Print this story Print

Size

Have I Done Enough ?

A personal story in the experience: I Have a Child With Autism
S ince a very early age, I knew my son was different. He was a fussy baby, never able to be consoled. When a toddler, he never wanted to sleep. He had his own schedule. At 4, he was started on his first medicine, ritalin. He is a very bright child, well above average IQ. But life has been so difficult for him, and for us. He was hospitalized for the first time at age five. he was the youngest patient to have been admitted to that psych. center. We were given numerous diagnoses:ADHD, ODD, Bi-polar, OCD, but none ever really seems to fit. Since his first admit, he has be hospitalized 7 mores time. His last was in a long term residential center. He is now almost 13, and will finally be coming home for good next week after having spent 18 months in the hospital. It was only a year ago that we received the news that his true diagnoses is PDD-NOS. He also has Tourettes. I feel blessed that my son is verbal and able to communicate with me. Some autism groups dont really accept people who's kids 'only' have PDD. It has been hard to find anyone willing to accept me into their group and help me through this. I feel very lonely and afraid I have failed my son in some way. I feel like if I cant just find the right doctor, or clinic, or therapy I can make him better. I feel I havent done enough....
Comment (4) Share Your Story Flag
Share |

Comments
   1-4 of 4 Comments   
Comment on this Story
Posted Aug 29th, 2007 at 9:29PM
I feel the exact same way! My son is four and I feel we are at the stage where his brain is pliable, but I feel like I am not doing enough! Where do I go? Who do I talk to? What therapy is legitimate? It is a very lonely place to be. Watching your child struggle and not knowing exactly what to do. I understand your pain!
     
Posted Aug 30th, 2007 at 1:52PM
Have you looked into getting your child in to be tested for Occupational Therapy. I work with many children with autism. We work in large part on self care and social skills, and sensory intergrations but we also work on secondary difficulties with fine motor skills and attention and so on. It would have been better if he had begun to recieve OT at a younger age but if you get him in soon there still may be help available. This should be done outpatient, not inpatient, at a pediatric clinic that provides these sort of services. You may need to get a primary physician to write a prescription for this but find and call a clinic first and find out what services they can provide your son.
     
Posted Sep 19th, 2007 at 11:04AM
If you need some one to talk to look me up. I have a 15 year old daugher who has a mild form of autism. She is non-verbal. She understands what ia am saying and will follow my instruction.
I know that each child with autism is different but may be i can help answer your questions.......Most of the parent so far i have meet on The Experince Project have kids age 3 to 12 .
     
Posted Apr 6th, 2008 at 7:12PM
I want to thank you for sharing this and I can certainly understand your feelings of self-doubt. I too wonder if i have done enough? My son turned 2 today and his 2 yr well check is this week. We have a list a mile long of things to ask the dr.

I didn't know what PDD was so I looked it up on Wikipedia. Whereas, this doesn't fit my son, I did find a related site on Sensory Integration Dysfunction...and, after reading about Hypo sensitivities, I was MOVED...I had my husband come and read it, too. Too early to know, but it sounds eerily like my son and his tendencies of seeking out kinetic (touch) and visual stimulation. Had it not been for your posting, I don't know how I would've found this information or even begin to know what to look up, to begin my own research, to begin to find some answers.

Thank you.
     
   1-4 of 4 Comments   

Share Your Comment
...then continue the discussion in the story's forum or, send this story to a friend

Experience Project is a community based on authenticity, support, and respect. EP encourages you to post with these values in mind.
Comments
My Comments:
  Notify me by email when there are new comments
 

Polls for I Have a Child With Autism

Questions & Answers for I Have a Child With Autism

Here are a few Questions and Answers for I Have a Child With Autism

Have a Child With Autism Open Questions
There are no open questions yet. Why not ask a question now?
Have a Child With Autism Resolved Questions
Sort by: Most Recent | Popular
2 answers - Posted 2 months ago

See all question and answers for I Have a Child With Autism


Forum & Chat Board for I Have a Child With Autism

Here are popular forum topics for I Have a Child With Autism

See the Have a Child With Autism forum to chat about these topics and more!


Music, Song, Artist, Book and Movie Recommendations
music
Music:
Song Recommendations
Let Me Be Myself by Three Doors Down
Perfect Day by Lou Reed
Fix You by Cold Play
Lucy In the Sky by Beatles
What I Am by Edie Brickell
Add your own favorite songs and lyrics for I Have a Child With Autism
video
Video:
Movie Recommendations
No Recommendations Yet
Add your Video recommendation
book
Book:
Book Recommendations
No Recommendations Yet
Add your Book recommendation

Related Topics to this Story

Show this Story's Author Some Love

There's lots of ways to show you appreciated this person's story from the experience group, I Have a Child With Autism. Send them a virtual gift, make a gesture, scribble on their whiteboard, or send them a private message.

Translate this Story

Anonymous & Free
to join millions in the world's largest community of life experiences
Explore first-person stories about any experience, including your own! Connect anonymously with people who understand.
↓ ADVERTISEMENT ↓
Be YOURSELF

Be a part of the biggest social experience on the web. Where who you are is more important than who you know. Share what matters the most and find others who just "get it."

Join now and get started in seconds, or learn more about Experience Project

↓ ADVERTISEMENT ↓
Play to Save Baby Seals

Do Your Part

Play Trivia and help rescue baby seals from cruelty.

Of course, we love to hear Your Story, whatever it happens to be. You can be yourself here!

People Like You
This entry is from the Experience Group:

"I Have a Child With Autism"

↓ ADVERTISEMENT ↓