Possible ASD - Please I need to know your experience.

[heretoaskwhy]

Ok, I know this is been discussed over and over again here and the typical answer is to see a doctor. Yes, I agree but I need to know your experience which could help me to understand this little better.

My DD is 16 months old and she used to be attentive - like 4 months ago and now she seems very much occupied and rarely make direct eye contact nor respond to her name. (well she never responded to her name) but she used to be a little bit more attentive and used look at my face.

Little bit about her do/don't

• She looks at me and eye contact when playing peek-a-boo. THE ONLY TIME SHE DOES IT EXPECT WHEN CRYING.
• She plays with her toys.
• She runs around and likes be chased.
• Use us to get what she wants. - but don't point at them herself instead take our hands to them.
• Use my phone and even play videos on youtube. - even able to skip the commercials if she feels like.
• Pet our cat - not very pleasant way.
• Climb up/down the bed and sofa.
• Recognise different types of food.
• Knows her toothbrush, comb and then respond to them accordingly. Sometimes she tries to do it her self.
• She extends her arms and asks to be picked up.

Don't

• Point at things
• Recognise her name
• Direct eye contact - when we need her to

I know some children develop later in their toddler years and some, unfortunately get diagnosed with ASD.

Please share your experience I am really desperate.

Help! please.

At 16months, and obviously only going from the list you have posted here, I would adopt a 'wait and see' policy. It seems her communication is there, and certainly some understanding.
Does she go to Nursery / CMer at all ? Anyone else who knows her 'in real life' that you can share your worries with ?
She is still very young to get any kind of assessment at 16months.

Hi BackforGood,

She is not attending Nursery yet but I am looking into it now and possibly start in January.
NHS says 18 - 24 months are the best times to assess and do therapy if required. DH does most of the housework at the minute to help out.

Thanks for posting

Just going from your list I would also say wait and see. A lot of the diagnostic criteria are still based on boys' presentatation; girls tend to be diagnosed later - so, for example, language development can be a less significant indicator for girls. As can eye contact - my ASD DD made prolonged and focused eye contact as a baby and toddler (and still does).

Try to remain open while not becoming unduly fixated. I find that quite tricky, mainly because of my own ASD traits. There is a genetic component - do you or your DD's father have any ASD traits? Or the GPs?

ASD takes very different forms in different people. My DD is nine, loves reading fiction, is fascinated by history, has an amazing memory for facts and details and is great at remembering numbers, timetables etc. She is completely herself, has very independent tastes in food, clothes etc, loves to climb and skate, loves to code and has one or two close and equally quirky friends. She (and we) have had and will have some very difficult times, but she's fantastic, and your DD will be too, whether she has ASD or not.

mumzuki - Your post was very comforting and I am praying for the best and working day and night to make sure she gets the right support from us. It's hurting to look at her differently after noticing the little abnormalities. - not in a bad way but I guess unless you admit your child is lacking at something you can't address it.

We have replaced all the stuff toys with educational toys and she gets lots of attention. - she never really liked the soft toys since she could start walking.

The biggest change I've noticed was - she is now getting us involved when playing etc. At times give DH some puzzle pieces and take it off him and give that to me.

Although she does a little bit of stimming and with mouth open when overly stimulated.

Also, she picks up a blue piece from almost every toy/puzzle and keep it in one hand while playing with rest of the parts. She changes the hands and sometimes its the left and at times its right the hand.

My dd8 has autism and was diagnosed in Y1.
I agree with PP that in your situation, you have to wait and see. Keep in touch with your health worker and ask for a referral to a paediatrician with it's appropriate.
Focus on helping with her cognition and communication.

You can't actually prevent autism if she has the condition, so getting yourself upset will help no one.
Try not to worry

Apologies for late the response.

I was reading the book 'Let me hear your voice' to get some sort of grip on what could/about to happen.