1:30pm Saturday 27th June 2009
By Miranda Newey
A MUM has asked people not to judge when they see a child misbehaving, throwing themselves on the floor, rocking, hitting their parents or seemingly acting up.
Liz Gregory and her partner Andy Cotterill have dealt with stares and rude comments from strangers confused by the behaviour of their five-year-old son Lewis Cotterill for a number of years.
The Cobbs Infant School pupil was diagnosed with severe Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder when he was four in 2008.
His parents, who live in Appleton, noticed his behaviour changing from the age of two. The toddler preferred to play alone, disliked loud noise and was always in trouble.
In a typical week the mum-of-one said her son had: *Disappeared from the garden and returned with a traffic cone.
* Thown water at his teachers.
* Shouted at people on a bus, telling them to get off.
* Refused to wear anything but red clothes.
* Refused to sleep until 11pm at the earliest.
Liz and postman Andy were shocked when they were told by experts that their child also had specific autistic tendencies.
Liz said: “It was a shock for us because we did not understand it. But after a few weeks of researching, reading books and surfing the internet, it was like we were reading about Lewis.
“We were finally understanding why he had such poor sensory skills and wanted to only wear certain materials, had a dislike of certain foods, and an obsession with the colour red.”
ADHD and autism are both disorders of the brain.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that three to five per cent of children suffer from the disorder.
It is not known why the brain develops differently in people with autism.
“Lewis is our beautiful, unique little boy. Children with autism often cannot cope in everyday situations like others. They often behave in a unpredictable manner because they find it hard to cope.
“They are not naughty and their parents are not bad for not reprimanding them, often ignoring the behaviour works best.”
Lewis also suffers from allergies and various health problems.
Liz, a hairdresser, added: “The child may look ‘normal’ whatever normal is but maybe, just maybe they have autism.”
The couple praised the teachers at the Wood Lane, Appleton school and the staff at Warrington Hospital for their support.
They said anyone concerned about their child should seek help from the experts.
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