On The Spectrum

You don't need words to say I love you. 

I would like to introduce the world to my son Nathan Davis, known by friends and family as "Nate the Great''. Nathan is a vibrant young, little 3 year old; who was recently placed on the Autism Spectrum.

We arrived here after going into a routine check-up and voicing that his speech seemed to be regressing. My beautiful baby boy went from forming sentences to grunting, in between the occasional momma, dada. How did we get here!? Honestly, we're still figuring that out.

What I do know is we're going to speech and the chiropractor weekly. We also learned that his eyesight wasn't fully developed so he's now wearing glasses. This all seems to be helping so far, as he's more vocal. Few words but we are vocal nonetheless. We are on a journey to figure out what Nathan needs to continue to thrive and progress.

Parents, I beg you to just take the time to analyze your children. Really take note of who they are and what their normal looks like. This will help you to know and see the signs when something is off. Don't be afraid to ask your Pediatrician questions.

The following may indicate your child is at risk for an autism spectrum disorder. If your child exhibits any of the following, ask your pediatrician or family doctor for an evaluation right away:

• Loss of previously acquired speech, babbling or social skills

• Avoidance of eye contact

• Persistent preference for solitude

• Difficulty understanding other people’s feelings

• Delayed language development

• Persistent repetition of words or phrases (echolalia)

• Resistance to minor changes in routine or surroundings

• Restricted interests

• Repetitive behaviors (flapping, rocking, spinning, etc.)

• Unusual and intense reactions to sounds, smells, tastes, textures, lights and/or colors