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SN undiagnosed genetic conditions

This forum is for Mumsnetters to discuss undiagnosed illness.

Original poster

Almost 3 yo, side glancing while spinning?

12 replies

carlablack · 15/08/2023 21:42

Hello everyone,

My DD is 33 mo and we're planning to visit the pediatrician about possible ASD after she turns 3. In the meantime, I'm looking for a peace of mind and came back here to hear some opinions as noone around me seems to know what ASD really is.

To sum up, here are the negatives that made us suspicious:

  • Speech delay: Not a single word before 2yo. This delay might have been caused by excessive screen exposure though because for the past 3-4 months that we went cold turkey on all screens, she made a huge progress; she can respond to her name (sometimes), tells us what she wants with a single word, can say the name of many objects when asked, even forms two word sentences from time to time. Still not enough progress for her age though.
  • Side glancing and/or spinning: This is very recent; started about 3 weeks ago. She does this mostly when bored. She also side glances a few times while eating. We can somewhat easily get her to stop by finding something interesting to do but after that she may (or may not) just start spinning again.
  • Don't know if this means anything but when she was a newborn she used to stare at the chandelier on the ceiling for a long time while I rocked her to sleep. She grew out of it in a few months.

Here are the positives:

  • She's a raging empath. When I cry in front of her she looks me in the eyes, hugs and kisses and does everything she can to soothe me. After she scratches me she observes how I will react very closely. When we laugh around her, she laughs along with us etc. She can even sense when we're mildly upset and comes up and hugs us.
  • She loves social settings. She loves meeting other children/ babies and playing with them. She doesn't share her stuff and steals others' toys though.
  • She plays with her toys properly, doesn't line them up. (This was an issue back when she was watching TV)
  • She eats ok most of the time. She doesn't eat mashed foods, soft foods and vegetables by herself. But she's not irritated by these, she would rather play with them. She eats them when we give it to her.

Would also like to add that she can count to 20 and count backwards from 10. She also can recognise letters when asked.

Sorry for the long post :( What do you guys think? Am I overreacting? I saw a video of an autistic little girl doing the exact same movement my DD is doing and I cannot stop thinking about this ever since.

OP posts:
Original poster
carlablack · 15/08/2023 21:44

She plays with her toys properly, doesn't line them up. (This was an issue back when she was watching TV)

She never did the line-up thing with her toys. She just wasn't playing with them properly before. Wanter to clear that up :)

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 19/08/2023 08:48

I think you're right to see the Paediatrician as she is showing some signs but only a Paed can tell you if it's part of normal toddler development or something more.

I'd do a couple of things before you see the Paed, firstly get her eyesight checked. They can rule out a physical cause for the "side eyes" and I'd also get her hearing checked, just to rule out Glue Ear as this can sometimes present with a similar pattern to ASD.

My DD was similar with Speech Delay but once she did start to talk, it too is a while to realise that she doesn't have any emotional language. I'd do this SLT progress checker and see how your DD does.

Also, if you do have concerns, you don't have to wait until she's 3. The 36 month Ages & Stages Assessment can be done from 34 months and 16 days, so I'd start filling it in once she reaches that age and maybe see the Paed a little earlier Flowers

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 19/08/2023 08:50

carlablack · 15/08/2023 21:44

She plays with her toys properly, doesn't line them up. (This was an issue back when she was watching TV)

She never did the line-up thing with her toys. She just wasn't playing with them properly before. Wanter to clear that up :)

@carlablack just wanted to say that my DD never lined up her toys either.

itsmyp4rty · 19/08/2023 09:03

Mine never lined up toys either. People with autism also don't have 'no empathy' it's a common misconception, they just might not express it the way others do. When mine was little I wasn't allowed to read the Thomas the Tank engine books with the naughty trucks because he was so upset by them getting told off. Kids with ASD can be extremely sensitive.

Enjoying being social doesn't mean she's not autistic either - it's difficulty with socialising rather than the desire to or not to be social. For example an older child might be very sociable but stand too close to someone and talk at them about their favourite topic.

I definitely think it would be worth seeing a doctor.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 19/08/2023 09:12

itsmyp4rty · 19/08/2023 09:03

Mine never lined up toys either. People with autism also don't have 'no empathy' it's a common misconception, they just might not express it the way others do. When mine was little I wasn't allowed to read the Thomas the Tank engine books with the naughty trucks because he was so upset by them getting told off. Kids with ASD can be extremely sensitive.

Enjoying being social doesn't mean she's not autistic either - it's difficulty with socialising rather than the desire to or not to be social. For example an older child might be very sociable but stand too close to someone and talk at them about their favourite topic.

