Tell me about your kids on the spectrum?

[Mmmyu]

DS is 3. I suspect on the spectrum, I got diagnosed with Asperger’s at 14 and I’m just seeing certain things in him.

• speech delay and struggle with speaking (under SALT for speech sounds)
• meltdowns frequently
• struggle to communicate so melts down
• sensory issues - music is too loud (even if a bit lower) certain clothes make him melt down. Hates getting dressed
• doesnt like social stuff, shuts down and gets very shy. Trying him in an extracurricular (swimming) outside of nursery and he just clings to me and won’t participate. I still try though
• vrry specific interests
• quite ‘clumsy’

again these may just be traits but I’ve just been keeping an eye and making note. He is fine in nursery he’s went since 11mo and has gone 3 days a week so he’s very comfortable but does go shy around certain staff sometimes!

Do you have a child on the spectrum? Does he sound similar? I’m more wary as I know parents on the spectrum are likely to have kids who are I’ve heard

Unsure if I’m paranoid. Nursery haven’t raised concerns but I know it’s not just about how he is in nursery of course - they did mention his clumsiness/lack of balance and speech

We have two children and our oldest one sounds a lot like yours. A lot of the issues were toddler communication and transition issues that she has grown out of. I am 100% sure though that she still has sensory issues. She can't handle certain clothes, or noises. Many things to do with that are still a battle. The clinginess I think is very typical at this age, so I wouldn't read too much into that. Ours went to nursery from 6 months old, but still didn't always go in happily at age 2-3, sometimes they see another child clinging so copy too.

I would ask nursery to keep an eye on your child and report any concerns. My younger one has speech issues and is displaying certain autistic traits and the nursery is very vocal about it, and has asked that we get him assessed. Only you know your child, but the toddler years, development and stages are different for all children, hopefully yours is just going through their path.