autistic?help!

[lynn cheung]

spockey, My son is eating quite healthy only once in a while he can get some treats. But I'm trying to find other things to improve his diet.

4seasons, thanks. But the teacher is already sure that my son is not autistic after she spent some time alone with him.

joannek, I agree with you. We sure did worry about him these past few days. Fortunately, the teacher agreed to spend time with him alone and observe him again.
I use the learn through playing method ever since he was a baby, so he learned more than other children with only helpers or grandparents taking care of them. Now he likes to explore and try different and new things.

 

[EYE]

Hi Lynn,

Have you heard of ABA program. I would recommend if your son is diagnosed as autistic younger than 3 years old, ABA would be helpful.

 

[jeanyee]

If you are worried, then it's best for you to seek advice and help. I'm not saying your son is autistic but better go and check things out while he is still young - there is nothing to lose. My son was diagnosed as having autistic features when he was 2 years old through the child assessment centre. He is now going to a special school in Ngau Tau Kok which I made the right chose to go and see a specialist.

 

[HappyV]

In general, a classroom teacher would not be trained to specify a particular learning disorder, and certainly not qualified to diagnose autism. The professional repsonse would be to suggest to you that something wasn;t right and maybe he should see a pediatrician.
Of course, now she's changed her tune. Dumbass - couldn;t she find 15 minutes to see him BEFORE she started throwing around the word 'autism?'
That's right - teachers are too busy to actually DO THEIR JOBS?

 

[capital]

I think it is terrible that a teacher would go to a parent and actually use the word autism, when 1. they are not trained to diagnose, and 2, she hadn't even really tried or made an effort to see what the problem might actually be. Why would she not spend that time with him to start with to see what reasons there may be for his behavior before telling you he has autism?
How long is he expected to sit still? He is only three, he will learn a lot more by doing, than by sitting and listening. I would seriously consider sending him to a different style of a program where he can do more hands on activites, and hopefully a better teacher.

 

[connie1008]

Having been a therapist for autistic children, I can tell you that I see some traits of autism, though I think it's not serious at all. I would suggest you to get your child assessed as soon as possible and start the most natural treatment too. There will be a free talk on "how to improve social skills of autistic children" 6/23/07. If you are interested, let me know.

 

[lynn cheung]

Thanks, all.

The same teacher just told me last week that my son now began to play with other children though he still prefered adults' company.

I'm not worry for his social skill now.
I think he didn't play with his friends at the school before because he didn't speak any Cantonese prior to kindie (we speak only English and Putonghua at home).
He can understand Cantonese now, but his first and second languages are still English and Cantonese, so he's not using Cantonese much outside school.
He's also a bit shy.

Only last week he played with a friend's daughter (she's 1 year older) and he liked it. She liked to play with him, too and didn't even want him to go home. It because she spoke English to him so he could make conversation with her.

So I think the language is the barrier at the school. Most of the student speak Cantonese at the school and can't really make conversation in English though they know some English.

Lynn

 

[connie1008]

That is great news!! But if you ever feel insecure, it's always cool to do an assessment. Think about it, if your son has a very high IQ or EQ and we miss spotting it and consider that as a problem, we will not be able to give him the right quality education. You may be surprised if you find out that he is actually a genius! Good luck!

 

[tskn]

I agree with Aussiegal, there might be something at school that may be upsetting him. My little guy was being bullied at the playgroup he attended. So he kept to himself, and didn't interact with the other kids. His playgroup teacher also told me he had a slew of problems from social to developmental.

We decided to move him to Kindergarten. At 8 weeks, I went in to pick up his first report card and chat with his new teacher. Guess what?? His report card was fine. So it could just be the teacher and environment.

If you'd like to talk to a professional, there is a GeoExpat member, who's a child psychologist and works with autistc kids. I'll drop her PM and maybe you can chat with her.

May I also get your contact for the child psychologist. thank you.
[email protected].

 

[lynn cheung]

Another problem at the school:

Last Thursday my son's K2 class teacher asked me to call her.

Found out that that day he had English class again with the same teacher as last time (remember the "autistic" incident).

The English teacher asked my son to recite the phonics A-Z. Though he knew them, he said that he didn't want to recite them.
She got angry and at the end of the class she asked my son to stay for another English lesson while all of his friends returned to their class.
My son cried and said he wanted to go home.

She then talked to the class teacher and in the end the class teacher told me that while my son was smart, the teaching system in the school was not suitable for him. Especially now in K2, where they're having lots of school works and dictations.
She suggested that we move him to another school.

I am so disappointed with the teachers there.
School's not even 2 weeks yet, and they'd just given up on my son!
Aren't they supposed to be patient?

I know my son can be trying sometimes (hey, he's not even 4 years old yet), but he isn't very naughty.

Is it because I went to the person in charged to complain about the English teacher last term that now she doesn't like having my son in her class?
Now I'm beginning to worry about my son while he's at the school.

I don't know about the school system here, but is this a normal practice in Hong Kong local school (and the teachers' attitude, too)?

Thanks for reading this.

Lynn