I’m confused now because I started watching another Autism channel and the man with Autism is even less capable than Abbie. His family says he’s severely autistic. Could it be a wrong diagnosis or is this really what the spectrum looks like? I don’t want to keep saying Abbie isn’t Autistic if that really is not the case.
I really think that Abbie may have "Autism characteristics" but that it is a under-diagnosis. Which means that she has another diagnosis that effects her more than her primary diagnosis. When you have as such prominent diagnosis like IDD, it can definitely outweigh the Autism diagnosis.
Many of the characteristics that we see in Autism, she just doesn't have or isn't even considered "severe" in those arenas. She has no issue with routines but she hates them (Asa self admitted that). She has very little issues with any foods (as she will eat almost everything underneath the sun). She has very little bothering with noise/music, lights, etc. and usually prefers the loud music and chaos that is involved (Autism kids will usually stay away from loud music, needing headphones to cover their ears due to the volume, most avoid strobe lights due to either having seizures or just not liking the constantly strobing).. Here is just an article about what Autism is like:
Trusted information on everyday and complex child health conditions from The Hospital for Sick Children.
www.aboutkidshealth.ca
I also don't see the growth that Abbie supposedly does. She went to grab her communication board to show bath but I really think she was just saying Mom took a bath, look at how she grabs it to put it back. She is basically saying "done" because Mom was done taking a bath, not her.. She didn't want a bath but seen Mom taking a bath. She still struggles to even do basic things, like putting the silverware away, with her parents but ABA was lowered.. Hmmm.. It is just things like this that I see, they say she is getting better but I have see absolutely no growth in the videos.. I will say, the only thing that I have seen less of, is her biting her arm but I don't know if that is a heavy edit Asa is doing or if she is not having those heavy frustrations..