Non NT children.

[PepperSteaks]

What was your first inkling your child wasn’t NT or had SEN? I’m becoming increasingly worried about DD but whenever I ask anyone they just brush it off and say it’s because she’s a baby (She’s 19 months)

When he was 15 months old. I took him to the GP when he was 17 months and told the GP I thought he had autism. He was diagnosed around his second birthday.

she didnt talk at all till about 2 and a half.

I think he was around 2 years old, mayne a little younger. He didn't speak very well. and was "in his own world". There was just something different. I was fobbed off by HV, then when he was preschool age his teachers were amazingly observant, and got us help. He was eventually diagnosed ASD when he was a few years older.

With DS1 I had an uneasy feeling around 14/15 months. At 18 months I was very concerned but kept googling to find proof he have autism(!). Just before he was 2 I spoke to the HV who then referred to SALT and the community paediatrician. Diagnosed with ASD at just over 3.

With DS3 I was more back and forth, self-referred to SALT when he was about 2 and half.

Firstly you are not BU. Our instincts as parents are normally very good - you know your own child better than anyone. Kids all develop differently but I would definitely voice your concerns and keep an eye on things.

From my experience I could see distinct differences in my ds from around 10 months. He was permanently on the move and hugely restless. He couldn't bear to be still and feeding became a real issue because he didn't want to lie prone long enough to breastfeed. He never walked, always ran. He was hugely emotional and volatile and found it very hard to settle unless he was physically restrained. These are just a few examples - I could give numerous others! Whilst I also had people comment that he was 'just being a baby / toddler' it was very obvious that he was very different from his peers and from his siblings. I think that I had my first proper conversation about his differences as he started school and we agreed that we would hold for a formal diagnosis at age 7. He has very severe combined type ADHD as well as OCD and anxiety.

Just to also mention that being NT makes him the amazing little boy that he is, but being diagnosed means that we are best placed to help him get the most out of life.

That should have read I was googling to find proof he didn't have autism

I never knew anyone with SEN so it wasn’t actually me that noticed first, I was the one who was brushing everything off. He developed nuerotypically until about 13/14 months, he started to get really ill, chronically- always had ear infections, had several bouts of norovirus, awful chest infections, ITP, chickenpox & flu in a very short space of time. He was always sluggish and tired & most of our time was spent in and out of GPs, out of hours etc. So when he lost his words, I just wrote it off as it was because he was poorly for so long & was sure he’d get them back. My exoh’s sister actually works with people with SEN & she was the one that pointed it out to me.

I always knew that my boy wasn’t typical - he bum shuffled and didn’t even stand until he was about 18 months.

He didn’t get a proper diagnosis until he was 11 (dyspraxia) then he was diagnosed with ADD at 12 and finally ASD at 13.

These are all ‘developmental’ disorders, so they become increasingly apparent as the child ages - trust your instincts and get as much support as you can - referrals can take ages so by the time your DD’s turn comes up any differences will be easier to assess than they are now.

I wouldn’t change my boy for the word, btw. He’s now 18 and at uni - wasn’t an easy path for either of us, but it was so worthwhile.

My first concerns for ds are recorded in his red book when he was six weeks old. He was diagnosed with autism at two and a half. I suspected dd had autism at four months and knew dd had autism at eight months she was diagnosed a week after her second birthday.

8 years for my first, Dyspraxia didn't even realise it was a thing. Just thought she had my quirks (I was diagnosed whilst at uni). Also at 10 found out further, she masked shockingly well (ASD).

Second child I have been pushing that 'something' isn't quite right since about 15/18 months and she is now nearly four and we finally have a referral.

Around 14 months for my first son. I just knew.

Second son, I buried my head in the sand a bit, but around 17 months xxxx

betty this really gives me hope for my boys! Lovely lovely positive story. Thank you xxxxx

About 2 years old, had been concerned a bit before that but it became increasingly a concern then.

