Has anyone had a dd / ds who regressed at 17 months ish?

[Worriedcoronamum]

I’d really appreciate any recollections you can share abojt what it was like.

Our dd has been on track til now - watched her v closely as she had nasty case of meningitis at 4 months - and v chatty, engaged etc. The last few weeks she’s very different: lost words, stopped waving, stopped responding to her name. Dh initially concerned too now I think trying to be more positive / denying it. GP and HV have asked us to keep an eye and come back in six weeks. All feels really noticeable to me but also as I’m the only one now looking and he’s in the role of “oh it’s grand” as are my friends and family don’t really have a sounding board. Today she was v distressed and walking in a circle furiously quickly then lost balance and smashed head on radiator poor love - seemed unlike anything I’ve seen her do before but I really don’t know what I’m looking for and been advised to stay off google. Would hugely appreciate any steers on what you saw at this age that was later deemed significant and what steps you took to help them? It’s the distress not the autism I am worried about - she has it or she doesn’t and we will help her as we can, I just want to ease what seems to be real frustration and unhappiness in her at present - she’s normally so cheerful.

[LadyRenoir]

Yes, not at 17 months, but we experienced regression at 23 months.
My son had a speech delay and some pointers at autism, but a lot of these were things toddlers do anyways. And then, all of a sudden he lost a lot of the words he used to have, became a lot less aware of his surroundings (bumping into things, which he didnt use to do), stopped reacting to his name, hardly any eye contact. It was all very sudden and distressing.
Also got and going through More than Words book, really enlightening in terms of some of the things I am noticing he is doing.
We have started some online speech and language therapy which helped us to try to find ways to connect with him (obvs being online they cant do much, but gave us pointers at type of play and things we can do with them). Also helped me calm down a bit, as I was a mess for weeks when I realised something was not quite right.

[Worriedcoronamum]

I can relate to the mess part - thanks so much for positing and the advixe re more than words too will look that up. Really hope all going ok for you now, sounds like you’re doing a great job for him - so unnerving to witness isn’t it?

[LadyRenoir]

The book is quite expensive on Amazon, but I got is somewhere online for 30 GBP or so, I will ty to find a link. It looks really good, but taking me forever to go through because of lack of time.
The lockdown is making things so difficult, so hard as cant really get help from anywhere and see anyone, bu the online thing was very helpful, and we also did a chat with them where they asked us loads of questions. I think it helped talking to someone professional about it, even if on the whole there is not much I can do...
With this, super small steps count as huge victories and SALT helped me realise that.

[Worriedcoronamum]

Don’t worry I will find a link you have your hands full! Really appreciate your support and really does sound like you’re doing a great job

[LadyRenoir]

We got it here:
www.rompa.com/more-than-words-from-hanen-book.html

Thank you for your kind words!
Wishing you all the best as well :)

[Worriedcoronamum]

thank you, really appreciate this x

[Inaquandry19]

My son's regression started around that time. There were some subtle signs of potential autism before that but I didn't really notice them at the time. Huge skills regression, lost words, eye contact, stopped responding to name and stopped waving, he never pointed. Diagnosed asd at 2.5, by which time it was very, very obvious. He is nearly 5 now and we are making some progress but it is slow going. He is still non verbal.

[Worriedcoronamum]

Thanks so much for sharing - I’m really pleased you’re making progress. I think I’m getting a bit obsessed and looking for answers everywhere where there won’t be any clear ones for a while so won’t comment any more on this thread and just stick w GP / HV guidance for now as going a bit bananas - really appreciate everyone’s help and support and wish all then best for you and your children - sounds like you’re doing such a good job x