Autism.

Nonu , it would depend on the degree of the condition, or what is often referred to as "the spectrum".

A friend of mine has a twin brother who has recently been diagnosed as having Aspergers Syndrome, at the age of 50! He has always worked, admittedly not in very high powered jobs, but employed just the same.

There are so many degrees of Autism, so until more is known in this particular case, it is not possible to even guess at what might lie ahead, but much love to you and your family.

Not neccessarily. Many computer people have autism

I've read that you have written 'might' It is too early for a diagnosis. I thought my GS was autistic and read on-line that if it is not so obvious to an outside observer, there may be chance that it will not develop so much as to prevent him holding down a job. My GS on his first birthday did not look one visitor in the eye and behaved as if he was quite alone, sitting in his high chair at the table. Very distressing.
But he is now nine and although he doesn't chat to people, he talks to other children and has a deep relationship to his mother and father. He completely ignores the family dog and would ignore me if I didn't make a point of talking to him.
He is good at maths and these days that is where the jobs are.

Wait and see what the future brings. It may be just a tendency like for my GS.

Nonu , how old is the baby, and what has led this "friend" to suggest Autism?

Hi PHoenix , it is not my DD "s baby but her friends !

About 3months ,

Have to say , I am not totally sure what autism is , is it life threatening ?

Proper diagnosis needed - difficult to diagnose in a "baby" I would have thought - it depends how old.

Autism is definitely NOT life threatening! One of the symptoms can be not making good eye contact, but my DS1 when a really young thing, was not inclined to make eye contact. The doc said that he was easily over stimulated.

He is now 34 and is and has always been a perfectly normal (as much as he can be with me for a mother) chap.

I am pretty sure that autism can not be diagnosed at 3 months. They are reluctant to diagnose even at two years. It is assessed by looking at their interaction with others, eye contact, and many other things. Certainly none of these would have any relevance at that age. What gives them the idea it is autism? Think they may have got it wrong.

Sounds like it doesn't it. Not understood the doctor? Cerebral palsy is more likely to be suspected at this age, or a genetic problem, but not autism.

nonu No baby can be diagnosed as autistic at 3 months. A teacher friend who specialises in autism has a child who has recently been tested for autism. He is 7. He will not be told he is on the spectrum, as he functions quite well and his communication has gradually improved. If he should need any particular resources, this will be reviewed. 240,000 schoolchildren have been unnecessarily assessed as being on the autistic spectrum in recent years, and the authorities have recently restricted the range in the light of this, as children who were showing behavioural and communication deficits were being labelled for no good reason. The sort of behaviour that would be looked for does not show in a baby so young.

My ten year old grandson is on the autistic spectrum.
It's impossible to know at 3 months. They do not get diagnosed until between 3 and 4, if it's obvious. Some of the first signs are abnormal reactions to noise and people. Often they do not reach milestones at the same time as other people.
I remember when he was 2 we would take him into York, and he told us what he wanted by kicking. It was usually to get us to take him away from crowded places. He would hide his head in my shoulder or in my lap.
He would scream when an ambulance or police car went past and it would take ten minutes to pacify him.
If we were in a store and a baby started crying, he would cry louder than the baby and we'd have to take him out.
He had very good hearing and would hear an aeroplane or a helicopter and be pointing up to the sky well before anyone else heard it.
He still has a 1 to 1 assistant at school. Although he is good at tables, he often does not know what to do with it. He can also decode words, so read but without understanding. He has always been better with adults than children. I put that down to us having a guest house. If he did not like someone, he would pull my apron to make me take him out of the dining room. At other times he would line up his cars on the dining table so they could play with him. I remember a doctor who was a guest getting down on the floor with him and playing with his toys.

How "new" is the new baby? It seems a bit early for someone to get that idea.
I think there is a proven genetic element with relation to the Aspergers end of the spectrum.

Aspergers has affected my DHs abilty to hold down a job, despite being very good at Maths and with a masters in information technology.

Autism/aspergers is a spectrum which encompasses a wide range of behaviour and abilities. it can only be wait and see.

Nonu, if you google autism you will find lots of interesting information. Many autistic people have unusual skills, especially in maths or design. Did you see Rainman, with Dustin Hoffman?

I also remember a very good documentary about a boy who did the most amazing drawings of rather complex buildings. However he (and also the character in Rainman were what is (I think) are referred to as Sauvants.

