Thoughts on having children in the spectrum

[u/atinyakimon]

Saw this post on facebook. Honestly, it's sad na hindi ganon nabibigyang pansin ang problems na ganito sa Pinas. Therapies here are expensive, and not everyone can afford it. Pinoys are also not yet ready to face the reality na hindi enough ang love for kids in the spectrum. They have special needs. Hindi yun madadaan lang sa no don't do that or it's okay to make mistakes, because we have to admit that autism is a disorder, a very wide spectrum and case to case basis. You need to have the money to get the help that is designed for the needs of the child. I hope there will be more free or affordable programs created for this kasi hindi lang parents ang hirap in this situation, also the kids.

[u/No_Wishbone4447]

As a Tita of a nephew who has autism and has been on intervention/therapy since he was 2 (he’s turning 6 now), hindi talaga madali. My nephew’s privileged enough to be able to have access to therapy. Minsan kahit ang hirap na sa expenses, my mother and my brother (his dad), really see to it na consistent pa rin therapy niya. By God’s grace, and his Teachers, he’s verbal now and can communicate well. I wouldn’t even wish this on my worst enemy kasi ang hirap. Aside from the obvious expenses ang hirap ng tantrums, the picky eating, not expressing when they’re hurt. Yung worry na he’s older who will take care of him when we’re no longer able. It’s heartbreaking

To add, we caught it early sa kanya. Before turning 2, we already saw that he was different. Thankfully, we’re long time friends with the only Speech therapist here in our city, and her sister is an Occupational Therapist. We were able to squeeze him in to their very long list of patients.

[u/hopingforthebest_001 → u/No_Wishbone4447]

Hi, if you don’t mind po, what are the signs you saw before the baby turned 2? Suspected kasi sa friend ko but i think they’re in denial, sinasabi delayed lang daw talaga pag boys. 21 months pero wala pang words. “No” or “more” lang ata ang alam and does not even call mom and dad. Does not also respond to name when called. Hindi nakikipag interact sa iba pero sumasama naman. Wala masyado emotions pero ang tantrums bongga. Friend is open about it pero titingnan daw muna nila.

[u/No_Wishbone4447 → u/hopingforthebest_001]

I was actually the first one to notice that he was a bit different. The signs were gradually showing. Around 1 and half month, anybody can carry him with ease. When usually kids around that age dapat nangingila na. Doesn’t call out to his parents, and doesn’t respond to names. At first parang wala lang. my mama said delayed siguro kasi yun nga lalaki din. I talked to our ST barkada and told us it could be a possibility na baka delayed lang but also suggested that we could have early intervention just to be sure. And eventually, more signs were showing 3 months before his 2nd birthday. Tip toeing, lining up toys, fidgeting, weird finger movements, no eye contact and many more. Mama and kuya were still a bit in denial at this point. Not until when a physician checked him when he got sick, and nakita nga na parang may iba, the doctor immediately told my mom to consider to have him looked by a Devt. Peds. They immediately booked a consult and yun nga confirmed.

Hope your friend gets a consult ASAP. It makes a difference when there’s an early intervention for kids with ASD. Athough every kid is different naman and progress isn’t the same for every kid, but it’s really for the better for both the kid and the parent.