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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Original poster

Would we get an autism assessment referral at 20 months?

29 replies

AutumnLea · 16/07/2023 13:48

This will be a long one as I'm going to type out all my concerns for context.

TLDR: want advice whether to take this to GP tomorrow and ask for a referral or wait a bit longer as DC is so young.

Behaviour

Frequent long episodes of shouting.
General aggression when upset.
Overwhelmed by busy places, loud noise, other children.
Copies sounds but no inclination to form any words.
Will only watch one thing on tv.
Will only play with 2 specific toys, everything else is bitten then thrown, unless a soft toy which is carried in his mouth.
Understands things by putting them in his mouth and biting (including people)
Hangs tongue out a lot
Obsessed with screws and wheels
Becomes distressed if strict routine is disrupted
Won't sit in pram if it's still
Struggles with bathtime, getting dressed, nappy changes

Development

Crawled 16 months
Pulled up 16 months
Cruised 17 months
Walked 19 months
(Nb. These developments all happened as soon as I took him out of nursery at 15 months)
No speech
Doesn't respond to name, point or wave
Often lost in his own world

_Sleeping
_
Never sleeps longer than 6 hours
Gets up in the night for 2-3 hours
Always wakes at 5.30am for the day
( Nb the above is true regardless of any routine we try)
Will only fall asleep holding my hand

Eating and drinking

Will only eat mashed baby food spoon fed by me
The exception to this is a couple of specific snacks but you have to give him one piece at a time, if you put several pieces down he will pick one and throw the rest
Will only drink from a bottle, has regressed from cup
Will only drink milk, which I dilute with water
Stopped eating at 8-9 months when nursery started and only was fully on solids at 15 months when I took him out

And that's all I can think of. Does it sound like autism and shall I put all this forward tomorrow and see about a referral? Any tips?

Thanks and super thanks if you managed to read it all.

OP posts:
Original poster
AutumnLea · 16/07/2023 14:26

Thanks I will contact GP in the morning with it. HVs are flaky around here, perfectly nice but just not that great, decided early on to stick with GP advice. I'll mention SALT and portage and see what they say. I do vaguely remember going through the M chat some months ago, he wasn't walking at that point and I can't remember what it said. I'll have another look. Thanks again.

OP posts:
Toomanyminifigs · 16/07/2023 14:11

Definitely go to your GP with this list. An ASD assessment is taking up to 3 years where I am at the moment - so if you get 'in the system' now, you could be looking at aged 5 before he's seen.

Different areas have different pathways to get on the list for an assessment though but hopefully your GP will be able to advise.

What has your health visitor said, have you spoken to them with your concerns? (Some are great, some not so - mine was useless.)

I would be really pushing for a speech and language referral, urgently. My DS was given speech and language therapy from 18months as he was completely non verbal. This was some time ago though and I know wait times sadly are much longer now.

Also ask about Portage. We had this for DS and it really helped. (It's a kind of play based therapy for pre school DC who are showing developmental delays.) I'm not sure if it operates in all areas though.

Have you seen the M-chat test? (You can google it.) It's a basic screening test for possible autism. It can give you an idea of the kinds of things to look out for.

Relaxinghammock · 16/07/2023 14:08

You may not get a referral specifically for an autism assessment, but I think you will get a referral somewhere e.g. a more general referral to community developmental paediatrician &/or SALT.

Original poster
AutumnLea · 16/07/2023 14:03

Just to add, also obsessed with lights. Lights and interesting sounds. Will try to whistle or copy a wildebeest or something but absolutely no words whatsoever. I'm sure there's more I've forgotten.

OP posts: