HV starting checks for autism but i have no concern

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I attended our 2 year check today at the local nursery. We walked into the room filled with toys and activities, my daughter straight away got stuck in building a tower out of all the blocks on the table, she quickly moved on to another game which she stopped abruptly after the Hv told her she was doing it wrong. She hopped from one toy to another before finding what she wanted to play with. The Hv started asking questions on whether or not she usually jumps between activities, the answer being no - she's in a new environment surrounded by new toys she wants to try them all. The hv then started to mention that dd jumps on the spot when she's excited, that's something I never considered a problem?
My daughter completed every task that was asked of her but in her own time - not exactly when she was told, but she told us the pictures in the book, stacked the blocks, knew the colours, shapes and numbers , so what's the problem? Now I'm told she's too good at numbers, letters, colours and shapes (I'm in a stay at home mum as dh works 12 hour shifts, i teach her these things) .
She was repeating back some questions instead of answering them all, another apparent flag.

I honestly don't understand, she's 2 years 4 months old, in a new room with toys and a woman she's never seen before asking her to do things on the spot. If i was in that situation I'd act a bit different, she doesn't repeat back all of what we say, she can talk full sentences in context without a problem.
Now we have another appointment in 2 weeks and being passed onto the paediatric team for assessment.

Sorry for rambling I'm completely and utterly stumped. I have autistic family members so I'm not saying she can't be or anything. I just feel as if 10 minutes is not long enough to start tearing my 2 year olds personality to shreds and try labelling her.

I completely agree with you!

Obviously I'm not a medical professional but you see your daughter day in, day out. For her to make a rather huge medical assumption after 10 minutes seems crazy to me too!

I mean, the HV could end up being right but I can't see how she drew that conclusion from 10 minutes!

Seems like the best thing to do is just go through with the tests. At least then, either you know that your daughter has autism OR you can stick it to the HV

Thank you
I'm going along with it all but it seems pretty pointless atm, I think she's being awkward like toddlers are haha.
She would talk loads until a couple of weeks ago i think she got bored of it because she gets more attention when she's not talking. She's an independent little madam too haha hoping it's all just her personality.

Just to say that as her mum, you have the right to say yes or no to tests, if you’re not concerned there’s a good argument for not going along with it. Tests for autism can be quite long and intensive and she’s still so little - I don’t see anything in what you’ve said that sounds like autism to me. Also children having tests they don’t need and parents don’t really want could be a huge waste of nhs resources so don’t really get where your HV is coming from based on what you’ve said.

Hi OP, I'm sorry you are going through this. The exact same thing happened to me at DS's 2 year check. I remember feeling so angry and upset. It was like my son had been reduced to a list of concerns and that the HV didn't see him as this amazing little person if that makes sense. I felt as well that my peace of mind had been taken away. I was worried, so many questions/concerns and no answers.

DS is now nearly 4 and having come through it I can see that there isn't an easy way to approach this. At 2 years old lots of children can display red flags, but as they develop they disappear. For other children the issues continue and it is proven that the earlier intervention can be put in place the better. Waiting lists are long (if you see a Paediatrician within 6 months you're lucky). If you refer children at 2 years, the ones that do need help stand the best chance of getting the help they need as early as possible.

For us it turned out that DS is autistic and because he was referred so early we have been able to defer his entry to reception and he has 1:1 at preschool. If HV had taken a wait and see approach (as many do) we just wouldn't have had the time to get this in place. The idea of him starting school at just turned 4 with no support scares me, but that is the reality for too many children.

I would take the HV advice and have the assessments. If your DD doesn't need any additional support then no harm done, but if she does then you have the best chance to get her the help she needs. The downside is that it is horribly worrying for you until you can say for definite one way or the other. The only thing I know for certain is that regardless of what happens your DD is still the same wonderful, amazing little girl and that will never change.
.

Thank you

I've seen the struggles with my nephew being told there was nothing wrong, he was lazy etc turns out he has autism,adhd, Tourettes and epilepsy. He's 6 and just getting the support, it's terrifying I feel for everyone suffering :(

It's starting to worry me a little because she's started to regress with her speech but i have only noticed since the hv said something.
My mum keeps telling me it's a phase I went through as well. I sort of think dd might be taking the mick because shes keep being cheeky and naughty and when i try and tell her she laughs or tells me to smile. She went through calling me daddy for weeks until i stopped telling her to call me mummy, shes calling me mummy again after I ignored her but it's something daft that she knows but stopped.