I think the friend needs to be firmly discouraged from making any such self diagnosis, because as others have said it is not possible to diagnose autism at three months. I have felt, from talking to my daughter and her friends, that the fear of autism is becoming something of an obsession. My daughter was looking for signs in DGS from an early age and I'm not sure where that fear came from. She is a member of a forum (not mumsnet) where they regularly discuss their concern that their babies may be autistic. I am not talking about older children who are undergoing investigations but babies and toddlers. I'm sure we all had some worries about our babies but I do feel this is out of all proportion and is spoiling their enjoyment of their babies.

Stephen Wiltshire is the artist's name, Phoenix.
I have a copy of his drawing of London above my mantelpiece.
It's Savants, but they are few and far between.
I have four grandchildren, Nightowl, and the grandson is the third.
We knew he was different from his cousins early on, but did not know why.
When he was still not talking by the time he was 3, he was going to go to a speech therapist in York. But his parents moved to East Anglia and rented a house in a Surestart area. From his first meeting with a health visitor, he was given speech therapy and helped.
He went to a nursery where the teacher was trained in special needs, fortuitously, so she knew what she was looking for and how to help him.
His parents were asked if they wanted him statemented before he started school, and they were rather shocked at the idea. But we persuaded them that if he wasn't helped before he went to school, it would be years before he got help.
He has just had a review for going to the High School and he will get help there as well. They do not dole out help unnecessarily, and we know he is lucky. His 1 to 1 assistant actually helps him and another boy, but his parents do not object. They know the other boy needs help as well, and the additional input helps my grandson with social interaction, which is often a great problem for him.

Paddy Considine the actor/director has Asbergers. He was in his 30's when it was diagnosed. I only know that because he's a local hero. I agree with nightowl. It seems to be another thing that young parents look out for. I saw a film once about a woman who's son was autistic and she copied everything he did; it was based on a true story. Wasn't a lot of treatment done in Romania at one time; can't remember what it was called.

Jendurham I understand that parents often know there is something 'different' about their baby and this can relate to any number of conditions, not just autism. I am not denying that for some parents this 'knowing' can signal the beginning of a long process to reach the right diagnosis and appropriate help. I think what I was trying to say (clumsily) is that while people are becoming much more aware of autism, which is good, the downside can be that some parents are actively looking for signs and worrying without any foundation.

I am so glad your grandson is now receiving the help he needs. Let's hope that all of the specialist knowledge and support will help this next generation to lead happier lives than earlier generations where the condition was not fully understood.

My son was also 'different' and was assessed for various conditions, but ultimately not given any firm diagnosis. I do understand how difficult it is to look for answers and to have to convince professionals that your child needs help. My heart goes out to all parents, and grandparents in this position.

Thanks Nightowl.
Nonu, my grandson is going to be a train driver. He has just about every train simulator game that there is and his geography is fantastic. He knows more American placenames than anyone else in the family, and can show you where they are on a map, but only if they have a railway station that's on his train simulator!

My grandson is on the autistic spectrum and I worked with autistic children for several years. Normally now called Autistic Spectrum Disorder or ASD, it includes Asperger's Syndrome and ranges hugely in the way it presents from the gifted people that have been mentioned, through to people who are completely non-verbal and are unable to work or communicate effectively. I think it is a bit unhelpful when everyone talks about the very gifted, because this represents only a small minority. It was always thought to occur mostly in boys, but it is now starting to be recognised in girls where it manifests differently.
There will usually be a triad of impairments relating to communication (verbal and or non-verbal), social interaction and repetitive behaviour. Many children will have hyper-sensitivity to noise and lights, as Jen describes.
Three months is far to early to make any diagnosis. It should be possible to recognise it between two and three, but diagnosis is often later and depends on the severity of the condition.
There is masses of help and support on line.

Yes it is very unhelpful when people talk about gifted and special talents etc isn't it Mamie - press like it as it makes a great story. It must be awful for parents of autistic children when everyone assumes their child is going to a brilliant musician or mathematician.
We are all beginning to wonder a little about your DD's friend now nonu and want to know what is behind this bizarre story.
But we will probably have to content ourselves with not hearing it.

My son was talking about this the other day, Jess. At their support group a parent was saying how lucky they must be to have such a special child. My son said to me "as if you wouldn't give your right arm for them not to have it"....
It can be very distressing for parents because the children look completely normal, but their behaviour can be so bizarre and distressing. It is very upsetting when people make comments about their behaviour in public.

Yes quite - I see in places like a supermarket queue a child who is showing such behaviour and wonder how many people would recognise and understand.

Agree with you posts Mamie.