forget that visit. Hyrum took the toy bins that were in the doctor's office and started hooking them together. "I didn't know those bins did that!" said the doctor.

"See!" I said to myself "Hyrum is smart. and he is NOT autistic!"

The doctor referred us to get hearing and eye tests (which we did.) He also referred us to a speech pathologist, and that was the end of our road with that doctor. That was the amount of help he gave.

As for the hearing and eye tests, Hyrum seemed to be perfect.

I think I will leave the speech pathologist experience for another day, but I know we are just at the beginning of this road, and I'm grateful I was able to find and record some road signs that have been along the way.