Wow -- look what I found (long)

[Guest guest]

A letter from last August. God I was so naive and still holding out

some hope for Boone. We didn't even know about Amber yet.

ATEC

Subscale and Summary Scores

(the higher the score, the more impaired the subject)

I. Speech/Language/Communication: 24

II. Sociability: 33

III. Sensory/Cognitive Awareness: 29

IV. Health/Physical/Behavior: 58

Total ATEC Summary Score: 144

My youngest son, Boone, turned three years old on June 19,

2000. We thought for a while that Boone might have trouble hearing,

since his language skills are not developing well.

He speaks very little (less than ten words on a regular basis --

other than letter and numbers) but counts forwards and backwards

quite well. This is a skill he taught himself using the timer on the

microwave. He's fascinated (OK -- he's obsessed) with letters,

numbers, clocks, timers, computers, any electronic gadgets, flushing

toilets, electrical plugs, the neighbors windmill which he visits

every time he manages to get out of the door and ceiling fans.

He has always laughed hysterically when I run the vacuum

cleaner. He is quite computer literate and can access his favorite

website -- teletubbies -- without assistance. He has no interest in

toys unless he can spin them or line them up, but prefers to spin

forks.

He never answers questions, but will sometimes repeat part of

the question as if he were answering.

Boone has other eccentricities that we've noticed for a while,

but now I'm beginning to think this behavior may be connected.(He

covers his ears and screams at certain noises, he has to return

things exactly the way he found them, he thinks he can control my

hands -- leads me around and places my hand on things he wants, etc.)

I'm quite sure he's not deaf because he can hear the words " ice

cream " at a whisper and from another room.

I guess I've known for some time that Boone is " different. " In

light of recent developments, I can no longer deny that he is within

the autistic spectrum.

Recently my husband had ankle surgery, so he's been home 24/7

causing a significant change in our homelife. Boone has reacted to

this in a very odd way.

Boone has never liked change, but his desire for sameness has

turned our home into a battlefield. He refuses to come out of his

bedroom if his father is on the couch. He has to be picked up and

taken to the table for meals. I practically have to wrestle him to

the table. As soon as he's finished he runs back to his bedroom. If

he is forced to remain in the family room, he remains in one spot,

next to the stereo, looking very sad and refusing to move.

My mother is certain Boone is autistic and has accused me of

being in denial for the past six months. My husband agrees with her

as does our pediatrician. I'm beginning to think their assumptions

may be correct.

I also had an uncle that the family referred to as " mentally

retarded " but he could read and do math and did not appear to have

Down's Syndrome. I believe he may have been autistic.

Boone has an older brother who is very bright. (He scored in the

90% percentile on the ITBS -- 100% in reading portion of test) Dillon

is 8. Ten months ago, Dillon became very ill from Henoch-schonlein

purpura (HSP), an autoimmune disorder (vasculitis) resulting in

Crescentic HSP Nephritis grade III (40% crescentic involvement).

Boone also has a sister, Amber, who is 16.

Our pediatrician, Dr. Wahbeh, has referred us to a local

pediatric neuropsychologist for evaluation.

I don't know if it has any bearing, but I was 37 when I gave

birth to Boone.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this letter

and for any information you can supply.

Sissi Garvey