What is AUTISM?

I'm curious to know what other people think here.  I've been around a lot of people this weekend, and it seems that people are not sure they believe me when I tell them Isaac is autistic.  They think I am overreacting.  Some people see what I am talking about immediately, but assume that Isaac is going to be severely mentally handicap.  It's odd to get such extremes all within one day. 

I also talked with a cousin whose little boy was diagnosed, but she has rejected the diagnosis.  I'm not sure if she should reject the diagnosis or not.  It is apparent that her son is severely language delayed and has had problems in the past with group gatherings.  But, from my observation, it is alsoapparent that he does not have severe autism.  But, I can't help from thinking he is on the spectrum.  It's something about the way he holds his hands with his fingers crunched up (just like Isaac does).  I've seen a lot of autistic children do that.  I think it has to do with joint compressions in the fingers. It was apparent in our breif conversation that she didn't know anything about autism. She has an idea of a severely handicapped child in mind.

My conclusion is that people, in general, don't know what autism really is. And, in general, they carry an assumption with them that is mostly untrue.  So, when I tell someone that my child is autistic, they interpret that in various ways-many times in ways that are untrue.

So, how do you make people understand what autism is? 

I, myself, had trouble with the concept.  I can recall three autistic people from my past, and all three were severe cases.

I knew that tip toe walking was a symptom, and when Isaac started tip toe walking, I read list after list of symptoms on the internet.  I never saw Isaac in these lists.  The only symptoms that stuck out was resistant to change which made me a little nervous and kept it in the back of my mind.

I think what makes autism hard for people to understand is that autism is a grouping of various abnormal symptoms.  That is why it is called a spectrum disorder.  Therefore children can vary to a great degree in symptoms and severity.  Thus, the saying goes,

"If you've met one person with autism, you've met ONE PERSON with autism."

So, for anyone's information, I am listing my son's symptoms, and afterwards I will include non symptoms (symptoms that many other autistic children have that Isaac does not).  The non symptoms is what threw me off in thinking he was autistic, because I had my own ideas of what an autistic child was.

I pictured a little boy that wouldn't play around other children, wouldn't smile, wouldn't look into my eyes, and didn't like to be touched.  But, every parent of an autistic child can include a group of non symptoms because I don't  think many children, if any, display all the characteristics.  They are diagnosed autistic when they have a grouping of symptoms, and not every child has the same symptoms.  Click on the title to read the full blog with a list of Isaac's symptoms!
Isaac's symptoms:
resists change
tip toe walks
picky eater
avoids certain textures in foods
on a rare occasion he will hand flap (most of the times a little flutter)
at one point in time he would spin in circles constantly, but he doesn't do that anymore
NEEDS ROUTINE
has trouble in large groups
gets fixated on lights
is startled EXTREMELY easily at loud noises (toilets flushing in public bathrooms, Harley Davidson motorcycles, ripping tape off boxes, vaccuum cleaners, blenders, coffee grinders)
Has issues with his clothing--doesn't like open toed shoes, cuffs on shirts, wants to wear pants to bed
Speech is hard to understand
Can repeat many words and phrases without necessarily knowing what they mean (he does use learned phrases in regular speech, but he will repeat phrases, like, "Welcome to Arby's.  May I take your order please."
Does not put words together to make his own sentences yet (he is only beginning to do this on occasion)
Resist touch by unfamiliar people--especially does not like to be picked up by strangers
Will watch a movie for long periods of time
Spins the wheels of his trucks, however he will play with them as well.
When he is really stressed out, he will stare out his window for long periods of time and he will push all his toys up under his bed  or under the couch to avoid looking at them all (I think it is overwhelming to him sometimes).
He cuts his eyes while running and looks at things from different angles.  He also will cover one eye to look at something or even pull at his eyes. 
He is clumsey and loses his balance easily
He does not like to get on objects that move (like a wagon) or to sit straddling objects.
He buries himself under pillows when he gets stressed.
He craves deep pressure touch and wants us to scratch the palms of his hands and feet.
He startles when a group of people laugh at the same time
He is hyper aware of everything around him (he use to inspect all his cheerios before eating them, and if there were any irregularities, he would throw them out)
He hates sand and grainy textures.
He has a hard time understanding language.


On the positive note:
He is social in small group settings.  He loves to play peek a boo games, chase games, and throw a ball back and forth with another child or grown up).
He makes great eye contact.  However, when he is distracted (usually by sensory overload) you cannot get eye contact.
He communicates what he wants to eat or do.
He communicates when he wants help with something
He seems to show some degree of imaginative play--he pretends to have conversations on the phone (he varies what he says), he makes his teddy bears and little people slide down slides, and has flown different types of objects through the air as if they are airplanes)
He will pretend to feed a doll or animals (with a spoon, bottle, or cup)
He seems to understand when we are upset and has on occasion tried to comfort us (although he did this more before his regression in October).
He loves to be cuddled
He points (although he has trouble following my point).

Isaac is so much fun to be around.  And, he is not mentally impaired to my knowledge.  He has an incredible memory.  I'm amazed at what he memorizes and what he can do.  He seems to be able to carry out elaborate plots of mischeif, and even waits for good timing to carry out his plans (when I begin to change a poopy diaper on Josiah).  He is clever.  And I am so proud of him.  He has to go through so much more than most kids his age, and he is so loving and kind.  He is a blessing!!!