Almost 2 year old showing some signs of autism..

[silverpetals]

I'm wondering if I'm being a bit ott or whether my concerns are valid.

I'm really stuck with what to do from here to be honest as my local health visitor is pretty useless and the gp said he's not concerned yet.

However, I'm just worried that something doesn't feel right with my little ones development. Lots of things I've read indicate that he could be showing signs of autism but other things suggest that he isn't.

If you have experience of this I'd be really grateful to know if you were aware of this at such a young age and how you went about getting help. Everything I've read about suggests that early intervention is key but I'm not sure if some of the things he does is just standard toddler behaviour along with a slight speech delay or if he is showing signs and how I can go about getting him the support he needs if the gp isn't concerned yet.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Oh sorry and doesn't respond to his name. No eye contact and no social smiling.

My ex’s granddaughter was very similar to this in all the things you mention, right up until being almost 4 years old. She’s a very chatty NT teenager now.

Oh yes the jumping ds does lots of jumping. He is also very anxious and will meltdown regularly. When he is anxious he will hit out at those around him. He has a very limited diet and is still doubly incontinent at 4yo. We were fortunate to get an early diagnosis so we have had SALT, learning disability team, continence team, community paed and HV involvement. We also pay for private SALT and play based therapy. He is due to start pre school with 121 support and we setting the ball rolling on Ed psych assessment and an EHCP to ensure full 121 funding for reception year as he will need that if he is to stay in mainstream school.

DD is 25 months says maybe 5 words has fleeting eye contact, walks on tip toes occasionally (used to be all the time) , small attention span, tantrums, does not listen to instruction at all in public, screams in her pram/ in a trolly, doesn't like texture on her hands seeing a Portage worker and waiting for speech therapy...... paediatrician is 75% sure she does NOT have autism and told me to put her in nursery, Portage worker thinks otherwise... from your description I'd just say he is a hyper 2 YO. Is he in nursery ???

He sounds similar to my son, who my husband always he possibly had autism. HV always said he was fine, just to see how he goes, up until his last check at 2.5. He is now 5.5 and awaiting an assessment for autism, but he is much 'better' (couldn't think of the right word) now. When he was 3 he was a bit of a nightmare. He went through a phase of having meltdowns and we didn't always know why. He was a late talker (doesn't stop now mind and can speak welsh and English) i think that was a lot of the problem with him, he couldn't verbalise his feelings.
At such a young age, unless it's staring you in the face, they are reluctant to do anything

My son was diagnosed with ASD just before his 3rd Birthday. He was exactly as you described in your post. Also he is very affectionate. Get the ball rolling ASAP with Speech and Language assessment and Autism diagnosis because if he is autistic this will all help you get an EHCP which means you can name your chosen school. If he isn’t then it will be a weight off your mind.

I have had no luck here with salt. Dragging their heels. So I have paid for a sign language course myself . Although not entirely sure how well he will take to this as he has the development of a much younger child and limited comprehension.

If it helps mine was exactly the same as a 2yo. She had very few words, and bounced off every piece of furniture going. Wouldn’t listen to instructions- i used to take her to baby gym and she’d just be climbing on the highest bit of equipment and refuse to do any of the formal stuff like sitting in a circle singing a song.

I remember a thread on a baby forum about “how many words does your 18m old have” and people listing dictionaries, along with waving and other actions and signs. Reading it in disbelief as mine could barely say bye.

Dh had family with autism and had suspicions. I went down the “burn the energy off” route and signed her up to ballet, swimming, gymnastics, took her to the park, got a balance bike, anything and everything.

Once we got the exercise balance right the concentration and focus clicked as she became calm enough to learn more. I also think the formal classes helped her to learn to follow instruction- especially gymnastics where you only get to throw yourself off the bars/vault/trampoline if you listen to the coach...plus gymnastics coaches are used to that type of kid and see it as a positive, a child who will try anything will be easier to teach the high level stuff.

Shes 12 now and totally NT. she does however still need to train 12-15 hours a week min or she starts climbing walls again (literally). Fortunately she’s found a sport she is very good at.

Thank you all so much for your replies.

He's very sturdy on his feet and rarely falls over when running about.

Feeds himself with a fork/spoon.

He can't understand when I ask him to go and get something or where his nose is. But if he's holding the remote for example and I ask for it, he will hand it over or say no and walk away.

He loves stacking toys but he also loves playing with all sorts of toys that appears to be quite normal.

Is very affectionate and if I've hurt myself he'll look at me and mimic my behaviour, then might say "ahhh" and cuddle me.

He also has absolutely zero sense of danger. I can't let him walk on the pavements to the park (always in the Buggy) because he will not listen to me and lie on the floor if he's in reigns. Plus he's a giant for his age and ridiculously strong so very hard to handle mid tantrum.

He hasn't had any health visitor assessments or questionnaires, I'm going to call them today to try and get the ball rolling on this.

He has just started nursery 2 mornings a week and we're hoping this will help his speech come along.

My son was diagnosed just before his second birthday. He could only say a few words anyway, but stopped saying them completely at 15 months.
He stopped eye contact, wasn't interested in any toys.
He's now almost 4 and still isn't talking, but he never hurts himself or others, he looks right in your eyes when he looks at you, loves physical contact, can sit and watch some tv.

