'He makes me laugh every day' Melanie Sykes opens up about her son's autism on Daybreak
MELANIE Sykes has opened up about her son's autism in a bid to raise awareness of the condition on this morning's Daybreak.
The model, who recently split from her toyboy husband Jack Cockings, headed over to the ITV show to tie in with World Autism Day, where she spoke openly about her seven-year-old son, Valentino, who she revealed had the condition two years ago.
Speaking to presenters Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones, she said: "Valentino makes me laugh every single day - he's a real character and a joy."
She explained that her son, who has high-functioning autism, started displaying symptoms of the condition aged two and has since undergone extensive therapy, but still struggles in certain situations.
"There are issues such as judging from other people," revealed Melanie.
"Tino looks like a normal child but if he gets overloaded - if in a restaurant there is too much music, or the clatter of cutlery, he will have to get up and hop about.
"He doesn't realise. I do try and explain to people."
43-year-old Mel, who revealed that she was trying to raise awareness of the condition, added that while some people might think autistic children are moody, she disagrees.
"How many times do you see a child have a proper tantrum? You have to look at it and think 'that is probably autism.'
"They [people with autism] are very sensitive people. And they are very fun. Tino makes me laugh on a daily basis. He has no filter - he just says it how it is. He is a real character, a real joy. "
And despite having to provide extra care for Valentino while bringing up her other son Roman, she described him as an "amazing little boy" who has changed her life for the better, before adding that parents need to be able to spot the warning signs of an autistic child.
"It's hard to imagine your child won't go down the normal route," she said.
"But if you leave it until the age of five or six the beahviour will be so engrained.
"You need to spot it and sort it out."