Really struggling with DT1

[jambuttie]

Twins are 2 and I know most will say it is just the terrible two's but I am going to have a breakdown I am sure.

He constantly needs to have an adults attention, if he doesnt he will do something to get it by biting his brothers, jumping off the wardrobe, hanging out a window, smashing things.

We have sticker charts, naughty step, tried putting him to bed as punishment.

God I cry nearly everyday as I can't cope with him and have come real close to hitting him real bad to make him stop.

He is destruction from morning to night, you need to force him to sleep and he only needs little sleep. By little I mean like 10 mins and he is recharged and ready to destroy again.

Was thinking about going to the H/V today to see if she can help.

Tried going to groups to interact with kids but he just bully's there too

jambuttie - it is very difficult to ascertain without meeting lo. But I would definitely pursue the ASD route - even if it is just to completely rule it out. A classic sign of ASD is failure or inability to maintain eye contact. Having said this, it is by no means a definitive indication. Bottom line is, as parents, you are probably nearer the mark than some 'experts'.... good luck with sorting dt's behaviour out and chin up. I am sure you are doing the very very best you can as a parent.

one thing I will say is that constantly seeking an addults attention isn't really very ASD at all. A child with ASD would tend to me more oblivious to whether they were having attnetion or not. A high functioning child might constantly demand attention in a kind of using an adult type way (eg constantly demanding an answer to the same question) but I would say it was rare to seek attention for attentions ake. Although of course no child fits a neat box and the whole picture needs to eb taken in the round.

The destructiveness etc sounds more like ADHD from a brief explanation, but that often isn't dxed until later. Fish oils can help- but give the right ones- children who are spectrumy need omega 3's (NOT omega 6's- which can increase hyperactivity). You can get omega 3 only oils from health food shops and I would stick to that. Flax can be a good alternative.

jimjams - funny you should mention the ADHD part. That was my first thought and first post on this thread. You are right though, they don't usually get diagnosed until at least year 2 of school.

we have done the fish oils thing too. It aint just the eye contact that makes us think ASD>

He doesnt cope with routine change AT ALL
Everything has to be the same always
no imaginative play
Loss of speach

and many many more concerns of ours

jambuttie - you rally have to push for a consultation with a professional. Maybe they feel he is too young to make a definite diagnosis?? Could you pay for a private consultation?

How;s the loss of speech manifested itself. ANY loss of speech at ANY age should be thoroughly investigated. Did the CDC give an alternative explantion for that.

The rigidity etc are all signs, but can overlap into all sorts of other things as well (from plain immaturity to dyspraxia, ADHD), but loss of speech should get alarm bells ringing and you should be taken seriously by professionals.

What sorts of things does he play with, how does he play?

he doesnt really play as such. he will if anything play with mega blocks but no imagination when playing with them either,his twin and ds1 5 would build the bricks and pretend they are light sabers etc.

he doesnt really play as such. he will if anything play with mega blocks but no imagination when playing with them either,his twin and ds1 5 would build the bricks and pretend they are light sabers etc.

think after dinner bath and bedtime for the boys i will list some of our main concerns.

he is also on melatonin as he does not sleep

It sounds more and more like ADHD to me.... Only an educational psychologist or similar can really tell you though Hope you are bearing up under the strain - chin up