Have you tried the M-chat test?

Sounds like my 5 year old DS who has autism. At 2 he was so hyper it was unreal, didn't answer when I spoke to him was in his own world. He did smile and give some eye contact though. He did try to be social on his terms.

My son displayed similar symptoms and we were ignored by GP/HV/SALT etc because he had good eye contact. But I kept pushing and eventually when he was 2 1/2 years old the GP referred us to the community Paediatrician who diagnosed him with ASC. But a friends boy who had very similar behaviour was diagnosed with language delay and eventually caught up. So it could go either way. Definitely worth getting checked out though so keep pushing. It'll either put your mind at rest or enable help early on x

Sounds a lot like me DD at that age and she does have ASD.

I agree with Ronnie's suggestion - try the M-chat test online.

I think you should do this questionnaire at the end of my post to see if your son's infant reflexes have not yet gone dormant. I am not recommending this company as I have never used them - but their questionnaire is helpful. The tip toe walking and the 'never there' rings alarm bells with me for infant reflexes not gone dormant.
My son was 'never there' and he had other autistic traits plus no eye contact until the age of 4.5. He has had loads of therapies - his most recent is the brushing technique associated with the infant reflexes not going dormant. It was clear after a matter of weeks it was working - my 'never there' son started bantering and telling jokes. When he was younger he had health kinesiology which helped him to establish eye contact - but he remained with low eye contact especially when he was stressed for years. The brushing has raised his eye contact to a new level and for the first time ever in his life (he is just about to turn 12), a few days ago, he clearly looked into my eyes to search for how I was feeling.
I know you said your son has eye contact, but with infant reflexes not being dormant, the symptoms can mimic a range of autistic traits.
Its good that you are being proactive - if you are worried - its worth investigating further.
www.inpp.org.uk/child-screening-questionnaire/

Have you looked at the MChat test? Google it and have a look as it can give you an indication of whether your concerns need to be taken further. It’s a good tool to take to the GP (if it shows concerns) and say, look I’ve done this clinical test and it indicates cause for concern.

How is his non verbal communication? That’s probably a better indicator at 2yrs? Can he point? Does he point to objects in books and crucially, does he point to things of interest in order to share (turn back to check you’ve seen) So, if he sees a cat, will he point to it and look to check you’ve seen it? If he does this then that’s a really good sign of joint attention. Does he share things with you like crackers etc? Also a good sign.
Does he have any sensory issues? These are common with ASD but the problem is they’re also common in toddlers. They manifest as toe walking, freaking out at barefoot walking on sand, grass or water. Dislike of labels in clothes or haircuts. Strong gag reflex, chokes easily. But as I said, these are also common in toddlers.

Does he look at things in odd ways such as out the side of his eyes. Is he unusually attracted to spinning things? If given a toy truck will he play with it appropriately or turn it over and spin the wheels. Again, most toddlers do this occasionally. The difference with autism is the intensity of these things. And unfortunately this is difficult to be clear on at 2.

I'm going to disagree with those suggesting you do those online questionaires. Honestly, you'll drive yourself mad. Anyway, sometimes there is more than a 'yes' or 'no' answer when it comes to your child.

Insist on being referred, and leave it to the professionals.

MrsCar, the MChat is very easy to complete and was designed to aid clarity. It doesn’t seek to diagnose but rather to suggest that further investigations may be useful. It can be used from 18mths and would let the OP know whether another trip to the GP to push for a referral is a good idea.

I have two year old twins (just) - one has various problems, some diagnosed, more testing happening. ASD diagnosis is likely. The other they’re watching.

Neither of them talk, at all. No words. For one that’s the biggest issue, but some of what you’re saying sounds familiar. They tested his hearing (fine) and they did his check at 24 months rather than 27. It wasn’t great but they’re not worried yet. Waiting to see speech and language.

The other is significantly delayed by more than half his age in all areas. It’s very obvious he’s struggling more.

If you’re worried, insist on a referral. You should have an assessment between now and 27 months. If he doesn’t score well there, insist on a referral.

It’s not designed to be used by professionals who diagnose autism. It’s designed to be used by someone with little knowledge of ASD so parents, health visitors and GPs.

Fair enough DriveShaft

I would worry too OP. I work with children with Autism and early intervention is important. Can you push to see a speech therapist?

In most areas you can self refer to SaLT. Get on their list ASAP as it could take 9-12mths to get seen.

He sounds similar to my DS who has autism. I first started noticing he wasn't developing typically just before his 2nd birthday. He was diagnosed just after his 3rd birthday. The poster who said they don't like to diagnose until they're 7 is talking rot. I know loads have kids who have been diagnosed at 2, 3, 4, 5.

It's good you're getting his hearing checked. I'd also be pushing for a speech and language therapy referral and a referral to a developmental/community paediatrician.

Never knew you coukd self refer to SALT. Thankyou whoever posted that. My son basically has autism there is no question. But has yet to have it "confirmed" by the community paed as everyone is dragging their heels. It's making me quite mad as the longer everyrhing takes the further behind developmentally he is falling. So frustrated at the lack of urgency from professionals in this area.

In our area there are SALT drop in sessions at children’s centres.