Spacing Out/Absence Autism Spectrum

[BlackMist200]

i got to agree you should leve him when hes in that place i do that to i have atuism and i know i used to get very mad when people took me out of it.

[lkjhb1]

hes so lucky i want to space out too!!!!!!!!!

[waarce]

The same with my boy. However, it has to do mostly with not responding to his name which is prevalent in kids with autism. Gorgeous little boy. God bless him!

[Adrenalyn]

I also thought of a mini-seizure. Braden also had an EEG negative results, but I know he was having little seizures. We are mom's and we know...

[IndigoCat17]

Leave him alone when he is in that state he is in his happy place

how would you like it if someone bugged you when you were

in your happy place!!!

[aidenbrophy]

@IndigoCat17 - at the point at which this video was taken I could not have imagined 'leaving him alone' - as his parents- we were trying to have a relationship with him- trying to support him using words and language- this video was made to show his therapists and doctors (who had asked to see a video of various behaviors) - Now- In 2011- Aiden has dramatically less absence- he is MUCH more engaged.

[aidenbrophy]

@IndigoCat17 I DO understand what you are saying though- I DO believe that the autism spectrum allows a kind of 'happy place' - and that sometimes it is better to just let them rest in that.

[cardinal12803]

Handsome little boy :) Many think that zoning out is seizure related but often it is also sensory related. My son is autistic and does this alot! All feel it is related to his sensory overoload. I would suggest he see another specialist regarding and get a 24 hour EEG just as a 2nd opinion. Also watch for Sensoery issues that may be causing it, that is my sons concern. ((hugs))

[spaceballs44]

When I was a child I had Absence Seizures I bet, nothing was done and then almost 2 years ago I had an AVM, and now I take Seizure meds I'll have to take for the rest of my life. Get the EEG done it could save your LIFE!!!!!

[norarobertsfan5]

Thank you so much for posting this I have been looking and looking for what my three year old does on youtube and this is the video of what he is like. But he does this at home when there is almost no stimulation as well. He only has 3 words I am so worried. He sits on the public health waiting lists getting no help.

[jfsabl]

you can't make public health faster, but you can provide stimulation--there are a lot of DIY resources on the web. Also, not all "absent" kids are having seizures.  Some are in a state of deep concentration on an idea or a pattern of light or sensation (like a smell or hum in the car)...or something as simple as "avoiding carsickness."

[china6518]

Absence seizures My son has them. Get him to a neurologist as soon as possible.A child with this type of seizure could get up to a 100 a day. He needs to get a EEG done.. Please Get him evaluated.. My son was undiagnosed for 3 years now the medications dont even work. I see you already have a diagnostic but honestly get the EEG done as soon as possible sometimes absence seizures may not be present when certain tests are done. Absence seizures are very dangerous. Look it up!!

[waarce]

My son does the same thing. Had an EEG, but came back negative. He still does have that blank stare once in a while.

[china6518]

EEG only detects the seizures when the person is having the episode. My kid is been having the seizures for years it actually took a very bad asthma attack and a trip to the ER for a doctor to notice he had absent seizure. I was told that when a person suffer both from siezures and respiratory problems the seizures are more present. My son also gets them when he is around allot of people.

Please dont just settle with one diagnostic.

Happy mother's day!!

[bellsandshells]

Does his attention span deteriorate most often in the car? Maybe he's experiencing sensory overload from the scenery passing by so fast. Thank you for the videos, they are really helpful and Aiden is super adorable.

[aidenbrophy]

I would agree it's sensory overload - it can happen anywhere where there is A LOT to look at or process. This video was last year- he has since been in intensive therapy and has really built his own little mass of coping skills- he still gets distracted/overloaded sometimes but he now does things like cover his ears in anticipation WITHOUT screaming and yelling- he will just cover them and wait out whatever is going on that is overloading him. Before he would either space out or freak out...

[aidenbrophy]

I wanted to add... while I put earlier than I agree sensory overload is definitely a culprit in Aiden's case, I want to make sure to add that I think with Aiden specifically it's a combination of things that cause these staring or spacing out episodes. I do not discount that Aiden could have seizures, I watch for activity and record and report it to his doctor if I see it-

[aidenbrophy]

He HAS had EEG's and an MRI, which basically showed a left focal abnormality, but that no actual seizures were recorded during the testing. We were sent home with "be sure to watch for activity and bring him back in if you see something that you think could be a seizure".. bottom line for us-. Aiden has the propensity to have seizures, so we just need to be aware.

[china6518]

If it is seizures it might not show up on eeg unless he is having one while the test is done.

Happy mothers day!!

[Crusae2000]

omg you have no idea how this little guy touched me. It's like looking at my own self when i was at that age! I was the same way as he is! I got worst by the age of around 10 possibly because of a stressful event tho. But I was struck with EMPATHY throughout the video. I can't believe it. It's a hard to explain feeling.

[indigopurplecat]

He is so cute! we have 2 granddaughters with autism.Faith has asperger and Taylor, we aren't sure how severe she is yet.I do know she is worse than Faith.Taylor seems to zone out.

[AutismAuntie]

He's adorable!

I understand the unresponsiveness.

It's good to see he can talk! Even just a little... Keep positive! He's a doll!

[rainbowmummy]

Watching shadows?

[aidenbrophy]

Ya- I'm never really sure when he is like this- sometimes I keep talking and try to see if he snaps back- and sometimes I just stay quiet and let him go...

[rainbowmummy]

My son sometimes watches shadows or you know the dust in the light. More ingrossed than spaced out. How old is he btw?

[aidenbrophy]

He turns 4 in November. =)