If your dc was described as 'spacey' 'away with the fairies' 'daydreamer' and it wasn't ASD then what was it?

[PaulHeymanHairline]

Basically I'm looking at the most recent criteria for ASD diagnosis and I'm not sure my dd fits anymore. I'm not too bothered as she seems to have caught up in school more or less but I'm still concerned as her teachers say she's very much 'not present' during the majority of her lessons.
ASD was first raised when she was 2 and I suppose I've always thought of her in this context, she didn't have a diagnosis but her nursery made special care plans around her sensory needs and anxiety. I didn't mention to them that the health visitors had mentioned it but they independently raised it with me.
The school have been great but even they disagree amongst themselves whether it is ASD or ADD or some other sensory processing thing.
I just wondered if it could be personality. Has anyone else had a similar type of child who hasn't received a diagnosis? And if so then did they grow out of it and become more present or do they continue to live in a sort of half day dreamy state of semi reality.
I have a lot of empathy for my DD as I also spend my time with a sort of internal story playing in my head. I am very creative and think sort of visual images and narratives for things rather than rational plans. I genuinely thought everyone's mind was like this until recently. I am not ASD and I can focus if I need to, it takes a lot of concentration. If I have to do something with numbers or dates I have to work up to it and break it up and I will get 50% of the numbers wrong. Luckily I don't have to di this in my job!

My DS falls off his chair in class, he has ADHD and the consultant said it's common.

I am a big believer in seeking a diagnosis on the basis that knowing can help a child, put things in place etc.

Having said that, from your OP, it doesn't sound like this is causing any problems? she's doing okay at school? Does she have friends/hobbies/activities? Becuase if so, I would see it as part of who she is. If, however, it's negatively impacting her ability to navigate life, then you should seek more support and possibly a diagnosis.

Me too!

Agree.
I was like this in some classes. Bored, so I would daydream. This was worse for me in secondary than in my primary school, as in the former I had a really engaging teacher who gave me interesting things to do. DH was like this in Primary, because he just wasn’t interested in school work at all at that point, he wanted to be outside . He changed focus in secondary when he started to find the different subjects interesting, he is a scientist.
Neither of us have ASD or ADHD.

No diagnosis, but I was a constantly daydreaming child. My son is waiting for an assessment for ASD, which has definitely made me ask questions about myself.

Maladaptive daydreaming/disassociation? Is she happy in herself? Any trauma in her history?
might be worth researching traits of girls with Autism or ADHD and how they Mask. As masking presents very very differently

People are obsessed with labeling themselves these days, makes me want to vomit. People are all different, we are not clones.

Gifted - and incredibly board.
Children can be like this for so many reasons though, lack of sleep, abuse, etc.

One diagnosed with ADHD at 16, certainly dyspraxic too but never diagnosed. The other diagnosed with dyspraxia at 18.

By the sound of it your child has never seen a paediatrician re. the possibility of autism, it’s just that yourself and the school feel like it doesn’t fit?

I would have said autism didn’t fit my daughter either, because she was very verbal (precocious even), socially motivated, never flapped her hands or lined up toys…

But that’s the thing, if you have a narrow perception of how autism presents, it’s easy to convince yourself that it doesn’t fit. But it really can present differently in girls, not to mention how adept girls are at masking.

Budding writer? Artist? Musician?

That was my first thought. Also, possibly highly intelligent and simply bored out of her mind at school?

For me it was absence epilepsy. Absence seizures look like a child is just not there for a couple of seconds, and then snaps back into the conversation as normal. If a child is having many they can seem just spaced out, especially as sometimes they will forget what they were saying before the absence.

www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/seizure-types/absence-seizures

The Epilepsy Foundation says:
If you’re wondering whether your child is daydreaming or having absence seizures, here are a few key differences to look for.

Daydreaming

• It is more likely to happen when your child is bored (for example, during a long class at school)
• Usually comes on slowly
• Can be interrupted
• Tends to continue until something stops it (for example, the teacher, a friend, or parent getting the child’s attention)

Absence Seizures

• Can happen anytime, including during physical activity
• Usually come on very suddenly, without warning
• Cannot be interrupted
• End on their own, typically within 10-20 seconds

I'm like this. Apparently was just selective hearing. Went to get my ears tested as an adult (I was struggling to hear someone talk when there was other noise) and was eventually diagnosed with auditory processing disorder.

I do get told that I'm not listening. I can hear you but not always what you've said.

I suppose I have never actively looked for a diagnosis. She is on the waiting list for ASD assessment, but this was only last year after school decided to go with this rather than an ADHD assessment.

Mine has inattentive adhd not diagnosed until 12 when periods started went totally. Eg tics , stutter, huge dramas etc

I'd asked for assessments for years but nothing in primary SENCo could identify but knew wasn't standard

ADHD and dyspraxia

She’s bored.

I do groan a little when a perfectly normal personality trait has to come with a diagnosis.

Shes just bored.

Maybe consider DLD? Far more common than ASD but covers the things you have mentioned.

I had never heard of it until DC was diagnosed.

Possibly absence seizures? Family members child was day dreaming a lot in school and it was this type of epilepsy. I believe (correct me if i am wrong) that autistic children are more prone to these

I have a line that says "x prefers to be in her own little world" in one of my early school reports.

Never been an issue.

@TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl I think you as a parent know the difference. She can be doing something she absolutely loves and just sit gazing into space for ages. Either constant flitting between programs or just watching the same programme endlessly.

I came to this thread to say "maybe she's just like that, I'm a daydreamer"...

Then everyone was saying dyspraxia, and I am dyspraxic :D

We had this and it turned out my dc was deaf.

Oh it's me - ADHD (inattentive type)

Petit mal epileptic seizure