DS3 is 8, almost 9.
He is the youngest of 3.
Lately, I am finding DS3 very hard work and I’m wondering if I should ask our GP for some advice or a referral.
Would you be concerned about these things?:
He cried in the shops today because I wouldn’t leave him in the car with his elder brother whilst I popped in for onions. He didn’t seem bothered that he was crying and basically having a minor tantrum in public. This happens often.
When he gets told “no” to something , he will throw himself on the floor, roll around and cry and be very difficult to engage with (I never give in so this isn’t a learned tactic).
He never sits still ; even when he’s sat down , he is twitching or fidgeting. Always fidgeting with objects, sliding across the floors, dancing on the spot etc. This is every minute of every day.
I have to ask him multiple times to do something simple such as going to brush his teeth . He will say ok but just doesn’t seem to register to actually go and do it .
He takes language very literally. He often interrupts our conversations and then says he didn’t realise we were talking to each other.
He gets easily upset and cries over seemingly minor things. He gets upset when something doesn’t go as he planned.
He doesn’t seem to realise the consequences of actions; he is very impulsive . Yesterday as I was walking down the stairs, he hid around the corner lying down and grabbed my ankle as I passed , I fell forward and had to stop myself from falling head first down the stairs. I got a shock and asked him what on earth he was thinking and he became upset and cried. He was very sorry .
He is very silly, will talk in baby talk and will “play the clown” ; I’ve noticed this happens more when we are out and about rather than at home.
He has a particular fascination for “how things work” and will take apart things and put them back together constantly .
It’s becoming harder to get him to go out of the house , he prefers to be at home.
He does have a couple of close friends but he says he doesn’t really know what “to do” when around other people or children he doesn’t know.
He was standing watching some children play with a ball at the park , they asked if he wanted to join in. He said ok but then didn’t speak to any of the other children , he just passed the ball in silence whilst frantically biting his fingers. He appears to answer rather than ask.
His diet is not great , he prefers plain and bland foods or repetitive meals rather than trying new things.
On the flip side , he is very sporty, he will attend outings with his friends when invited, there appears to be no issues in school other than reports of being easily distracted and silly sometimes, he can focus on his sports (but if there’s a second gap in play, he’s easily distracted and fidgeting again).
We do have some close relatives who have ASD diagnosis’ but we always assumed DS3 to be NT. Could it really just be showing up now?
I’m so very confused!