I know there are a million threads on this topic already but just looking for opinions.
Since my son was 6 months (now 3) I had a gut feeling he had autism.
We’ve recently brought it to the nursery to build a picture of how he presents there, in the hope that we could get the ball rolling with a more formal diagnosis: the aim of which would be to ensure he is supported as much as possible through school/his future- not to simply have the label.
The staff at nursery did not have any concerns and said he is on track with all milestones but just seems to be quiet/not too interested in playing with others- but will talk with his key worker etc. They did say a SENDCo (agency I assume? As not working directly with the nursery) was due to observe another child and so could observe ours whilst there. She has since fedback that she agrees with us that there are some traits/behaviours affiliated with ASD.
Just wanted to share and hear other people’s opinions whilst we embark on the next steps with universal therapies/gp etc.
— has hit all developmental milestones at expected stage and was a very early talker
-eye contact is fine
-responds to name- sometimes need to repeat it a few times to get his attention
-very gentle and affectionate with us/his baby sister and cuddles other children/adults but in a compliant way I’d say
-does play some imaginative play e.g. making us coffee/breakfast or being a doctor (because he loves zog)
-engages with some children (my niece he adores and actively tries to play with her and another two girls I see regularly- but will still mainly play his own ‘games’ or toys in their presence)
- presents as very ‘well-behaved’ with nursery and very shy until someone takes something of his or her feels injustice where they’ve said he really shouts NO. THAT’s MINE. To whoever
- people would describe him as compliant- I think he’s quite rule bound and literal
- he is giggly and like being silly/engaging in rough play with dad etc he has a little three year old sense of humour I think- will say things like no you’re nanny not mummy
Possible ASD behaviours:
-stimming- paces back and forth and jumps repetitively, usually when stimulated or engaged in something he enjoys/excited about
-repeats words/phrases and will impersonate/memorise things like the voiceover on a tractor ride he LOVES- he has often put on the voice and memorised word for word the instructions at the beginning of this ride- similarly, INCREDIBLE memory
-issues with certain noises- hates certain toddler classes because of the ‘loud singing’ and covers his ears in church when we’ve been (yet he absolutely loves singing himself -
and other loud noises can not phase him)
-meltdowns- regular screaming at home when something does not go right- very particular about things like food falling in the floor etc
-obsessive- used to LOVE the washing machine and was bought one for Christmas which he would repetitively open the door, slam the door and run back and forth until it stopped spinning and repeated for honestly ages
-then moved on to vehicles and obsessed with building the longest trains- tyrning anything and everything into a trailer
-HAD to put his tractor in water every day as the tractor at the farm drives into a water-filled ditch- he would lose it if he couldn’t do this
-fussy water but feels like that’s just the stage
-takes a good while to get to sleep (we have to lie with him until he does)
-sleeps fine but was poor from 0-1
-loves routines- has to have the same toothbrush song and books every night- becomes fixed on one show or book for a couple of months at ta time (zog/tiddler etc)
Longest post ever! Apologies! But any thoughts would be welcomed. I know it doesn’t achieve anything but just curious and I guess looking for either validation/reassurance/experience.
He’s also just the loveliest little boy in the world and we absolutely adore him.