For those parents with ND children, please can I ask your experiences and how you knew they were going to have a diagnosis?
This is genuine advice with no intention of labelling any child or assuming it’s a negative thing as many do btw, I have an autistic niece so I know how hard it is on my sister.
So on to the question… would you have concerns about a child who continuously does the following:
stares without blinking for many minutes and doesn’t come round when spoken to, it takes touching them or getting close to their face to come back to reality. Considered simple partial seizures as a cause but it doesn’t seem physical like a seizure does if that makes sense.
Zoning out when watching tv, facial expressions are blank with occasional tic-like expressions that they are unaware of, spends hours doing this but believes it was only 10 minutes.
Cannot keep still for more than several minutes, must be touching or fiddling with something at all times, during long periods of needing to sit such a car journey or during a meal they will spread arms and legs in unusual sequences, will lay or sit in uncomfortable positions to keep moving.
Always bored even with plenty of activities available and despite always on the move they still want more stimulation.
Doesn’t sleep well, often wakes several times in the night, huge black eye bags, left to play during the night if they wake so as not to disturb the parents.
Attention seeks in inappropriate ways like jumping at people and hurting them, then finding it funny, climbs on other children and tries to pull them around, doesn’t understand why it isn’t nice to do that, regularly tries to come between adults talking/hugging just to make them stop then finds it funny.
Isnt aware of when they are truly hungry or full. Will ask for food but cannot eat it as they aren’t hungry, or will not eat despite being hungry, struggles to see the difference. Changes mind on food they request once they begin eating it, often requests a strange mixture but only eats a bite of each. Ends up with a lot of wasted food. They are very underweight for their age, but due to being short it doesn’t show so obviously.
Doesn’t respect rules or personal space, if someone says not to do something they will do it because they don’t understand the request rather than doing it to rebel. Doesn’t understand some things are inappropriate such as answering the door naked or touching themselves in public (witnessed both).
Emotionless for the majority of the time, in situations where you’d expect them to be sad or angry they find those situations funny or do not react with any emotion at all.
Never stops talking, everything has to be about them, sulks if someone else talks or gets attention, very draining to spend time with as they never stop moving/making noises/talking.
Poor personal hygiene, wasn’t aware to wash hands with soap rather than just a rinse under water despite being taught and encouraged to by parents and seeing other people do it properly. Still needs prompting to this day and gets confused when asked to use soap.
Rarely makes eye contact and if they do it’s prolonged without blinking to the point of making you feel uncomfortable.
Always distracted, could be doing several things at once then will swap to another activity, or stop mid conversation to start another with someone else, forgets what they were doing or anything they may have been told minutes beforehand quite often.
Doesn’t appear to hear or understand anything someone says to them. Every conversation results in “what?” By the child as they can’t process it for some time. Will take several seconds to take in what is said before replying, often a reply that doesn’t match the question or conversation.
I’m not looking for an armchair diagnosis, just from your experience and views would it cause you concern and to explore any ND possibilities?
It’s only myself who sees these repetitive moments as a concern (that I’m aware of) so id appreciate anyones views even if it’s to say I’m being ott. I know many children will do these things and they’re just being typical children with no ND, but collectively over time I’ve noticed how it’s got worse for this child. To add this isn’t my child so I cannot discuss with a doctor for advice or diagnosis, I don’t want to offer support unless I’m sure as I wouldn’t want to offend but I think it’s important this child gets help now as they are clearly struggling. Child is 9. Thanks