22 month old seeing GP tomorrow for possible autism - what should I expect?

[ARockNRollNerd]

I hope it's ok if I post here.
I'm feeling quite emotional and need to get some stuff out in the open.

My 22 month old DD is going to the GP tomorrow. This visit was booked a while ago as she's got less than 10 words and we've been advised to get her hearing checked.
Since booking this appointment I've been looking around online and I've read a few things which made me wonder if she's autistic. I've done the M-CHAT thing which came back with moderate ASD risk.

I really don't want to overact, friends keep saying that toddlers so these sorts of this and it's no big deal, but I don't want to underact either as I keep seeing it's important to see someone as soon as possible, but is 22 months too young?

I've made a list of things I've found that can be related, incase my mind goes blank tomorrow.

Delayed speech
Spins in circles
Bangs head on hard objects
Grabs finger/arm to do things for her or get things for her
Obsessed with water
Flaps hands
Obsessed with buttons or button shaped objects
Minimal eye contact
Ignores when called
Inappropriate laughing at others being hurt
"Talks" loudly
Arranges toys in row/everything has to be same way up
Very recently started eating only certain foods
Started walking at 16 months, crawled at 9 months

What can I expect to happen if I mention this to the GP?
Will he tell me these are normal toddler traits and/or that she's too young to be diagnosed?

I'd really appreciate any advice on this.

I so badly want to do the right thing for her but I just don't know what the right thing is.

[c4kedout]

make a list of all your concerns and take it with you (easy to forget to mention things). also take the M-chat with you and be very firm that you want a referral for a dev. paed.

be prepared for your worries to be brushed under the carpet (happened to me when DC in fact has severe autism).

can you take your partner / her dad with you? I find that you will be taken more seriously that way. apparently it is less of a case of paranoid mum syndrome then.

in any case get a referral for audiology and Salt but going by your list I really would push for a paed.

[ARockNRollNerd]

Thank you both, I wouldn't of thought of taking the M-CHAT with me.

DH is coming with us.

Is there any sort of paediatrician in particular who deals with autism, do I need to ask for a specialist? Or would just a normal paediatrician be next in the chain of a diagnosis? Sorry, probably stupid question

[ARockNRollNerd]

Ok, thank you.

Hopefully can persuade GP to listen to our concerns.
Last GP we saw a few weeks ago about speech delay told us absolutely nothing could be done until kids are 3, which I found out after isn't true at all.

[c4kedout]

it is afaik usually a developmental paed who sees children with these kind of issues and not a just a 'paed'

[ARockNRollNerd]

Thanks zzzzz.

I do feel very nervous, and after being fobbed off my the first doctor I want to make sure I have an idea of what to expect this time around.

[Sirzy]

Can't add much to what has been said but good luck!

[ARockNRollNerd]

Thank you Sirzy.

My stomach is in knots.
I don't want to let DD down.

[DimpleHands]

My DS was diagnosed at 19 months (privately), so don't let anyone tell you autism can't be diagnosed when they are this young. I'm afraid that if it is autism, you will find that you need to get used to being a really pushy parent to get the things your child needs and a referral from the GP will be the first one!

Diagnosis aside, you should be able to start accessing some speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, developmental play sessions, etc. run by your local authority, so do make sure that you ask your GP about that. (In our local authority they're called Early Years Centres - not sure if that's the same across the board.)

Good luck, I know what a worrying time it is.

[c4kedout]

how did you get on, OP?

[ARockNRollNerd]

GP wasn't at all interested in what I had to say.
Wouldn't look at or discuss her traits or the M CHAT results.
Just kept saying she was young, he didn't know what the procedure was and I'd have to write a letter to the surgery and wait to here back.

I'm just sat here crying now as I feel I'm letting her down and I should of been able to do more.

[DimpleHands]

No, you have done really well to spot that there may be an issue. You were just unlucky with a not very good GP. Please make an appointment to see another GP - most will not be that dismissive.

