Autism or something else?

My son is 3.5 and still doesn't communicate very well. He will put simple sentences t together like "I want cereal" but most of his 'sentences' are like "peepee potty!" that's what he says when he needs to go to the bathroom. He also babbles when he talks still for example "I want dadadada daddy house dadada play on slide". He can get some long sentences out like "Can I have some please?" but he will pause in between the words. He understands when I tell him to do something or get something (for the most part) but sometimes if I ask him a question or ask him why he did something he doesn't respond. He just looks at me and talks about something else. It's very hard to keep eye contact with him while I'm talking to him also. I tell him to look me in the eyes when mommy is talking to him but he will look for a second and then look at something else. He will also start talking about something else or start counting, saying shapes or talking about the things around him. He is smart with letters, numbers, shapes, colors. He knows his animals and the sounds they make ETC. I just recently put him in a classroom when I go to church. He is around all the other 3.5-4 year olds but he will NOT listen to the teacher. They have story time and he will NOT sit and listen he will just get up and go play or he will have a huge meltdown. Even if I tell him something that he doesn't want to do he will throw himself on the floor and scream/whine. He cannot have a real conversation with you like most kids his age can. For example, if I ask him what he did today he can't tell me. The ladies in the classroom told me maybe a special needs class would be more appropriate for him. We are starting speech therapy also when the school year starts but does this sound like it? There is more stuff but this is long enough already. My mom suggested maybe he is borderline autistic but I haven't really researched much I was just wondering if any of this sounds normal.

My brother didnt Talk at all till he was that age. now he is 30 year old and crazy smart. Dont worry to much about it if it goes on to kindergarten then I would start to do extra with him

Quoting Kyrsten McConnell:" My brother didnt Talk at all till he was that age. now he is 30 year old and crazy smart. Dont worry to much about it if it goes on to kindergarten then I would start to do extra with him"

I just don't want him to go to kindergarten or preschool not being able to communicate. I want to prepare him before he starts school.

Eggh kind of sounds like my son. He had all those same issues when I put him in daycare when he was 2. Wouldnt listen to teachers, couldnt tell me what he did that day, didnt speak at all except for a handful of words. Now he is 4 and a chatter box, he still needs to slow down and think when he talks sometimes or he will jumble a few words but he has improved so much. He goes to pre-k as well, its a mix of "normal" kids and then kids like my son that have small delays and autistic kids as well. At the parent teacher meeting at the end of the year they told me he has a few red flags for autism but if anything he would be high functioning autistic/aspergers. Hes getting evaluated in the fall. Sounds like you are in the right path though, definitely keep your kid in school or a daycare because that is what helped my son, being in a structured routine environment.

Quoting :*:CHRiSTiNe:*::" Eggh kind of sounds like my son. He had all those same issues when I put him in daycare when he was 2. ... [snip!] ... definitely keep your kid in school or a daycare because that is what helped my son, being in a structured routine environment."

I just don't want him to be behind and I want to take all the steps needed to help him succeed if he needs extra help. When he starts his speech therapy maybe they can point me in the right direction and tell me what they think he needs!

Quoting toryyy[+2]❤:" My son is 3.5 and still doesn't communicate very well. He will put simple sentences t together like "I ... [snip!] ... maybe he is borderline autistic but I haven't really researched much I was just wondering if any of this sounds normal. "

it might just be a communication delay coupled with shyness. Speech therapy was great for my daughter, it really helped her with her vocabulary and how to put sentences together.
As for not listening to the teacher, if he's just not used to it he is most likely just uncomfortable in the group. I would give it time. Every child reacts differently to social situations so don't get discouraged. Wait and see what your speech therapist suggests.

Quoting Mommy☠Kate:" it might just be a communication delay coupled with shyness. Speech therapy was great for my daughter, ... [snip!] ... child reacts differently to social situations so don't get discouraged. Wait and see what your speech therapist suggests. "

He is very outgoing though and will go up to anyone and talk to them. When I first took him in there he ran up to all the kids and said hi and played with them. He just has a hard time communicating. I just want to help him any way I can so I can't wait til he starts his therapy.

My cousin has autism and it doesn't sound the same as your son. Does he interact with other children or would he rather just play by himself? Does he have problems with textures? Like if you put his hand in a bowl of raw beans would it freak him out?

<blockquote><b>Quoting Kyrsten McConnell:</b>" My brother didnt Talk at all till he was that age. now he is 30 year old and crazy smart. Dont worry to much about it if it goes on to kindergarten then I would start to do extra with him"</blockquote>

This is the worst advice I've ever read

Quoting Cristal Reed:" My cousin has autism and it doesn't sound the same as your son. Does he interact with other children ... [snip!] ... play by himself? Does he have problems with textures? Like if you put his hand in a bowl of raw beans would it freak him out?"

He loves playing with other kids. And no, not really. The only textures he has a problem with is food. He is VERY picky when it comes to eating and like SERIOUSLY picky.

He sounds a Lot like my son who does have Autism. He is very intelligent always has been, great with facts, and answers fact based questions all the time, by conversation is much tougher.

These are classic signs under the comunication part of Autism. Pragmatic speech issues paired with speech delay, Eye contact, one sided conversations...


The meltdowns also go into the behavioral section...

What about his social skills? How is he with his peers,

<blockquote><b>Quoting toryyy[+2]❤:</b>" He loves playing with other kids. And no, not really. The only textures he has a problem with is food. He is VERY picky when it comes to eating and like SERIOUSLY picky."</blockquote>




It doesn't sound like autism to me. I know there isn't a lot of information about it out there but look it up online.

<blockquote><b>Quoting toryyy[+2]❤:</b>" I just don't want him to be behind and I want to take all the steps needed to help him succeed if he ... [snip!] ... help. When he starts his speech therapy maybe they can point me in the right direction and tell me what they think he needs! "</blockquote>


I completely understand that. Thats the only reason I put up with taking him into pre-k because of the speech therapy. His pre-k program is 2 hours a day every day, I work full time and lose 2 hours everyday between driving back and forth from my job and there which is 20 minutes eachway. Im doing everything I can to make sure he isnt behind and at this point he is actually ahead of most of the kids. Google and ask teachers, the speech therapist, anyone really for information to help your son out.

This is my favorite site to break it down




http://www.bbbautism.com/diagnostics_psychobabble.htm

<blockquote><b>Quoting Jamils_ mommy:</b>" He sounds a Lot like my son who does have Autism. He is very intelligent always has been, great with ... [snip!] ... The meltdowns also go into the behavioral section... What about his social skills? How is he with his peers,"</blockquote>




If I ask him "Lucas, what color is this pillow?" he can say "Pillow is blue" but anything else like "Lucas what did you do today?" or "Why did you throw that toy?" it's like I'm speaking a different language to him. He loves playing with other kids. He isn't around many Only his 1 year old brother but when he sees other kids he loves to play and interact with them.