8 here, which was when everything suddenly went pear shaped at the new school and people kept suggesting autism. (which in theory he hasn't got because he was just below the threshold in one of the 3 areas, but he has an EHCP so has SEN of some kind even though they can't define the condition).

She was finally diagnosed aged 18. ASD, Dyspraxia, amongst other stuff. She masked very well, but it got increasing difficult during secondary school for her to do so.

Gosh. I think I knew when DS was about 6 months old.

He’s coming up to 5 now and we still don’t have a diagnosis.

If the differences are subtle, they’re very easily dismissed in little ones (maybe because, perhaps they’re often nothing?)

Around 12 months it’s was clear DS was different. I didn’t suspect autism until he was 4. He was diagnosed at 9.

I have a younger DD who I suspect has SEN of some kind and have thought that since 15 months. She’s now 5.

about 3-4 months (though I had my doubts earlier)....she would scream at me if I attempted to BF her while wearing anything that wasn't beige / skin-tone. This might sound silly...but honestly this has been the nature of her ever since. Cannot cope with over stimulation AT ALL. Now 7 and still freaks out about textures, sounds, lights, people she doesn't know, places she isn't sure about.

At about 15 months we tried her in nursery and knew she wouldn't be going to school etc. for quite some time...

She can still recite the list of things that happened in nursery that caused her distress 5 and half years later.

I sensed differences from about 3 months, there were obvious differences in interaction from 12 months and I was pretty sure it was autism at about 18 months. He was diagnosed age 3.
I picked it up in one of his cousins who I don't see often, when they were 18 months.

DD 11 dx with ASD and learning difficulties, was not a happy or contented baby, she could not wait for milk, hence breastfeeding did not work, as she would get frustrated, crying non stop and was not easily soothed. I think the defining thing was on her first birthday, we got a cake, lit candles and sang happy birthday, she went bananas, full meltdown. I though ah oh something is not right.

9 months - diagnosed at 15 months, after I researched issues and found the cause. When I spoke to the GP he said he had never heard of my son's condition, but he believed me and referred us. Since then, each additional symptom has been spotted by us first and sometimes we needed a fight to be believed but we've never been wrong. At one point we even paid to see a paediatric neurologist in London who referred us to GOSH because we couldn't get the hospital locally to take the blinkers off. We provided test evidence to prove we were in the right!

Trust your gut instinct and fight for it!

My son was a very contented baby who smiled at the world in general but was never interested in 1-1 interaction.

My daughter's first year was mainly survival for me; I was so relieved to be going back to work part-time when she was about 7 months. I think her childminder sought some advice when she was 2 and a bit because she wouldn't try things on her own (eg puzzles) despite verbally presenting as very bright. She would have been 8 or 9 when I began to think about ASD, got fobbed off at first. Age 12/13 I had a chat with her boarding house mistress who was relieved when I brought up the issue. Diagnosed age 14, the issues having been rapidly recognised on changing to senior school.

She is still extremely academic, the biggest issue for me is that when she gets upset about something I can't give her a hug to reassure her. Which I then find really upsetting. She can only tolerate hugs when everything is on an even keel :(

I also recall seeing someone who I'd met at baby groups, when her child was admitted at perhaps 10 months or so after a first seizure. At that point significant developmental delays were also realised. I think it is very easy with your first child to adjust to "their normal"; though it can also be harder to advocate when you think something is wrong and people choose to reassure you. (we had that with reflux issues)

Thank you all.
I feel in my gut something is different with DD. But I feel silly as it is mostly instinct.
She is practically non-verbal
She was delayed in all her physical milestones
She dribbles constantly but not just a little, to the point where her skin is soaked because she has dribbled through her bib, clothes and vest despite regular changes.
She will hardly eat or drink either.
Will the doctors laugh at me?

I was told my son likely had autism when he was a couple months old. He now has a long list of diagnosis’, including autism.
He’s my first (and only) and having nothing to compare him to I didn’t realise how severely disabled he is until much older, seeing him with children his age and the difference between them.