Back and forth conversation? Autism?

[Whothatbe]

Is there any reason ( besides autism) that a 4 year old would not be

• asking questions, beyond functional
• having back and forth conversations
• answering questions beyond functional

-So he will ask for things to be opened, where is Daddy, can I go outside etc

• answer questions like do you want juice, will we get icecream, where is X

• can understand instructions but not sure about abstract things

No chatting back and forth really. More simple questions and answers.

Very sensory seeking. Very attention seeking
Will not really confirm in any organized activities.

Very imaginative - will play away most of the time.

Has good days and bad days where differences seem more obvious.
I have an assessment organized for later this year. I'm just curious if it is not autism, what might it be...

i am guessing a private assessment because not a chance you’d be referred what you outline above

what does school or nursery say

can understand instructions but not sure about abstract things

like what?

I'm just curious if it is not autism, what might it be...

being 4 and pretty bloody self absorbed as all 4 year olds are

and… personality

Never answering questions beyond very simple- and sometimes not even those.

Has only once told me something that has happened in playschool.

Playschool have had him observed and are working on goals to get him to engage more with the other kids and activities.

He would understand to go get something for me, understand we are going off now etc but I'm not sure if he understands the idea of 'tomorrow ', ' friendship ' etc

Sorry, I'm probably not explaining him very well.
It is private, I'm waiting for public too but that could be years so had to go private.

what you describe is nothing to be concerned about in a 4 year old

but you’ve got a private assessment lined up so see what the expert says

Hello, we are going through this with my nearly 3 year old and what you have described sounds a lot like my Son. He has been put on a social and communication pathway but we won’t get a diagnosis for 6-8 months. I cannot stop thinking about it though and wonder if he will be diagnosed or not. Family and some friends have not been very supportive, believe there is “nothing wrong” (their words) because he talks but it is only functional language. If I ask him about his day he repeats it back to me or doesn’t answer. He has been at nursery for 4 months now and doesn’t play with any other children just the staff and only this week told me one child’s name. I know this doesn’t help or answer your question but I guess I just want to say I completely understand your question and you are not alone!

@Hellosunshine2022 it's extremely frustrating and feels like you are going mad at times. Your son is younger though so may begin to tell you more. As may mine. I just get more disheartened as he gets older, I'm still hoping he will start chatting more soon.
I tried to bring him to activities but it was just too stressful, he wouldn't listen or comply with what everyone else was doing. He is always on the go.

It could be something, it could be nothing. I'm a nursery teacher and have an autistic child.
Do they comment rather than answer questions? (What did you have for lunch today? I like sausages. It's lunch time) Do they just repeat parts of the question you ask? (I had lunch)
Do they give some info but not actually answer the question?

As I said my son is autistic and asks endless question. Like he never stops. So it's not a given. It might just be that they aren't I treated which again could be something or nothing.

Lots of the children I work with are like I described above. Can't answer questions and just tell you things either connected or unconnected with the question.

Sometimes it's just literally refusing to answer. Just saying noooo. Like it pains him to give the information! If I push him on things he might give the answer but it's not like how you'd expect an interaction to go, if that makes sense.
He may just ignore me at times, say nooo, or give a one word answer.

@Whothatbe how is your little one doing now

@vickyOde Hi, he is 5 now. He was diagnosed autistic in April. He started school in an ASD class in a mainstream school. He is doing really well. A lot more speech - comments on things, asks for things. Much more complex chat. Is more clued in generally. Is doing well in school.
Still not a great recaller or news🤣
Very hard to get him to do something he doesn't want to- table top activities etc
I was really scared for him before and now I am less so.

Thank you very much for your reply .All the best