[c4kedout]

at least you got your concerns recorded.

in the meantime there are a few other options to move things along:

• go to other GP
  
• try HV. they can refer too and might be worth a try
  
• self refer to Salt.
  

otherwise go back in a months to repeat your concerns. took me 4-5 appointments to get referred.

[ARockNRollNerd]

Seeing as it's the second GP to basically shrug us off I'm going to call HV in the morning.
Should I just come out and say I'm a bit concerned about Autism and would like their advice?

I'll still write a letter to the surgery as he said to do, but I really don't feel they care.

The SALT website says for a short term in England you have to see your GP, so I don't think I can self refer at the moment?

I spoke to the local councils Speech and Language team and they only deal with kids over 2 with zero words and who are "under privileged" (their words not mine).

[AntiquityOfTheTauri]

That is absolutely horrible. We had concerns about ds from the same age and he was diagnosed on his third birthday. Tho we saw the doc (with MCHAT in hand) at 25 months after being fobbed off at his two year check.

Your GP sounds generally awful, I've had doctors look up things they don't know in front of me so yours could've done that.

It might be worth waiting for the two year check with the health visitor. They will probably be much more on the ball.

In the meantime you are not failing her. There's bucket loads of waiting and lots of stuff falls to parents to do anyway. Read all you can about autism and what you can be doing with her. Even if she doesn't have autism nothing you will be doing will harm her and will probably help anyway.

It's awful to be fobbed off. I cried on the way home from his two month check. By that time it seemed so very obvious, ignoring toys in the waiting area to run backwards and forwards shaking his head, doing nothing asked of him, having a meltdown about being weighed etc etc. Children develop differently and he was just young my arse.

[AntiquityOfTheTauri]

Two year check I mean!

[c4kedout]

and sorry OP. this sounds crap. just say to HV that your have concerns about her development. that you think she may have ASD and that the M-chat also came back with a risk and you want a referral. HV will probably want to see her.

I was that desperate after being fobbed off everywhere that I refused to get up and leave the GPs office without a referral. he agreed to put my mind to rest but at least it did the trick.

[ARockNRollNerd]

You're right Antiquity, just because that GP hasn't helped us doesn't mean I can't educate myself about it more and see if I can find some ways to help her and me in the mean time. As you say, even if she's not autistic, finding more ways to help her communicate etc isn't a bad thing.
Thank you. I'm sorry to hear you went through a hard time with your DS as well.

Good on you, c4kedout!
I really wonder why they aren't a bit more open to parents concerns. Surely it's better to look into these sorts of things and it turn out not to be the case than turning people away who they could be helping.

Thank you, Polter.
I'm actually in North Somerset so that's really helpful.

[Moonandstarsandback]

Hi,
I don't know where you are in the country, but where I am, referrals go to a child development centre and you can actually self refer. Can you find out how it works in your area, as this may be s possibility for you too. Good luck. I remember going to the gp about DS's limited diet and she made me feel like a completely neurotic parent! It had been over 2 years of it going on so it wasn't like I went rushing there after he didn't eat for a day!!! The only reason I got a referral to a dietician (rather than being sent away feeling like a mad mother!) was that my DH had told me not to leave without getting a referral!!! So I just blatantly said, I wanted a referral......and wouldn't take no for answer. I do get though that some gps will just dig their heels in, which it sounds like yours did. Are there other doctors at the surgery? If you keep going back, surely they need to take you seriously?! Hugs X

[ARockNRollNerd]

I hate that feeling of being made out to be a neurotic mum, Moon.

I knew something was wrong with DD from birth, and I looked into her symptoms and found it looked like a milk allergy and silent reflux. It took me over 20 visits to a GP to refer us to a dietitian. They just kept tilting their head at me, asking if she was my first, if I was ok.
The dietitian listened to what I said, agreed, gave us different formula and within hours DD was better.

I will have a look at the local centres, thank you for the idea and I'm glad you managed to get a referral even if you did have to do a sit it!