"Symptoms" in sibling?

[Walking-Iris]

My question? Has anyone with a kiddo on the spectrum noticed "symptoms" in a sibling? But so mild that a dx is just not going to happen? And possibly not even warranted?

 

My ds8 is dx PDD-NOS/OCD/SPD and my ds4 has had various issues that resemble the same challenges we've had (still have) with my oldest. Some mild sensory (gravitational insecurity--he does not like being turned upside down or even gently swinging, some aversion to mess (sticky foods or toys), and he has more than the usual amount of hyper energy. We did take him for an eval with an OT and she was not even slightly concerned. Our genprac dr was concerned because he threw a tantrum during a check-up (but to be fair he picked my ds up and put him on his lap without any warning). He does not like to be in close proximity (hugs, cuddles) really. And he has the attention span of a gnat...really. :lol:

 

But he has appropriate verbal skills and eye contact. He eats well and is potty trained in a typical fashion and plays with his toys appropriately. He has age appropriate motor skills, fine and gross, and has already passed his brother in some areas. (except his aversion to fast movements, swings or rides at the fair). He is academically/cognitively where you would expect a 4 year old to be (letters, numbers, writing, shapes etc.) No stimming type behaviors.

 

But he sometimes just "loses it" as we call it---just thrashes around, extreme roughhousing, loud noises and maniacal laughing that don't seem to make much sense, basically really ten times harder to handle from a discipline standpoint than my oldest ever was as well. I almost think that this might be what adhd may look like. But I'm iffy about that whole diagnosis/scene anyway---so I'm just not sure.

 

I know the statistics of siblings having the same challenges, but we (and everyone who knows him) feel like he's fine. And it was apparent with our oldest that there were some concerns around the age of 2. Our dr has even changed his attitude (we felt he was trying to overcompensate for brushing off our concerns with our oldest:glare:)

 

Does anyone else have typically developing kiddos that are just have a bit more "muchness" than seems usual? And do you feel like it may have "something" to do with having an asd sibling?

Edited November 28, 2011 by Walking-Iris

[amo_mea_filiis.]

It's possible he's "just" an SPD kid. Did the OT who evaled him have an interest in sensory issues? I've found a huge difference in OTs regarding their interest in kids who have sensory issues alone vs. other problems.

[IsabelC]

I think it's not uncommon - not just because it does run in families to some extent, but also because parents of one kid with a dx are just more knowledgeable about it and more likely to notice mild signs that could easily go unnoticed by average parents. Since we got the dx for kidlet number 1, I have been constantly on the lookout for any problems with the others. You tend to find what you spend a lot of time looking for. Also, I suspect you are right about the influence of the AS kid on the NT kid, since younger siblings undoubtedly do tend to go through phases of copying older sibs.

[rafiki]

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[Walking-Iris]

It's possible he's "just" an SPD kid. Did the OT who evaled him have an interest in sensory issues? I've found a huge difference in OTs regarding their interest in kids who have sensory issues alone vs. other problems.

 

Yes our OT is very knowledgeable about sensory issues and she's been an amazing part of our life with our oldest. I've been considering having another eval and maybe checking into the possibility of him having a short stint with OT possibly---just to narrow down his sensory challenges.

[PeterPan]

Our OT for dd's sensory blew off the obvious symptoms in d22, saying they could be normal to the age, could change with time. They're still here, lol. So I don't know if there's a window where we see it but they don't yet diagnose or what. Basically I'd treat him like he is whatever you're thinking and do what you would do for that.

 

I just got an indoor swing and ds enjoys doing it with dd. They're polar opposites (he's high stim, she's low), but the some things are good for them both. You could work on some physical techniques to help with his self-regulation. You could check his diet. You could give him vestibular input. You could work on his tone and strength (wheelbarrow, fingers, climbing on the playground, etc.). None of that needs a diagnosis, as it's just more of the homework stuff you're already doing I assume with your older.

 

I know, it's kind of cruddy because you feel like you're in the holding pattern, waiting for them to finally diagnose the problem. You feel like you ought to be able to find it earlier and PREVENT it, because you know what's happening! (change the course of history, intervene, move the river) To a small degree you can, and to a degree it's just what is going to happen.

 

So whatever, just thought you'd like to know our OT blew us off too.

[Walking-Iris]

Well our OT didn't really blow us off---it's just that the things I'm seeing are so mild that it's sort of a non-issue as far as a dx is concerned. Our original pede did blow us off with our oldest and then our new dr did as well----but I kept pushing because I knew. I *know* that my second son is "okay" but he just seems to have a few things that remind me of my oldest. I'm thinking like pp said it just may be sensory alone or mimicry.

