Early signs of autism. Posting for traffic.

[Bambamboom]

I'm booking a doctors apt for my dd of 19 months tomorrow. I really concerned for her at the moment, if say she demonstrates 90% of the characteristics listed here

teachmetotalk.com/2008/03/14/could-my-toddler-be-autistic-signs-of-autism-in-toddlers/

Would you say I'm being over the top?

[PandasRock]

I haven't read the link.

You are not being over the top if you have concerns about your child's development. It is always (imo) better to set the ball rolling where investigations are concerned.

Have you heard of the M-CHAT? It's a screening tool used to check for signs of autism. It might be worth a google, and going through the list. If a toddler fails the M-CHAT they should automatically be referred on for further screening - it would be worh mentioning the scores to your GP if they are indicative of further investigations being needed.

Since you clearly have worries, I would also say - don't be fobbed off with 'wait and see'. At best that is a waste of time.

Good luck.

[choc0clock]

Just follow your gut.

have you done the m-chat to see if it flags up anything?

Be prepared to be fobbed off (I saw GP with concerns the 1st time when Dd was 16 month - we were fobbed off again and again and only referred at 36 months). so stand your ground..if you are concerned about her speech then also get a hearing test sorted to rule out any hearing issues

[choc0clock]

www.m-chat.org/mchat.php

Take a print out of the results with you to the GP.

good luck

[anonacfr]

I agree, the earlier the better. If you have any concerns be very vocal and very pushy.

[BigfootFiles]

I'm not an autism expert by any means, but I am suspicious of a website which lists "symptoms" and then tries to sell you their own DVDs as part of the "solution".

I would say most of the signs she lists are displayed by most toddlers some of the time. You know your child best though, so if you have worries, see your GP/ health visitor.

[itiswhatitiswhatitis]

It's never over the top to seek the advice of a GP when you are worried about your child. I would suggest though that you make a list of specific areas you are concerned by with some examples.

[erin99]

Absolutely listen to your gut. I do think a lot of children of this age will cause parents to worry, though, and turn out to be completely NT. I worried about both of mine, even DD whose YR teacher always commented on how good her social skills were.

[bialystockandbloom]

No, if you've got concerns you're not being unreasonable. If there is anything, it is brilliant to have identified so early and to do something about it. ASD can be diagnosed at 18months although many GPs and leads may try and push you to a "wait and see" approach. But at worst, you'll hae got into the system early if needed, and if there is nothing amiss you'll have nothing to lose.

Come to the SN children board if you feel up to it, loads and loads of advice and support etc.

Also might be worth looking at this thread here for experiences of other parents with dc around 2yo.

The m-chat also useful. Also a website early signs.org worth looking at.

Good luck, and hope you're ok.

[ClapHandsIfYouBelieveInFatties]

Definitely do the Mchat. It's respected and more trustworthy than most. I hope tomorrow brings you some peace.

[ProudAS]

I'm autistic and apparently didn't like being held as a baby. I don't know whether there's a link.

[HavanaSlife]

Ive done the m chart and its saying I should take him to the gp. What age is the m chart aimed at though? Have spoken to the hv who isnt concerned and has said she will refer to salt if hes not talking by 2. Hes 20 months

[Rnb]

I knew my son had autism at 18 months. He was diagnosed at 23 months. The early diagnosis and subsequent intervention has helped massively. I agree with those who are saying go with your gut. Good luck

[ClapHandsIfYouBelieveInFatties]

Was there not a section where you could tick an age on the questionnaire? If I remember correctly there's a section for that. What are your concerns exactly? Sometimes HVs are excellent at spotting things and sometimes not...

[ClapHandsIfYouBelieveInFatties]

Meant to say...trust your own instincts.

[choc0clock]

havana, the M-chat is for children from 16-30 months.

HVs are notoriously shit when it comes to Autism. Just sideline the HV if she is useless and go via the GP.

[PandasRock]

I think the m-chat is aimed at 18 month olds (it is a looooong time since I used it though - dd1 is now 10!)

I would be talking to someone re: referral if a child of mine was not passing m-chat at 20 months. Please don't accept 'wait and see'. It's all very well saying you will be referred if your ds is not talking by 2 - why can't you be referred now and spend the next 4 months on the waiting list (which in reality will be longer than that anyway) and then get seen (shortly, hopefully ) after your ds turns 2? If you don't need the appt at that time, then you can always withdraw. If you do, less time has been wasted.

