My 4-year-old son was autistic from birth, I believe. My mom is trying to convince me that it was caused from his vaccines and get me to take him to Pfeiffer Treatment Center in Illinois.
From the time he could sit up (5 mos), he would rock in his crib and bang his head on the headboard. He would also rock in any chair he sat in. He started walking at 10 mos, but walks on the balls of his feet and always has. His eye contact is good and always has been. He is verbal, but didn't start talking until he was 3-1/2, and still doesn't say any full sentences yet. However, he knows what is being said to him, and his speech is improving almost daily.
He only has 1 kidney and had health problems at birth, though he is now healthy and in the 95th percentile for height and weight.
It kills my mom to see my son and entire family not living "normal" lives, and she calls me almost daily to give me information on new autism treatments she has found. She doesn't think we're doing enough for him, but we're doing all that is available in our area (1/2-day PPI class, 5 days/week, 2 20-min. sessions of both speech and occupational therapy, and we get him private speech therapy for 1 hour/week as well.) He has improved greatly, and I truly believe he will some day be independent.
I read about chelation therapy, and it terrifies me. Since my son only has 1 kidney, his pediatrician is really apprehensive about prescribing ANY medication for him, except as a last resort. All the vitamins and "capsules" that chelation requires scares me to death.
I guess I'm just trying to get some feedback and compare notes regarding the stories behind their children's autism. Thank you!