Baby Zach Update
I am becoming hopeful that Baby Zach's prognosis may less bleak than previously feared. When he was diagnosed with autism back in June, he had just turned two. His doctors said at the time that it was good that he was diagnosed so early because three is the critical age for autism patients. That meant he had a year to make some progress and possibly improve his long-term prognosis. As far as I can tell, he is doing just that. His parents have him seeing various experts and undergoing various therapies, and it seems to be really helping him.
These past couple of months, he has seemed much more comfortable at large family gatherings. He used to become very upset around large groups of people, but at the past three family gatherings he has marched right into the crowd and just done his own thing and he hasn't seemed bothered at all by the commotion around him. He still pretty much keeps to himself, playing quietly with a toy in the corner or climbing on any available piece of furniture or just wandering from room to room, but he no longer cries inconsolably when faced with a big group of people.
We had a family dinner this evening, and I believe he is doing better than ever. He did have one episode where he became very upset after everyone sang happy birthday to his younger brother, who turns a year old tomorrow. Zach gets very freaked out by people singing and clapping, so it sent him into a horrible crying fit; however, he was fine after his dad removed him from the room for a few minutes to calm him down.
Later in the evening, not once but twice, he actually sidled up to me silently (he still does not speak at all), grabbed my hand, and then just stood next to me quietly with his little hand in mine. I would like to believe this is some major progress for him as, aside from his parents and brothers, he usually doesn't acknowledge anyone else's presence. I'm not an autism expert by any means, but I am very optimistic that Zach is going to end up doing much better than his initial diagnosis indicated.
These past couple of months, he has seemed much more comfortable at large family gatherings. He used to become very upset around large groups of people, but at the past three family gatherings he has marched right into the crowd and just done his own thing and he hasn't seemed bothered at all by the commotion around him. He still pretty much keeps to himself, playing quietly with a toy in the corner or climbing on any available piece of furniture or just wandering from room to room, but he no longer cries inconsolably when faced with a big group of people.
We had a family dinner this evening, and I believe he is doing better than ever. He did have one episode where he became very upset after everyone sang happy birthday to his younger brother, who turns a year old tomorrow. Zach gets very freaked out by people singing and clapping, so it sent him into a horrible crying fit; however, he was fine after his dad removed him from the room for a few minutes to calm him down.
Later in the evening, not once but twice, he actually sidled up to me silently (he still does not speak at all), grabbed my hand, and then just stood next to me quietly with his little hand in mine. I would like to believe this is some major progress for him as, aside from his parents and brothers, he usually doesn't acknowledge anyone else's presence. I'm not an autism expert by any means, but I am very optimistic that Zach is going to end up doing much better than his initial diagnosis indicated.
posted by Catherine at 11:31 PM
2 Comments:
i have an 18 year old cousin who is autistic ...
and that is certainly good news that he was diagnosed early ... there is so much help out there for autism now ...
it may be a challenge, but i know my aunt calls my cousin a blessing ...
Indeed -- Zach is a blessing, as well, and I'm really hopeful that he is not going to be as severely disabled as they initially thought. In January he will start attending a special pre-school for autistic children, so hopefully that will help him to make some good progress.
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