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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

Am a bit worried about DS..[prob a bit long]

14 replies

Nemoinapeartree · 11/12/2006 19:58

Ds is 3.2yrs and am worried about some of his behaviours. He is very intellegent for his age[have been told by few different 'professionals']. However there are a few things I am concerned about and more and more lately they are eating away at me.

his speech he is under a salt but seems to be getting worse and the past month is reverting to grunting a lot or just pointing rather than saying words.

He is no good in social situations he clams up and will not interact with other children and this is also getting worse as he gets older. He has one good friend who he has seen very regularly since he was 12mths old but if this friend is not around he will not interact at all with other children.

He has a fear of loud noises and new situations. Anything slightly alien to him and he panics, screams, crys and generally is inconsolable.

He is obsessive about shutting doors to point of closing every gate if we walk along the road, lights being turned on and off, his toys being put away in certain places etc otherwise he has the most horrendous tantrums.

He hardly eats and when he does he makes himself gag as he doesnt want whatever food even if you give him something he asks for. Since saturday he has eaten a brioche roll and thats it. He will drink milk or water but thats it and even then its not a lot as try to limit it in order to get him ot eat.

I know I am probably unduly worrying but there just seems to be more and more adding to the list and his behaviours compared to his peers are not the same. So at what point do I seek advice from someone or is it just me?

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Jimjams2 · 11/12/2006 20:10

Which professionals have you seen already?

Is he losing his ability to say words, or losing the wish to say them (so will he say them in some situations and not others, or is he just now unable to say them at all). Loss of words (in terms of losing the ability to say them) should be investigated asap- preferably by a paed. Allthough tbh I'd want iit too be looked at if use of speech was regressing for any reason.

TBH give your list I would ask for a referral- preferably for a multidisciplinary assessmnet- although what does the SALT think- she will have a better idea (as she sees him rather than just trying to get the gist from an internet site).

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mckenzie · 11/12/2006 20:13

I dont think you are wrong to be concerned. We had some of the problems that you mentioned with DS when he was about 3 too. I would suggest that you go to your doctor and insist on being referred to the Children's Services Centre (or whatever it is called in your area). They were very helpful for us.

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QueenEagle · 11/12/2006 20:14

nemo - I agree with jimjams.

fwiw my SALT for ds3 was fab - she referred him to a paed and he has also seen a physio for an initial assessment and he is awaiting a ed psych assessment too for selective mutism (reluctance to speak in certain social situations).

I would push for it if she seems reluctant to do so, that way you can get him properly assessed and get whatever treatment he might need.

btw we have just found from the phsio's initial assess that ds3 has tight muscles in the backs of his legs which accounts for his clumsiness.

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Nemoinapeartree · 11/12/2006 20:14

I think he is just loosing the gumption to say the words. SALT said his understanding was excellent etc and concentration was a lot more than she would have expected but he has problems with pronunciation and making himself understood. He is seeing her again in february. Only other person we have seen is the health visitor who we havent seen for a while as a new one has taken over. I used to think a lot of his problems were down to my depression but more and more am realising it isnt.

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Nemoinapeartree · 11/12/2006 20:17

Thanks all..quick question but I do go via gp or via HV?

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Jimjams2 · 11/12/2006 20:30

GP is best. Ask about seeing a developmental paed, or being referred to the local CDC (different areas do things differently).
There'll be a wait, so its worth getting the ball rolling even if things all fall into place before you reach an appointment.

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Nemoinapeartree · 11/12/2006 20:33

JimJams thanks a lot..just a quick question as just had look on SN. What is PDD? Did that questionnaire thing in regards to DS and it came back at 89+ mild PDD.

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IssyK · 11/12/2006 20:49

I hate to be the first one to actually come out and say it, and I'm certainly no expert, but the behaviour/symptoms you describe sound like classic autism pointers (has this crossed your mind? I'm sure it has although you didn't mention it in your initial post).

I'd take him to see your Gp or mention your concerns to the SALT as others have said, and get him referred to a paed.

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Nemoinapeartree · 11/12/2006 20:51

IssyK it is what I was thinking as was a mental health worker and also have psychology degree etc but didnt want to taint anyone elses views if you know what I mean. Just wanted to double check it wasnt me being an over reacting mum.

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IssyK · 11/12/2006 20:58

Of course Nemo, I understand you wanted an unbiased opinion etc. I work in a school as an LSA for a little boy with ASD, and all the behaviours you described really rang a bell with me as they are extremely similar.
Hope you get some answers soon, I know you are pg at the moment and have another little one so you must have a lot on your plate. Good luck hun.

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Jimjams2 · 11/12/2006 21:08

Hi Nemo PDD stands for pervasive developmental disoder so includes autism and close relatives. You could print out the score and take it to the GP to ask for the referral.

Good luck, whether its behavioural or develomental - things do get easier when you know what you are dealing with xxx.

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Nemoinapeartree · 11/12/2006 21:14

Thanks jimjams and issyk will make an appointment with GP and see what happens. Ds behaviour has been worse at the min due to me being heavily pregnant so some of his routines have gone to pot and the speech is regressing which is what made me really look at what he was doing.

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PineConesAndHonneybunny · 11/12/2006 21:37

Hi nemo- agree that talking to gp is probably best way to go.
One thing that did crossed my mind though, was if it couldn't just be jealousy (sp?) of your dd and the baby on the way and attention seeking (by baby-ish behaviour). Or maybe even anxiety about things he knows are about to happen. Wsn't your dd quite sick initially? Maybe he's worried about what's going to happen with the new baby? It's just that getting a sibling is a huge event in his little life, and getting two....
Forgive me if you think i am speaking utter nonsense, but it's just that i have two ds-s of roughly the same age as your kids (ds1=nearly 3 and ds2=nearly1), and I can so well remember the completely shocked look on ds1's face when he first held his little brother. And my ds1 also "re-lapses" into some of the behaviour you have listed, though not all the time...
Anyway, I do think it is probably a good idea to go and talk to your gp. And sorry if this post seems a bit "ramble-y".

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Nemoinapeartree · 11/12/2006 21:47

pinecones we have thought of that as yes DD is sick quite a lot resulting in a lot of hospital or gp trips[had another today..lol]. However some of the behaviours like obsession with closing doors switching lights on and routine have been around form before DD. He also had poor speech but we put it down to his age. However have now been told he is about a year behind on his speech since his SALT assessment in november. It is hard to work out what is anxiety over yet another changing situation and what could be more long term. Like the grunting when it first began I put down to copying DD babbling but now he does it a lot more and when DD is not there etc.