I think my daughter is autistic

[gallina]

I don't really know where to start, I've made an appointment with the GP who will be calling me back this week. Have previously raised some concerns with HV and was told to wait and see.

My beautiful girl will be two in 2 weeks. But there have been some traits I've picked up on which seem to increasing and becoming more noticeable.

She doesn't respond to her name
When she looks at me it's as though she's looking through me, I feel like I can't 'get through to her'
No speech as such, will say mam dad hello bye, she could previously say thank you but has stopped.
Eating is terrible, she will spit food out she'd previously enjoyed or have a couple of mouthfuls and won't have anything else
Very difficult to get to sleep, she has bags under her eyes but will fight sleep (I have to lie in complete darkness and silence with her for atleast an hour of her singing wriggling until she wears herself out and falls asleep) she will wake multiple times a night
Covers her ears and hums, sometimes hide when there is loud noise (baby sister crying)
At a baby playgroup she wouldn't engage in the stories, singing, bubble machine but wanted to be sat playing with blocks alone, would not respond to me
She will stim occasionally which consists of rapidly opening and closing her hands into fists
Walks around on her tip toes
Does not like to be touched but is very very tactile with me, very cuddly with me but does not like anyone else to touch me, she would push them away and scream
Doesn't play with toys as such, will stack blocks and get very angry if they fall or are moved, will line her books up,
Attempts to eat objects such as soap, shower gel,moisturiser

There is probably more but that's all I can think of at the moment, sorry it's long. My little girl is just in her own little world and I want to do the best for her, is starting with the gp the right way to go?

Thank you 😊

Definitely seek some help from your health visitor or GP and they will get you the support you need x

Thank you for the replies. I feel abit emotional is if I have validation in some way. I just want the best for my daughter so nice to see I'm not over reacting about this

Have you had your two year check yet?

We have recently been told we will be looking at a diagnosis and its fine to mourn the fact your parenting journey doesnt look like how you thought it would (I still do struggle with not being able to take DD to things like softplay because she is so sensitive to noise and shrieking and doesnt like children she doesnt know).

@Butteryflakycrust83 no haven't had the two year check yet. I just feel so sorry for her, sometimes she looks so overwhelmed and just totally lost in her little world. I just want to make everything as happy and comfortable as possible for her. She's such a loving little girl and gives me a lot of affection.

My hv has been pretty useless through out to be honest. I was hoping things might move a bit faster to just by pass them and approach the gp x

She doesn’t sound at all like my autistic daughter but very similar to my NT son when he was that age so it might just be a developmental stage. However, list all of your concerns so you have bullet points ready for when you are your GP. Does your child go to nursery because their input will be needed for a referral.

Don’t worry if your GP or HV won’t refer at this stage because they may want to wait to see how she is when she is older, but continue to keep a record of everything.

Thank you @TheSnowyOwl no she's not at nursery yet, due to start in Sept

Yes please get support and advice.I was totally let down by the system.Kept saying something wasn't right.I'd already had two children so it was obvious to me something was different.She is now 20 and I'm still fighting her case,she is very aware herself and believes she has undiagnosed autism.Good luck,don't give up until you get answers.

You have concerns so speak to your gp and ask for a referral for a hearing test and to a paediatrician. Focus on concerns regarding possible delays and regression, rather than asking for an autism assessment as this is more likely to get her seen at this age.

Thank you so much for the advice, yes @crazylady121 she is my middle of 3 and I just know that it's not the same as my other two. I'm sorry you're still fighting for your lovely daughter what a let down the system can be. It shouldn't be so difficult.

Appreciate the replies and advice, feel like I don't know where to start, but have managed to get an appointment with the doctor for this coming Monday

My sisters little girl didn’t get diagnosed until she was 6.. the nursery picked up on her being autistic it was a long process but she’s almost 10 now and she’s absolutely amazing, she’s so unique and wonderful her autism does not define her she’s her own person and it’s amazing. Do you take your little girl to any playgroups or is she around other kids? Nursery will really help to bring her on IMO, good luck 🤞🏼

@Babyandmexox aw that is lovely 😊
I take her to playgroups and she's around my friends child, her siblings and cousins regularly. She seems to get overwhelmed easily and will either completely ignore me not engage with anything going on at the group, or become upset and cling to me and pull and attempt to eat my hair. She doesn't really play with the toys at the groups or the other children. She'll choose one toy and that tends to blocks and that's all she'll focus on.

I feel like I'm writing a lot of negatives. I don't feel any negativity around the possibility of autism or anything else, she's a beautiful happy little girl full of love and mischief, I just want to do the best for her. I can't believe how long a diagnosis can take!