I definitely think it would be worth seeing a doctor.

Totally agree, the empathy can be overwhelming and not necessarily expressed in a conventional way.

Also agree about being social doesn't rule out ASD either. Just like NT people, people with ASD can range from extrovert to introvert and everything in between.

Both of my DC are ND and I realise that I probably am too but me and DS are very social although I have come to realise that we mainly hang out with other ND people! Grin

Original poster
carlablack · 21/08/2023 11:15

We've already booked appointments for ear and eye check, we need to wait till these tests are done before we consult a paed.

She stopped doing both of these tics for the past couple of days. She seems to behave normally now. The only missing link is language (I did the progress check and she does have issues) for which me and DH take some responsibility.

Like I said we will definitely ask for an expert opinion, but reading and hearing about what could or could not be autistic behaviour I must say I'm very confused and anxious. How do doctors diagnose mild autism anyway? Toddlers this age do all sorts of awkward things. What are the odds of getting a false diagnosis?

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 21/08/2023 20:42

I think of the SLT progress checker said "you've answered no to some important questions", I'd see about getting her some SLT if you can.

Usually ASD can be diagnosed after 2 I think? I'm not sure on the figures for a false diagnosis. My experience was the opposite where we were begging for help and nobody would listen.

Anonymouslyikes · 24/08/2023 20:22

My daughter had a mild vision impairment that wasn't picked up til reception (despite having taken her to optician before). She shakes her head a lot - the eye Dr said something to do with the cerebellum apparently. She also looks sideways frequently, which I'd not noticed before. And as a baby would look up / smile at the curtain pole!
Was also a bit slow at talking, but nursery weren't fussed - was still dropping letters when she started school.
They all do things in their own time. Your daughter sounds very sweet.

angpat · 09/07/2024 21:24

How’s your dauighter doing now?

Molly273 · 12/07/2024 19:40

carlablack · 15/08/2023 21:42

Hello everyone,

My DD is 33 mo and we're planning to visit the pediatrician about possible ASD after she turns 3. In the meantime, I'm looking for a peace of mind and came back here to hear some opinions as noone around me seems to know what ASD really is.

To sum up, here are the negatives that made us suspicious:

  • Speech delay: Not a single word before 2yo. This delay might have been caused by excessive screen exposure though because for the past 3-4 months that we went cold turkey on all screens, she made a huge progress; she can respond to her name (sometimes), tells us what she wants with a single word, can say the name of many objects when asked, even forms two word sentences from time to time. Still not enough progress for her age though.
  • Side glancing and/or spinning: This is very recent; started about 3 weeks ago. She does this mostly when bored. She also side glances a few times while eating. We can somewhat easily get her to stop by finding something interesting to do but after that she may (or may not) just start spinning again.
  • Don't know if this means anything but when she was a newborn she used to stare at the chandelier on the ceiling for a long time while I rocked her to sleep. She grew out of it in a few months.

Here are the positives:

  • She's a raging empath. When I cry in front of her she looks me in the eyes, hugs and kisses and does everything she can to soothe me. After she scratches me she observes how I will react very closely. When we laugh around her, she laughs along with us etc. She can even sense when we're mildly upset and comes up and hugs us.
  • She loves social settings. She loves meeting other children/ babies and playing with them. She doesn't share her stuff and steals others' toys though.
  • She plays with her toys properly, doesn't line them up. (This was an issue back when she was watching TV)
  • She eats ok most of the time. She doesn't eat mashed foods, soft foods and vegetables by herself. But she's not irritated by these, she would rather play with them. She eats them when we give it to her.

Would also like to add that she can count to 20 and count backwards from 10. She also can recognise letters when asked.

Sorry for the long post :( What do you guys think? Am I overreacting? I saw a video of an autistic little girl doing the exact same movement my DD is doing and I cannot stop thinking about this ever since.

Going through the same with my 17 months . Any update please ? ❤️

Claire123e · 03/09/2024 11:16

carlablack · 21/08/2023 11:15

We've already booked appointments for ear and eye check, we need to wait till these tests are done before we consult a paed.

She stopped doing both of these tics for the past couple of days. She seems to behave normally now. The only missing link is language (I did the progress check and she does have issues) for which me and DH take some responsibility.

Like I said we will definitely ask for an expert opinion, but reading and hearing about what could or could not be autistic behaviour I must say I'm very confused and anxious. How do doctors diagnose mild autism anyway? Toddlers this age do all sorts of awkward things. What are the odds of getting a false diagnosis?

Any update please ? C

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 07/10/2024 08:53

@Claire123e, @Molly273 & @angpat you might get the OP's attention if you try an @ Wink

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