Hi, sorry if this is a long one but I'm needing some guidance/advice from parents who've been through similar please!
DS (6) has always had quite obvious 'traits' we've noticed. Has two topics in which he's obsessed with, as in it's all he'll ever want to talk about, day or night, very knowledgable on those two topics.
His sleep - pretty much non-existent. He'll go to sleep around 8:45pm most nights after finally reassuring over and over that we are here (upstairs with him) and he's ok, safe, we love him etc etc. Wakes on average 4/5 times per night, distraught each time, can't tell us why. This wakes DD (2) so both working parents are running on empty.
He's very, very literal. can't quite grasp a figure of speech/joke, got to know "what do you mean" and takes things very seriously. Can't play little jokes with him like we successfully can/do with DD.
It's got to the point we have noticed DD is much more independent, even being 4 years younger. She likes to pop into the kitchen alone to put something in the bin, help herself to a snack (in the 'kiddy' drawer - bottom of fridge) whereas he simply cannot go without an adult, or to the toilet alone etc.
School have recently suggested an ED Psych. Teacher doesn't necessarily think ASD she said, but he's quite far behind even with completing reading/work at home with me.
I don't know what I'm looking for here, sorry, I'm just a bit scrambled at the moment and I'm looking for parents with experience of similar and your outcomes/coping strategies.
Thanks so much x