Developmental delay.

[Vonnie2016]

Hi everyone,
Currently starting on the process of getting my son assessed due to developmental delays, possible Autism diagnosis on it's way, he is 3 years and 2 months
I requested a report from my son's nursery to pass onto the Health visitor who is coming next week to do an initial assessment.
Reading through it, the nursery think that he has 6-12 month delay on his development mainly speech and language, and is not showing signs of being toilet ready, has some sensory issues, among other things that are leading to believe he is on the Autism spectrum.
Anyway, how he is at nursery is very different to how he is at home.
He talks a lot at home, not where he should be at his age but has improved a lot over the last six months.
In his report it says he is frightened by loud noises at nursery, at home he isn't (we have a loud house, with a dog that barks etc). He just seems to be like a total different child from the one they see and have assessed him on.
I guess my question is, is this normal for a child who is Autistic (I know it's vague as the spectrum is so large and don't even know if that is the case yet with my DS) to be so different in two different environments?
Sorry if none of this makes sense, it's quite difficult to explain.
Many thanks.

[mamapants]

How did hv visit go? Can't answer your questions I'm afraid as in in similar boat, dd2 has just been referred to community paediatrician and clinical psychologist.

[Msqueen33]

I've got two dd with autism. One is 6 and the other is 3. Both diagnosed. It's very common for children with autism to react differently in different settings. A lot of reports I have for my older dd I don't recognise the child they describe. It's all to do with anxiety. Both my girls get very stressed at school and nursery and become more autistic if that makes sense as they're in defence mode and are more stressed and anxious. As they're mentally having to work harder I.e to deal with sensory issues etc. Pressure, demands and having to conform can be very hard for children with autism so outward stress is more obvious. At home there's no pressure, no stress so they can just be. If that makes sense.