Have been researching Aspergers for my Mum as a favour and the characteristics sound exactly like my DS!

[EdwardBear]

My younger brother has ADHD diagnosed from a very young age. Has always been suspected Aspergers but this has never been formally dianosed as he has had the help he needed with schooling etc and it didnt seem necessary to push.
Now Mum is looking for a formal diagnosis and asked me to print off some info for her for her next meeting with the consultant.

Looking through the info, it also sounds very much like my DS1!
He is 3.5yrs and my Mum has always said he very much reminds her of my brother at a young age.

Things that stand out for me are:

Social interaction/lacking in empathy - DS is very keen to play with other children and very cuddly but cant read signs that they are shy or not interested and often upsets them by being persistent.

Lack of imagination - he just cant do imaginary play. He has a tea set but insists he cant play with it unless he puts water in the tea cup and drinks it.
At a friends house the other day he got very cross as another boy wanted to play Drs and was telling DS that he was a patient with a sore tummy. Ds insisted he did NOT have a sore tummy and wouldnt play.

He has very very sensitive hearing and actually has been seen by a paediatrician for this. We originally thought he had tinnitus but he was being plagued by the mild buzzing of the light switches at home (which I cannot even hear!)

He also hates change in any shape or form and he has developed a hatred for anything 'mixed' in terms of food. he wont eat casserole etc as the ingredients are mixed up in the sauce.

I am guessing that age 3 is really too early to tell either way whether these signs are anything or nothing?
Is it something that is usually picked up a school?
He is starting school linked pre-school after Easter. Is there any difficulties in paticular that I should look out for when he does that might indicate he needs extra help?

I think, on the whole the experts do say that 3 is too young to diagnose Aspergers but your DS does sound like my Aspergic DS was at 3. Looking back there were plenty of signs of his Aspergers at a very young age. The signs could've just been a aprt of his development but DS didn't outgrow them like some of his peers who displayed similar tendencies at times they just got steadily more marked if that makes sense.

My ds was just under 3 when concerns were first raised by my health visitor, he was dx with aspergers age 6, he is 8 now, and alot of what you say describes my ds too, ds wont eat mixed foods at all, he has a special plate that has seperate compartments, he is sensitive to light, sound and smell, hates change, and has zero empathy.

It was DS's preschool that first alerted me to the fact DS might have it. He was supposed to see a paed about it, but fell through the net. It was picked up as soon as he started school.

What you've described does sound like Asperger's. It may be worth speaking to the pre-school and they can keep an eye on him.

Is he looking forward to going? Has he had a visit to see what it is like? He may struggle to settle at first, because it is a change in routine. They may be able to give you a timetable they work to in the day, so he can see what is likely to happen there. It is worth persevering with things like pre-school and clubs etc (when he's older).

When DS started Beavers he cried solidly for about 20 mins, but now he absolutely LOVES going!

(FWIW I also have Asperger's, didn't have a clue until DS was dx'd! Sought a professional dx after I felt I "needed to know for sure")

Thank you for your replies. Its good to hear other experiences at this age.

DS is a bit hesitant about starting the new pre-school. I am wondering about asking them if he can start by doing 3 afternoons a week instead of 5 straight off as it might be a bit much for him.
He gets two settling in sessions, when I can go too, plus a home visit first, so I can speak to them at the home visit I guess. It says on the letter that at the home visit they ask the child to draw a picture of themselves and they put all the pictures in the classroom to make them feel welcome on the first day. its a lovely idea but I'm a bit worried about it as DS cant actually draw anything but scribbles yet. He'll be the only child without a picture!

Do you think its worth a word with my HV too, to find out further info or get my concerns registered so that if I want to get him diagnosed later, its on record that I mentioned it now iyswim?

Also, lastly (sorry for all questions!). How do they actually diagnose? Is it a case of observing and asking questions? or more of a test type thing?

Thanks for your help

Unfortunately it cant be tested for as such, ds was dx through 3 years of observations from different proffesionals.

Dont worry about the self portrait, there will be more scribbles than recognisable pictures.

When all my children started pre school nursery, we were told to only bring them in as often as the child can cope, generally because they get very tired, thursdays and fridays hardly any children showed up, and my dts only went every other day for the first 3 months as they found it so hard to settle.

As for voicing your concerns I would start with the health visitor and more importantly the SENCO teacher at the school.

Thanks thats really helpful.
I think I will ring the HV and ask for an appt to chat with her.
Plus I'll ask the teacher at the pre-school about SENCO at the school. I didnt realise all schools have a SENCO teacher, thats really good to know.