All Roads Lead to the Train

[Thriftylady]

I truly don't want to make my child a 'patient' if it isn't needed. There are other resources that I can check into but I'm hesitant. This post just got me thinking. I would really hope that not every boy who has a strong interest in trains is a symptom. I read the article and he does have many other interests so I think I'll take this with a grain of salt.

Well that is just it. I mean if you don't think it is a "symptom" then it isn't a big deal. But if you (or any parent) has a concern it doesn't hurt to check it out. But just having a huge like of something in and of itself means nothing. I love to read, would do it all the time if I could, but it is just what I like. And it is possible for a child to just like trains. I just like to tell people if they think something is off, get it checked out.

[MunchkinWrangler]

Thank you for all you replies on this! This is my own son. The only thing he would do that I thought was 'stimming' is jumping a lot. That has greatly subsided and now he just does it when music is played or watching Mickey.
His speech has been watched closely and his vocabulary is booming now, repeats everything and talks really clear and puts 3 to 4 words together.
My concern comes from the fact that he watches the wheels, he'll lay down on the floor even just to watch the wheels go back and forth.
Other than that, he has no other symptoms and his doctor assured me that they always watch closely because autism can show it's signs at any time during the developmental stage. He can also be a little OCD at times, but I'm like that, he needs things a certain way, is very into routine but normally it's just a normal toddler tantrum that subsides, it doesn't wreck his whole day.

[Hunni Bee]

Has he been evaluated for Autism or Asperger's? That speech style and the obsession with one topic reminds me of several children with Asperger's I've worked with. Does he rock, twirl hair, or have other repetitive habits?

Obviously, not for me or us to diagnose, but those are some red flags. An evaluation might be advised. Now it's "cute", but his parents may need to do a lot of advocating for him when he gets to school. It may be helpful to know what they're dealing with more fully.

No, I'm pretty sure he hasn't been. He was seeing a developmental specialist once or twice a year, just because he was so premature... But I think he's aged out of that too.

He ****s on his tongue and rubs the collar of his shirt on his face. He used to only do it if he was tired or cranky, but since this latest string of seizures (he had one Friday ) he's been doing it almost constantly.

His parents are great people but they have a super blasé attitude about all of this. It might be their way of coping with the fact that their son probably will have lifelong issues (he's got a couple other health things going on too). If you tell his mom anything she just kinda nicely blows you off.

[Ariana]

Thank you for all you replies on this! This is my own son. The only thing he would do that I thought was 'stimming' is jumping a lot. That has greatly subsided and now he just does it when music is played or watching Mickey.
His speech has been watched closely and his vocabulary is booming now, repeats everything and talks really clear and puts 3 to 4 words together.
My concern comes from the fact that he watches the wheels, he'll lay down on the floor even just to watch the wheels go back and forth.
Other than that, he has no other symptoms and his doctor assured me that they always watch closely because autism can show it's signs at any time during the developmental stage. He can also be a little OCD at times, but I'm like that, he needs things a certain way, is very into routine but normally it's just a normal toddler tantrum that subsides, it doesn't wreck his whole day.

Excellent vocab is not a sign that he is not on the spectrum. Many children with Aspbergers have excellent vocabularies. It is the way they use that vocabulary that is different from typically developing children. They do not use language to interact socially but more in a way to convey information.

Have you done an online checklist? Perhaps completing an M-CHAT online will put your mind at ease. He is showing some signs but he could also be a typical toddler. It is very hard to decipher without a ton of experience with children.

[mommiebookworm]

Has he been assessed? This is what happens here as well. At home mom gives him whatever he wants because she simply sees it as "boy behavior". I always have to encourage him with other toys by basically hiding the trains and cars. He is doing a lot better but he will literally search and search for anything with wheels to play with.

He hasn't been assessed. I got a phone call from Mom this morning that he won't be coming back.

[MunchkinWrangler]

Excellent vocab is not a sign that he is not on the spectrum. Many children with Aspbergers have excellent vocabularies. It is the way they use that vocabulary that is different from typically developing children. They do not use language to interact socially but more in a way to convey information.

Have you done an online checklist? Perhaps completing an M-CHAT online will put your mind at ease. He is showing some signs but he could also be a typical toddler. It is very hard to decipher without a ton of experience with children.

They do an M-CHAT at every checkup and if I bring him in with a specific concern for development, he has passed every one so far since 1 years old, he is almost 2.5 years old now.

[MunchkinWrangler]

He hasn't been assessed. I got a phone call from Mom this morning that he won't be coming back.

That's too bad. It's so frustrating when you are honestly trying to help a child and the parents decide to pull from your care. Hopefully, in the future they will be grateful for your effort.

As providers, we know when something might be a little off, especially when you've had a child in your care for some time and you know their quirks.