Signs of Autism: The journey starts here

There is a sea of information out there on signs and indicators of Autism. Just google it and you will probably swim through over a thousand articles on this subject. If you are new to this, as I was 7 years ago, you wouldn’t know where to start. 

When my son was about 6 months old, I noticed that he made lateral gazes and at that time, I only caught him doing this when looking at something. When I brought this to the attention of my husband, he said that he might’ve taken after an uncle who also exhibits the same behavior. We figured maybe it runs in the family. When he was about a year old, the mother in me took us to a pedia-neurologist who didn’t see anything wrong with him physiologically and 2 ophthalmologists with the latter giving him prescription glasses for migraine but said that it had nothing to do with his lateral gazing or vice versa. He did say it could be lazy eye or I might’ve gotten this mixed up with the first eye doctor I saw which was one of the reasons why I had to go see another doctor. But I can still picture in my head how the second doctor told me about my son’s lateral gaze. I thought something in his eyes wants to tell me something. In retrospect, I eventually realized what he was trying to say. Why he didn’t just give his opinion about it, I don’t know. He is after all a doctor. 

Fast-forward to my son as a 3 year old and after having been diagnosed as under the autistic spectrum, his third visit to his developmental pediatrician proved pivotal. As the doctor was talking to me, she noticed my son’s lateral gaze and immediately she said that it is indicative of a seizure. She asked me to go back to my son’s neurologist and request for an EEG. True enough, he has seizures with the doctor even asking if he passes out because almost severe convoluted electrical activity in his brain shows in the results.

I am not sure if it would’ve made a world of difference had we detected his seizure earlier, all I know is always trust your maternal instinct and if there is anything about your baby or child that you’re uncomfortable about, research about it and go see a doctor. Don’t always believe what you read, watch or hear. Believe in your child and what you can do to help your child. I’ve had my share of getting bad advices along the way and sadly this is at the expense of my son.

If your child shows any of the Autism red-flags, go see your pediatrician right away. A good pedia would have a clinical eye for this and would recommend you to see a developmental pediatrician immediately. In Cebu, I only know of two. I also saw another Developmental Pediatrician in Cagayan de Oro.  It took me about 2 months to get an appointment with the first Dev-Pedia and less than that with the second one. But I would like to believe things have changed now. 

Where to start:

First off, even before we delve into the matter of autism, breast-feed your baby because it is one of the BEST gifts that you can give to your children (even if you outsource it, second best). So shove anybody that gets in the way of your baby and breast-milk. I only breast-fed my son for 2 months because I didn't know any better then and I always feel a pang of guilt whenever this comes to mind. I am so sure it would've helped him, one way or another. 

Now I am neither a medical professional nor an expert on the subject of Autism so what I am about to lay out is no medical/professional advice. I only aim to help other mothers with special children. Had I known what I know now and if we only had easy access to these resources and organized them in such a way that was helpful, I would’ve changed a couple of decisions I made before. So hope this helps.

Here are a couple of good references for early warning signs:

www.mayoclinic.com/health/autism/DS00348/DSECTION=symptoms

www.helpguide.org/mental/autism_signs_symptoms.htm

Good link for local testimonials:

www.autismpinoy.com/autism-facts/

For local support and/or involvement:

http://autismsocietyphilippines.blogspot.com

No recommendations here but these are the following Development Pediatricians we went to for consultation:

Cebu City

DR. JACQUELINE ESPINA

Chong Hua Medical Arts Center, Room 408

135 Juan Osmeña Extension, Cebu City

6332 - 2544293

Dr. MYRA ALTONAGA

Borromeo Bldg. (at the back of Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital)

Osmeña Blvd. Cebu City

6332 - 2555372

Cagayan de Oro

DR. ANNAH REBECCA DOROJA

Cagayan de Oro General Hospital Foundation

(GUSA), Cagayn de Oro City

08822-723215 loc. 205

Dependent on your child’s condition, you will get a final diagnosis when your child is about 3 years old. But if your child shows any of the signs even before reaching this age, get him/her to an early intervention program designed specifically for him/her.

REACH CENTER

Main: Ground Floor Espina House of Architects, Juana Osmeña Extension, Cebu City

Branch: Tabok Mandaue

(6332) 4165505

http://www.reachph.com

JACOB’S LADDER THERAPY CENTER

Children’s Paradise Montessori School

Canduman Mandaue

(6332) 2361254

(Look them up in Facebook for other details)

CEBU MILESTONES THERAPEUTIC CENTER

Bulacao Pardo

Cebu City

(6332) 4163438

(Look them up in Facebook for other details)

NEW HORIZON MULTI-SPECIALTY THERAPY CENTER

03 Yu Sing Building, F. Ramos Street, Cebu City, Philippines

+63.919.220.8600

http://www.newhorizon-aba.com/

CAMP LEARNING CENTER

Bayanihan Village Basak

E. Corro St. Basak Pardo

Cebu City

(6332) 2366862 / 5144467

There are other information out there in terms of dietary programs and alternative treatments among others that can really be overwhelming but I am presenting to you fundamental steps in dealing with autism which is an important foundation for you to move forward. Plunge into all the information you can get that will best fit your child. Not all children with autism are the same thus it's referenced as a spectrum. A treatment that worked with a friend’s child may not necessarily work with yours. 

7 years ago, I’ve read that with autism, there is a limited window where you can still help your child to “come out” from his/her world. Beyond that, there is no hope. Somehow, a statement like that is so powerful it could unwittingly influence how you deal with your special child.  But more and more autistic children are “coming out” now even way past that window of opportunity. And although I don’t want you all worked up with expectations, I would never want a mother to lose HOPE.