[Aeroflotgirl]

My dd 7 years has a Dx of ASD and dev delay, my ds who is 2.7 years, has a speech and language delay and slow interaction which I suspect is due to his speech delay. We are seeing SALT and pre school are helping him. But so how he is so different to dd, I don't think he has ASD, he is such a happy jolly little chap, has never had a mealtdown. He loves new situation and people. I know the ed psych mentioned Autistic traits due to dd I suspect, but I told her that I myself had dev delays not ASD and she said that dev delays can present similar to ASD. I took the M CHAT test right now and ds is low risk. I suspect he is slow not Autistic.

I will stop rambling, take tge test and present it to your GP.

[NancyJones]

Don't be put off, it's great that you are being so proactive at this age and if your instinct is correct then you've done brilliantly well to get in the system at this time.

Your HV is talking out of her arse if she's saying wait until 2yrs! It's not about speech, it's about communication. If your 19mth old is struggling to communicate with you, not just through speech but through crucial non-verbal gestures such as pointing, showing and sharing and struggling with receptive language then you must see your GP and ask for a referral. The more ammunition you go with the better. So if she fails the mchat and is ticking lots of red flags on the first signs website then take that info along with you. Do not be fibbed off. Do not accept being told to keep an eye in things and come back when she is 2. Be clear and succinct and gently forceful in your request to be referred for a developmental evaluation.
Good luck and well done. You are doing your daughter a great service by seeing your GP now.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Just did M CPHAT using my dx ASD dd and she scored high risk for ASD, it's quite accurate.

[WireCat]

Go with your instincts.

My ds is 5 and was diagnosed just after his 5th birthday. Although everyone knew he was autistic it was just getting it officially diagnosed.

It's never too soon to get your child "in the system" if you're worried.

Good luck & best wishes to you.

[Whatisaweekend]

I was dragged into school by the teachers who then proceeded to hint very heavily that ds was autistic. Worst bloody day of my life and how can people so lacking in compassion and empathy be in a child-care profession but that's a whole other thread Did you know that the early markers for hearing loss and autism are largely identical? Have you considered that it might be that your child has hearing loss or perhaps glue ear? It's what happened to us!!

[HavanaSlife]

Thanks everyone, he doesnt say anything, although he did have 3 words at about 13 months but doesnt say anything now. He doesnt point, understand simple instructions etc

I think you are right, need to sideline the hv, ill have a word woth my dsis as well shes a sn nurse

[bialystockandbloom]

Totally second what nancy says about non-verbal communication. Autism is not the same as speech delay (not that 18 months is delayed in any case). If you have concerns other than speech alone (eg behaviour, lack of interaction etc) your HV has no idea what she's talking about if she's only looking at speech. Not speaking at 18 months ( as an isolated issue) is not an indication of autism, nor does speaking at 18 months necessarily mean a child does not have autism if there are other indications. What is far, far important at this age in terms of development is shared non-verbal communication, interaction, and play. Any signs of repetitive behaviour, no shared attention, and lack of reciprocal interaction are more concerning than a lack of speech alone. A NT baby even at 9 months would show signs of back-and-forth interaction (eg giving you things, doing things to get your reaction etc). And a 18 month old toddler should be doing things like pointing at things to show you, following your point etc, and showing signs of imaginative pretend play.

Bypass your HV if you have concerns - keep a diary of thingss, behaviour etc tht concerns you, present it to the GP and ask for a referral to a developmental paediatric team.

[PatButchersLostEaring]

I recently posted a similar thread about my 15m old. Please consult the SEN mothers on here. They are gurus.

[TeracottaTurtle]

On the other side of things, meeting a lot of markers doesn't always mean a dc will be autistic. My HV was adamant ds1was autistic when he was 3, but he's not (now 6).

He did lots of things on the list - was very speech delayed (pronunciation of an 18 month old at age 3), would completely tune you out, not interested in other children at ALL and difficult to make eye contact with. He wouldn't show me things and seemed happiest left to play alone. He was obsessive about lining things up and making lists and showed what I would describe as OCD tendencies with touching and turning things. When he was 'into' something (at age 3 it was cleaning, playing with brushes, dusters etc) it was all he wanted to do and he could not be dissuaded. I used to take him to play group and had to stop going because he would have screaming, hysterical tantrums when he wasn't allowed to play with the mop or sweeping brush. I couldn't reason with him or get through to him at all when he was like it.

When he was 3.5 (in school part time nursery) we were called in. The teacher had been slowly assessing him and told us he was able to do sums, counting etc at a roughly year 3 level. He also had (has) the strange ability to look at a large group of anything...people, books, smarties...and tell you instantly how many there are. She'd picked it up when they'd had a fire alarm, she was counting the nursery and reception children and dc glanced around the yard and said 'there are 58 of us miss' and was right.

He was assessed for autism again on the teachers suggestion but the result was negative. He's since been listed as gifted, particularly with maths and apparantly the signs of autism/giftedness can be very close.