Is my 22 month old autistic

[nataliejc77]

Hi
I am writing about my 22 month old son who has slowed developmentally.

His vocabulary is very limited and really only says mama. He knows other words but never uses them. I am always trying.
He is rarely affectionate and usually just pulls away. With my mother (who we live with) he always ignores her and will pull away if she gets too close to him. I know she finds it really difficult to deal with the rejection. However if he sees an animal all he will try to do is kiss and cuddle them!

He also has a tendency to make this strange noise and turn his head when he is not in the mood to listen.

Last week on holiday there was a few incidents which concerned me. Another mother made comments about my son because he gets close to some of the other children when babbling to them. He also gets so much more excited than the other children.

My son became known at the hotel for making his noise and turning his head when certain people spoke to him. He seems to instantly take to people or dislike them.

When he goes to playgroup he likes to play on his own, with me or simply run up and down. He likes to walk on his tiptoes and he hates having his hands dirty.
Thank you for reading my long post

[Goldmandra]

M-CHAT is a good screening tool to help identify young children who may be on the Autism Spectrum. If your child comes out as high risk you may waish to share the results with your GP and ask for a referral.

Don't be fobbed off with rubbish like 'They don't diagnose at this age'. If you are concerned you have a right to have your child assessed.

It's hard to make a judgement from a description on an internet forum because it's as much about how much the symptoms affect his ability to function as it is about them just being there. Far better to have a proper neurodevelopmental assessment.

[Safeinourbubble]

You have enough concerns to take to your GP and ask for a referral. Make a list of them - you stop seeing things because they are "normal".

Pointing, looking, talking are all forms of communication. How well does your DS interact with you, with other family members, with other children?
Is he obsessive in the way he plays? Is his play odd?

Gold is right. Getting a professional to have a look is the best route. If what they say rings true - you probably have your answer. If not, keep asking for help, other referrals. DS2 was diagnosed, undiagnosed and rediagnosed - things change developmentally and people, even professionals, get it wrong.

[nataliejc77]

Thank you goldmandra I have never heard of M-CHAT. I did the questionnaire and he got a score of 2. I know it is hard from my description and obviously I am not looking for a diagnosis. I have just moved to a new town and have no one to discuss my concerns with.

And again thank you safeinourbubble for your advice. My son generally plays well with other children, he can get over excited at times and when he sees a crawling baby he has the habit of bending right down and babbling in their face. I have very little family, and know no other babies so I don't know if my son behaves typical or otherwise. He does not have obsessive play either. What age was your DS2 eventually diagnosed?

[Safeinourbubble]

Originally diagnosed at 3, rediagnosed at 6 - but they were clear that this was a moveable feast - diagnosed at 9 with atypical autism, sensory integration disorder, avoidance disorder, SLI, and specific learning difficulties.

Locally, there is a child development centre - is there one near you? I'd still go to the doctor and explain my concerns and ask for someone - like the CDC - to have a look. Hopefully, he will be one of those cases where they say, "He is fine" but it is better to have checked.

[nataliejc77]

Thank you. I have tried my doctor and got nowhere but I will keep trying

[Goldmandra]

That's a shame. Did you not feel at all reassured by the conversation? If not, is there a different GP at the same surgery you could see?

It's not uncommon. I know lots of parents whose children were eventually diagnosed that struggle to get the first referral from their GP.

It may help you to keep a diary of the behaviours that you feel are a worry so that next time you have a more concrete and comprehensive picture to share with them.

[chocisonabikinidiet]

Keep a diary and if things don't improve go back. Can you take your DP with you? My GP took mw only seriously once I dragged my DP along.

As PP said, it is very common to be fobbed off times and timea again. I started going to GP with concerns when DD was 15 months old and were only referred when she was 3 (and only for reassurance, GP did not share our concerns at all). My DD was eventually dx witb severe autism. You need to be a PITA if you want GP or HV to take you seriously.
I would also video if you can.

[nataliejc77]

Thank you again for the advice. I went back to my gp surgery and saw another doctor who is referring us for assessment into his language delay and autism. I think I was hoping that someone on this site would say they had a child who behaved in the same way as my son and that everything will be okay. I guess I am coming to terms with the real possibility that he has autism as now my eyrs are open I can see even more behaviour which is atypical to children of a similar age. Hopefully we will be referred soon

[domoarigato]

Autism is the absence of normal behaviour, not the presence of odd behaviour iyswim. For me, everything you said could be normal. But if you're worried talk to your GP. I took the test for my 17 month old and she got a 1, so if you got a 2, I think your lo is fine imo.

[Goldmandra]

I think I was hoping that someone on this site would say they had a child who behaved in the same way as my son and that everything will be okay.

The problem with children is that there is often no really definite answer one way or another. Symptoms of Autism are so wide and varied and can be seen at times in NT children that it can be very difficult to say that a child will or won't turn out to have Autism unless their symptoms are severe.

When my DD1 was diagnosed she also had severe anxiety. We have to wait six months while she took medication for the anxiety to see if the Autism symptoms reduced. They didn't and she was given a diagnosis.

Take one step at a time. You DS hasn't been diagnosed with Autism yet and lots of conditions can present in similar ways, especially at this age.

The fact that he's going to be assessed is good. If he does have a neurodevelopmental disorder you will have a greater understanding from early on and he will have essential early support. If he doesn't you will feel reassured.

[rocketjam]

It's difficult when they are so young. Professionals tend to make diagnosis a bit later as it can just be a developmental delay. Keep taking notes, and talk to your health visitor about it, make sure that your concerns are noted in your son's Red Book. My son had some issues at that age - he would like up toys by order of size, play on his own a lot, cry when picked up and stop crying when we'd put him down, didn't speak until well past two years old, was obsessed with cars and anything with wheels, and also by clocks and numbers. Now at 7 he is a very happy little boy who was diagnosed with a speech disorder, but not on the autistic spectrum. He is top of his class in reading, spelling, and Gifted and Talented in Maths. Some children are different, develop not only at a different pace but in a different 'order'. For example, DS couldn't babble at 2 but could do puzzles for 5 year olds... he didn't walk until 16 months but was an excellent climber, he would climb on a chair and then on the dining room table, and could unlock child-proof cupboards by the age of 18 months!!

[rocketjam]

I meant line up toys!

[nataliejc77]

Goldmandra you are absolutely right. I think that I have
built this up in my head. I assume pregnancy hormones
are partially to blame. I will know so much more once he is assessed. And worrying is getting me nowhere.

Rocketjam I have wondered how different my lo would be if he could just communicate and get his feelings understood. Im sure very different and a lot easier to handle. My son is a runner and a jumper for his age he can jump really high. And he is smart and very devious. I am really lucky to have him, I think I need to remember that more often