Since he was a few months old, we could tell that something wasn't quite normal with my nephew, Nicholas. We initially feared that he was deaf, because he wouldn't respond to anyone calling to him, or to any other noises, really. After a few tests, this was ruled out.

As he got older, his motor skills developed perfectly. He could hold things, and get around the house as any other baby, and he began walking before his 1st birthday. It was his speech development that was concerning. By 2 years old, Nick still hadn't said any words. Not mommy, or daddy, drink, or anything at all. He was taken for tests, and eventually diagnosed with functioning autism.

His third birthday just passed, and although he does know a few words, he will only say them when prompted (he has a "book of words", and he will say about 90% of them), but doesn't use them properly (example, he can say "drink", but doesn't understand that he should say this when he's thirsty).

I know very little about autism, besides what I've read about on the internet. Nick sees autism therapists every week...and there seems to be a little improvement. He is extremely affectionate, and loves to play. But most of the time, it just seems like he's in his own little world. He still does not respond to his name when it's called...he never has.

Anyways... I was wondering - do any of you have any experience with autism? Are these things similar to what you've experienced or know about autistic children?

Thanks in advance!

Had diagnosing Autism been what it is now back in the late 70's early 80's, my older sister would have been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. She is a textbook case. Back then, she was just labeled odd, and said to "March to the beat of her own drum". She is still odd, even at 36 years old, but she has found an odd group of friends that she fits in with well.

As a skeptic and mild conspiracy theorist, I think that most 'mild forms of autism' don't exist. People are just labeling their kids which makes it harder for them in life.

My brother has ADD. Everyone said so, now that he's 18 he says so, he has all the symptoms. My parents said so. They didn't get him tested because they didn't want him to have that label and that excuse. He has learned to overcome his 'disorder' and is extremely smart and has always been ahead of everyone academically. He learned how to be social.

When I was little I didn't talk, not much. Not really until I was 3-4. My brother spoke for me a lot of the time and I've always been kind of shy. Now, at almost 17 years old, I have a better grasp of the English language than most kids my age and older.

I know a girl who has Asperger's. She is socially awkward, but no more than kids who force themselves into some sort of exile. She has anger management problems, but she only gets mad when other kids are out of line towards her or a teacher. She has a number of close friends and one of the best singing voices I've ever heard(We have choir together). She is active in all the school plays as well as outside of school drama and voice lessons.

One of my friends has a little brother (6-7 years old) with autism similar to your nephew's, and she's always saying how easy-going he is compared to other children. He's just quieter and calmer; since when did that earn him a disease label?

If he can function, he doesn't need therapy. Talk to him, and if he doesn't talk back, keep trying. Encourage him. but don't worry yourselves or him about it. Plenty of kids are in their own little world; I was until I was 15. Personality quirks, oddities, anything that makes him abnormal doesn't mean he has some disease that no one can actually define. It's silly to shove the odd kids into some category of illness when maybe they're just different. You can throw a disease of some form on anyone if you want to, giving them to kids who are perfectly healthy is ridiculous.

JMO...

Hmm, I had a teacher a few years back in high school who taught our parenting class, and her son has autism. As far as I know Autism is a disorder that makes people uncapble of love/emotions. They generaly have no feeling or capablilty of love. My teacher had to ask her son for hugs and kisses because he wouldn't give them freely and they had to watch him because he'd climb everything and say, "look mom! I'm going to jump", from the top of the swing set. Also some people who have autism have to be placed in homes with more or better care because they are very strong and don't relize it so they become a danger not only to others but to them selves as well. Sorry this is all I know, and it's not very much, I'm not even to sure if it's even all right.
Also treat him like you'd treat anyone else his age, don't for the love of god show him or treat him like he's different or "special" because he's not. I have a friend who is mentaly challanged/ developmentaly delayed, and a cousin who has CAPS, and I treat them the same way I'd treat any other 19 year old/ 16 year old. It pisses me off that others see that they are different so they start to talk to them in that stupid baby talk. I've learn to treat them differently after I see how much or how little they grasps certian things. Sure my word choice for the most part are simple words compared to what I use when I speak to her mom or to other people, but that's because it's what SHE, (they) can understand, not what people with their disorder understands. Let him set the bar not you.
If you treat him differently in life you're setting him up for failure. I don't mean to be harsh, but this comes from experience. I've scene the mess it makes first hand when people baby people with disorders.

Some forms of Autism leave a person unable to show love or emotion, but not all. I won't say they don't FEEL love or emotion, because that feeling is inside your head, and if your world is inside your head (as a lot of severe cases of Autism seem to be) then who's to say it isn't full of love and joy? It's maybe just the external manifestation that is missing.

Celianne, I love, love, love your post! I have thought those and similar things so many times! One thing that disgusts me is how many kids are on drugs for ADD, ADHD, whatever other stupid label they have, and so many of them should not be! It's ruining them. (Of course, there are probably some that need it.) I hate it when people act like just because a child has energy and can't sit still, bored out of their minds for 6 hours, there is something wrong with him.

Sure, there are true cases of autism and many other "diseases", "syndromes", etc. Colbi, I hope your nephew will be okay and get the help he truly needs for what he truly has. The best thing ever, no matter what a child "has" is for the parents to do as much loving and teaching as they can. If you all sensed something since he was only a few months old, there is probably something to it. If he really has autism, that's good that they've been working with him already.

This could all be a huge discussion and I have to go for now. Best wishes to Nicholas and his family!