I never thought my blog would be a great help to other moms out there. My original purpose for blogging was simply to track Zac's development through his therapy.
Recently, I received a message from a mom working abroad who wanted to get in touch with the doctor I mentioned in a previous post.
It was wonderful to connect with someone in a similar situation. I went through a stage of denial myself and opening up the minds of other moms is something I never anticipated.
We had a great conversation. She mentioned her daughter shows signs of autism, like lining up toys, and it bothers her a lot. I was surprised because Zac does the same thing, but I never thought it was a sign of autism. Perhaps because I didn't know much about autism. My instinct told me that Zac was more likely delayed compared to kids his age due to his early surgery. Since then, his growth and mental development have slowed. He started walking at three and could barely talk.
Curiosity struck, and I started researching autism and how it differs from global developmental delay. I discovered that early signs are similar, but only a developmental pediatrician can accurately diagnose through medical and behavioral assessments. Children with global developmental delay are more likely to improve compared to children with autism. A developmental pediatrician can also determine the stages of delay or autism.
To give you an idea, here are some of Zac's unusual and odd behaviors:
- Lining up or stacking household items
- Spinning wheels (toys and bicycles)
- Throwing things over the fence or out the window (cellphones included)
- Spreading baby powder or perfume all over the floor
- Jumping on the bed and landing on his butt (he loves this)
- Turning the TV on and off or changing channels non-stop
- Pulling out plugs
- Turning lights on and off
- Turning on the shower and faucets, leaving the water running
Some of his tantrum behaviors include:
- Knocking things over
- Hitting someone or something
- Running vigorously while crying loudly
- Throwing hard objects at someone's face
- Scratching and punching
I firmly believe that in time, he will be like other kids, attending regular school and enjoying childhood. For now, our main priority is to help him develop his motor skills, and I’m glad he's improving better and better every day.
Does your child behave the same way? Have you noticed something unusual? Ask your pediatrician or, better yet, get an appointment with a child specialist. It's better to get your child diagnosed and treated at an early age.
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