The same with her tantrums that hv was asking "does she not like change?" - I dont think she likes anything , shes possibly the most awkward child i ever met.
But i think she knows what she's doing and testing it because she's not getting as much solid attention this past month so feels the need to push for it.

I wouldnt have bothered to be honest. If she wants to check for something by all means. She is there to do her job and if she finds something she will want to investigate it. I would rather have that then someone tells you everything is okie and what if its not.

Okay even if your DD is autistic it doesn't mena her speech will regress (temporarily that could just mean she is working on something else or part of going from plain copying to working out grammar rules for herself). Lots of Autistic people are very successful. And "if you know one person with autism you know one person with autism".

If there is nothing in it the paediatric team will spot that quickly. but if there is something then it is very helpful for it to be spotted as early as possible.

My advice would be to see the specialist because if she is autistic it's a long, long process & this atleast gets it started.

My daughter is autistic & it's not obvious. My daughter quietly gets on with things & is incredibly bright, with a phenomenal memory, & attention to detail. She has certain quirks & has melt downs when life is too much for her but that's just how she is.

I'm going through with it all seeing whoever is suggested and what not
I'm a lot more relaxed now, just a bit frightened by it all. But if she needs some help I'll do whatever she needs.

I have an appointment Wednesday so I'll find out more then, it all seems quite daunting and how soon the appointments are.

It's amazing isnt it how different children are , their little personalities and quirks.

Hv came round today dd is being referred to the community paediatrician, speech and language therapy and Portage?

Hv said dd vocabulary is great, she's clear in her sounds but shes not good at communicating and answering questions.

I'm not too worried she agreed with me that it could be a quirk in her personality/development.
But if she does have anything different about her she's not going to change to me she's still my baby.

Sounds like your health visitor is being over cautious. Did she know there is a family history of autism? You DD sounds fab though! I cannot believe a HV would panic you like that.

It’s odd though. My DS (now 7) went to his two year check and looking back there was obvious signs of something not quite right, he was completely non verbal and had a few other issues but they were reluctant to do anything about it. Saying he was just lazy and could just outgrow these problems. He was diagnosed with autism at 5, but it took a while to be took seriously!

Health visitors aren’t overly knowledgable in autism imo. Go to the paediatrician assessment and the they will probably be baffled why your DD is even there!

Referring to portage is really ott in my opinion. They work with children with complex needs. My then completely non verbal son wasn’t entitled to portage support. We’ve also just dealt with them with DD because she had issues with walking but she’s been signed off as her needs aren’t complex enough.

😊

She had no idea about any family history before she started talking about referrals, it was after she said it I snapped a bit saying that I know about warning signs, and how difficult it was for my nephew to get diagnosed and my niece has been told she's got to come back later even though she's 6 and verrrry quirky non verbal etc ..because there's not enough boxes ticked.

I think we may have been pre-judged a wee bit too ... when she turned up at the house she was shocked that we owned it, kept asking the learning toys - kitchen, babies,cots, baths etc book, she was asking about if i let her colour there's a colouring station right in front of her. DD plays pretend , shes currently setting out plastic dinner for us making us eat it (which hv was concerned about- her making us pretend to eat plastic food), she cuddles feeds baths and pushes her babies.

The things she mentioned that she does do hv seemed to over exaggerate, she jumps- hv said she hand flaps (not true).
She repeats back but does talk simple words, 2/3 words at a time in context - hv said severe echolalia , very adult vocabulary and pronunciation but with no context or conversation.
She pulls us by the hand to make us do things for her, because she's a baby lol.
She doesn't like being told when to read, she knows it all but d oesnt really want to tell a random woman.
Urgh sorry it's aggravating.
There are people that need a lot more support and it's upsetting because it feels like a waste of time and funding for what I consider minor quirks in a little girl who loves making people laugh and playing pranks with the nickname silly goose for a good reason.

As I'm typing she's knocked over a coaster holder, came over saying "oh no what happened? .. its a mess ... what a mess... tidy up now". It's exhausting but I'm going with all the checks just to be sure, but hv again looking shocked that I questioned her agreed that it could just be quirks in her personality that she could grow out of seeing as she just turned 29 months.

Sorry i rambled again