[butterflymommy]

Yes, I've heard them called shadow traits. All my kids have them to some degree-- stimming, sensitivities, speech issues, obsessions, pacing. In some it's barely noticeable and in others is worse. But nowhere near "diagnosis" level for most of them.

[Celia]

My ds age 7 is diagnosed PDD-NOS. I'm having my 2yr old tested next Monday, because he does have some very similar traits. I'm thinking he won't get a diagnosis. He is similar to my other son in his speech delay, he has eating issues, unusually strong interest in numbers and letters, lacks non-verbal communication skills, doesn't follow eye gaze, and doesn't do imaginative play.

 

But for all those symptoms, they're much less pronounced than in his brother, and there are less of them.

 

I don't know what to think about it, really. I'm hoping his upcoming testing sheds some light.

[hsmom2011]

n/m

[houseofkids&pets]

:grouphug: If I recall correctly, one of the specialists we dealt with called it "soft" neurological signs. One sibling has autism and another doesn't, but does demonstrate some similar characteristics.

 

Our ds11 was diagnosed with PDD-NOS at 3.5 years. His twin sister is "neurotypical", but we definitely see issues with OCD and executive functioning. She is also painfully quiet at school and has difficulty making friends (NOT quiet at home!!). Our youngest ds8 was diagnosed with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia last June. He also demonstrates characteristics of social anxiety (VERY nervous in unfamiliar situations, poor eye contact, won't always respond when spoken to - yet he interacts appropriately with his close friends). We are in the process of getting an O.T. eval due to sensory issues. He is our only homeschooled child at this point since we had a lot of academic concerns and the school didn't. An outside specialist confirmed our suspicions.

 

I guess the positive part for a lot of us in this situation is that we will be paying close attention to our children's development and probably won't delay seeking help if we have concerns. BTW, our oldest son is the third child on my dh's side of the family to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (one is classic autism, the other is aspergers), so it appears to be a genetic link for us.

[nitascool]

My question? Has anyone with a kiddo on the spectrum noticed "symptoms" in a sibling? But so mild that a dx is just not going to happen? And possibly not even warranted?...Does anyone else have typically developing kiddos that just have a bit more "muchness" than seems usual? And do you feel like it may have "something" to do with having an asd sibling?

 

We noticed symptoms with all four of our children. Our second son is the one with the dx. His first dx was at 6 with ADHD combined, then we got a dx of SPD, and at 9 he was dxed PDD-NOS (not negating any of the other dxes).

 

But looking at our children's developmental history our oldest actually has more early signs of autism then our second. With stemming- spinned constantly and constantly rocking back and forth, lined toys up and had to have them in an exact pattern or would have a fit. He was also willful but not defiant. He was given some testing for a suspected learning delay in math at age 7 and was dxed as Highly Gifted. We have had more emotional issues with him then with our spectrum boy, seriously. So I guess he's not exactly neurotypical.

 

Our 3rd son has a stutter. Tested but not bad enough to warrant a dx according to the speech pathologist. He's on the brightish side but is considered neurotypical.

 

Our daughter has quite a few sensory issues. She was tested at 2 but it was not "bad enough" to receive even OT. So we did it at home, her sensitivities have diminished quite a bit. They told us that she was neurotypical too.

 

Even though all of them have some odd little quarks Id say that ds2 is the only one that has significant impairment.

 

I don't think that it has a lot to do with having an ASD child so much has having non-neurotypical parents. Dh and I are both weird, with dxes of LD's, Dyslexia, HG, MG and underachievers in our background.

 

Not that you asked but I have seen some positives with having my ASD son in the home. The other children seem to be more compassionate and patient with others because they see how hard their brother has to struggle just to keep up with them.

[honeymommy4]

Yes, for the sake of keeping this post short, my DS has issues ( you posted on my thread) and i see similarities in my other children but MANY more in my DD who is the 3rd child and 3. I don't know what I'll do if she is just like him. More testing I guess! it's hard when they are so young to do testing. unless it is something like autism things are hard to diagnose at young ages. now that DS is almost 8 we got better feedback from the testing than we did at 5. I still don't think we are there. I think there will be more issues when DS is older. he's getting worse. :(

[Walking-Iris]

:grouphug: I think my 4 year old does show a lot of sensory issues. I'm not seeing the same kind of level that I saw in my oldest when he was that age. At this point I'm just going to include him in my oldest's sensory diet at home. I may have another OT evaluation.

 

It's hard---it really is!