For the past year Jean from Early Intervention has come to our house to help with Calvin and his speech, motor skills and walking. It has been a great experience. She has been great and just loves Calvin.
Since he is not really progressing in his speech, he has said some sounds but not really anything else, I have been really frustrated. He is 27 months and I just want him to speak. I keep thinking that there is something other then the speech apraxia that Jean thinks that Calvin has. His social skills are a little different and I have just been worried about that.
I have spoke with quite a few people and I have always thought that he has some form of autism but nothing quite fit. Yesterday at church Calvin was not happy. We sat in the hall the whole time and he did not sit still and was really grumpy. Sister Roberts was sitting next to me and we got to talking. She is a Dr. and she asked how old Calvin is. I told her and exclaimed that he is still not talking and I said he is in Early Intervention. I said that I think that he has something else, just not sure what. After speaking with her for about 15 minutes she told me that she thought that he had Aspergers.
I have heard the word Aspergers but was unaware as to what it is. She asked me a couple of questions like:
Does he look you in the eye? No, we have to force him to look at you when you are talking to him. We thought it was a hearing problem but when he passed his hearing test I knew it was something else.
Is he infatuated with one thing? Yes, whenever he sees a ball he goes crazy. He loves it! In the store, on tv, on the computer, whatever, he points them out and wants to play with it.
Do his clothes bug him? Lately he keeps taking his clothes off of him because they itch and he HATES getting dressed. It is such a battle.
Routine changes? He hates having his routine change. He is very much routine oriented.
Interaction with other kids? In nursery he just plays with himself and with a ball. The other kids don't bother him but he loves playing alone. (good thing he is our last or another brother or sister might drive him crazy).
Does he feel sympathy? Not at all. Whenever he hits his sisters and has to give them a hug he won't/can't do it.
Anyways, I knew the second she said the word that was what our sweet boy has. It felt so right and so good to FINALLY have an answer.
Now I have a lot of searching to do and researching on how to help our sweet boy. I just hope and pray that I can be the Mom that is patient and can help this dear boy. He is amazing! I know that Heavenly Father will help us on this quest in raising our son.
