Autistic traits?

[Shhh123]

Hiya! I am beyond worried about my youngest who is 2 years 3 months old. I apologie before hand if this is very long winded but I have genuine concerns and love advise of my situation! My son has always been a handful, he had terrible reflux when he was born and the older he is getting the harder things become. Firstly he cries and moans constantly throughout the day, he can say only a few words which can not be prompt out of him, but the rest of the time it is just groans and when this is constant through the day it wears thin and it's so hard to listen to. He point blank refuses to way, most foods and I have a real struggle getting him to eat anything at all in the day, just his chosen 'safe' foods as I call them. He does not enjoy the company of other children and regularly has big meltdown/tantrums when put into situations that are overcrowded or busy such as shopping centres or play centres. I have also notices he has started lining his cars up, repeatedly. I am in tears most days about these concerns and from the stress of mum life and I just don't know where to look for help next. I went to visit my GP, I sat in tears and he basically laughed it all off and said that my son is 2 and therefore toddlers are difficult sometimes. Now I have an eldest son too so it's not like I have no experience with children and my concerns have been since my second was born. My health visitor said that as i had seen my GP, she wont come out until his 2 year check is due which isnt till after xmas now. I just feel like I am being so negative about my boy and feel like I am always making excuses for why he is always crying and always hitting other children and refusing to eat. Has anybody had similar scenarios? I have been doing my own research into Autism and the autistic spectrum and personally can see so many traits and it upsets me so much that my concerns are being brushed off :(

My GP brushed off my concerns when my son was 18 months. He’s now 3 1/2 and we are going through the ASD diagnosis process. I believe he will be diagnosed ASD. I would ask your HV and your GP again to refer you to your local community paediatrician. The wait to see someone can be many months and the diagnosis process can take many more so the sooner you start the better. We now only have a year before he starts school so I feel we are up against the clock to get certain skills improved. Also, don’t feel like you need a diagnosis before you move to action. You could start with a private speech and language therapist assessment now for example. We’ve just done this and my son has come on so quickly as a result. He is more settled, less stimming, less tantrums etc

Thank you for your reply, it's comforting to know that others are going through or have been through similar situations. I will take your advice and go back to my GP as getting a good of any health visitor has proven so hard! I do need to speak to them about all of my concerns again and hopefully they can at least point me in the right direction. I hope you get the answers that you need with regards to your son, I can imagine having had your concerns brushed off then having to wait long periods of time for answers must be frustrating. x

I would really recommend requesting a referral to an NHS speech and language therapist too. I did an NHS self referral via the HV and have done it privately as well (for not huge amount of money). They can help with the speech/language side obviously but they also deal with eating issues so might be worth a go! Good luck! :-)