If your child has ASD what traits or behaviours were they showing at 21 months?

[friedgoldeggs]

Feeling a little overwhelmed, truthfully. DS's nursery have also picked up on some of his behaviours too. I know I have been sticking my head in the sand but I've also had a gut feeling for a while now.

He had a hearing test arranged by the HV which was fine and currently waiting to hear back from her to see what may need to be done next.

A few behaviours we've all noticed - My DS stims / flaps his arms when excited, only has a couple of words, not usually in context. He spins constantly, bounces and utterly full of energy. Won't answer his name. Never joins in with his peers at playgroup, won't even look at other kids and will actively avoid any messy play. Lines up his toys constantly, doesn't gesture like pointing, clapping or waving. Won't read books just chucks them. Growls a lot, doesn't play typically with toys (he either throws them behind him or stacks them, doesn't get simple role play like feeding baby a bottle etc).

Hates any form of Teddy bear or soft toy. Can be very fussy at meal times and will flap and scream. I've absolutely no idea what's "typical" and what's not but my main concerns are his speech at the moment. I adore my DS, he's absolutely brilliant, loves his cuddles and he's an all round happy soul most days. He can understand a few simple requests and has a good routine. But I also want to make sure I can help him if it's going to be needed and just not quite sure where to start.

Any insight, next steps or advice would be really appreciated, thank you

He seems to have a lot of red flags and nursery bringing issues up also would add weight. Of course diagnosis would be down to a professional like an educational psychologist (which is how we found out for sure), although we kind of knew possibly like yourself. It is what it is at the end of the day and an early diagnosis can be helpful in enabling him to be best supported as he moves through education. It is natural as a parent to go through a process of coming round to the idea, autism does run in families so it can help to understand traits in other family members. When our son was diagnosed they advised us that there was a 20% chance of further children we had being autistic.

Also, there may be challenges but none of them stop him from being a fabulous kid as you describe him yourself.

It’s hard initially when you realise it may be ASD or when nursery mention concerns even though you had niggles yourself. This was me last year.

At 21 months, I had concerns but ASD was not on my radar really. Concerns were inconsistent response to name, eye contact seemed okay at home but nursery said she avoided it, frequently still mouthing toys/objects, very limited role play/imaginative play. Constantly active and always on the go, running around, spinning, climbing on furniture. No words and still non-verbal at 3.

He hated playgroups and would put his hands over ears when they sang.

With me very cuddly and calm.

At nursery said would watch other children rather than play with, more interested in their computer (but that was older than 21 months). Hated sound of fireworks.

Very cuddly with staff

Clumsy and little sense of danger.

Not very obvious at that age.

Advanced at tantrums.