To ask what behaviour/signs would trigger you to think autism/ADHD?

[therewearethen]

DD5 is very challenging, and for some time I've been thinking she may have mild autism or ADHD.

She is my first so I have have no real experience of other children but observing friends kids she does behave differently at times.

I don't want to offend anyone with this thread, I'm asking for honest advice on what would make you think there maybe something under lying.

Is that DD aged 5 or your 5th DD? I'm not sure AIBU is the place to get really constructive advice on this... However, things that might stand out; communication, was she late talking; social interaction, dos she play with others, empathise; does she have any ritualistic or compulsive behaviours?

There are check lists online. But if your worried I'd ask your HV for a referral as only an expert can diagnose.

I was asking myself the same question until I read this and I now have to reconsider ways to keep myself from over reacting to my spirited and extremely talkative 6 year old.

Try on the Special Need boards. (Chat or children) There's plenty of experience over there.

ASD is diagnosed from a team of professionals, and certain "criteria" need to be met to get a diagnosis.

I think it's about asking yourself how different these things you are noticing are.
If it helps write them all down.

For us dc had a lot on the list before we got to the right specialist.

Not just late/not talking. Early talking as well. And echolia.

Not making "proper" eye contact.

Sensory seeking / or avoidance. Eg they might seek out loud noises or hate them.

age 5 sorry, her speech isn't very clear and she likes to line things up. I guess I need reassurance that it's routine behaviour but if not I'd like to get a diagnosis sooner rather than later so I can get advice on how best to deal with certain situations

ASD can be much harder to diagnose in girls.
These websites have "checklists' (use with caution) tailored more towards ASD in girls.
www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/autism-and-asperger-syndrome-an-introduction/gender-and-autism/women-and-girls-on-the-autism-spectrum.aspx
www.autismhelp.info/what/autism-and-girls/categories,id,1008,1-1.aspx

If you have worries ask for a referral.

DS has autism and I don't find this post offensive.

With DS there are a lot of things, speech and repetitive things is just the tip of the iceberg. However every ASD child is different.

It took 3-4 years for an official diagnosis

My daughter has AS. The earliest signs, with hindsight, were her level of intensity. She was/still is very much an all or nothing person.

Rewards/punishments never worked, she was too focused on doing/not doing something to care and couldn't really connect cause and effect anyway.

She also talked and talked and talked and talked. Not conversation, just a wall of noise. Attempts to interrupt her led to explosions because she had to follow the script in her head.

She also never slept. In and out of bed like a yoyo until 4am up again at 6am.

Screamed blue murder at the mere sight of a hair brush.

I have a DS with a diagnosis if an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I am sure you already know that the best place to start is Tony Attwoods web site. He really help to relate technical terms to real behaviours and real DC. you might also find useful to read about sensory processing disorders and ADHD.

You could find some ideas about girls with ASD here

I found the following old threads on "special needs children" or "special needs chat" boards very helpful. You could try to google them:

• "You know your DC have ASD when ... lighthearted" or something like this.

• "ASD in lay man's terms" etc.

It would help you to keep a diary recording all various incidents and behaviours and building the picture over a period of many months or years. The suspicion and / or diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder takes a very long time to confirm or even reject, so the diary will really help the professionals if you ever would have to contact them.

if you feel you are ready to ask about your DD's behaviours on the Special Needs Children board, I am sure very knowledgeable and helpful MNers will be there to answer. Hope this helps for now.

My son has ADHD

I didnt think there was anything odd about his behaviour untill I went for a GP appt for myself. He was sat on the floor playing, he was 2.5 at the time, and he was making constant noise like a helicopter, lining everything up, rocking backwards and forwards etc. The GP tried to talk to him and she was just like background noise to him. She asked if he usually behaved like that so I said yes. She then referred us to a paediatrician. 4 years later he was diagnosed with ADHD.

The level of intensity, like Westimama says is really a good indication.

I found the book Parenting Your Asperger's Child by Alan Sohn fantastic. It made me aware of autistic behaviours in my daughter that I never connected with her being autistic. EG autistic children tend to cover the paper with paint rather than painting a picture, which explained my daughter's paintings which took a week to dry if they didn't disolve first.

OMG, my younger DS covers the page with paint until it dissolves...

Apparently it's because it's the actual act of painting which they like rather than the picture, so they'll keep painting until they can't paint anymore.

They do the same with crayons too but I thinks it's more noticeable with the paint.

Actually it's like that with everything now that I think about it. I could always tell my daughter's work without having to look for the name. There was just more of it. More paint, more glitter, more colour, more of everything really.

westie what does the EG stand for?

e.g. mine paints the entire paper. Starts off with a picture and keeps adding to it. and adding and adding

Hi, op. my GP made a referral for me, off of his own back. I think my Ds was around two years of age.

My Ds is sixteen now.

He did not talk until he was five, so I was taught how to do very basic sign language with him and was also given some macaton cards so he could express how he felt.

I'm rushing around at mo but will come and comment again later.

I'd start by speaking to her teacher and see if they have any concerns. I think this often helps because the teacher sees the full spectrum of the class and can pick up if your child's behaviour falls within a normal range or gives more cause for concern.

Sorry for the late post, it was our first day back at school so everything's a bit manic! School have never raised an issue other than they wish she would 'come out of her shell more' however she started later than the others as we moved and it was a large class and it was only the 'naughty' kids that seems to cause any concern.

I watched this morning as they all went in the yard and stood in their little groups chatting or running around but DD just stood there on her own like she didn't know what to do.

She's usually really shy in front of others and will hide behind me if she doesn't want to speak to people, but at home she doesn't shut up! But it's a constant stream, and she'll repeat the same thing over and over. When she's in a 'hyper mood' it's like she has to get every single thought process that enters her brain out, and she's also very loud.

She'll quite happily watch the same program over and over again but at the same time has a very short attention span.

Physically she still needs reminding to wipe, flush and wash hands and still wears a nappy to bed.

Sorry I didn't plan on this being so long!

She'll quite happily watch the same program over and over again but at the same time has a very short attention span.
^^ this is one of the things picked up with my dd.

I've just been reading a little more thanks to links you all posted, am I right in thinking taste is classed as a sensory issue? DD is a really bad eater, I think it started when we were weening and going from smooth food to food with texture. She hated anything that wasn't smooth.
She's better now compared to as a baby but her food is very limited.

Will be back later after I've picked DD up from school. Thanks again all.