Would we get an autism assessment referral at 20 months?

[AutumnLea]

This will be a long one as I'm going to type out all my concerns for context.

TLDR: want advice whether to take this to GP tomorrow and ask for a referral or wait a bit longer as DC is so young.

Behaviour

Frequent long episodes of shouting.
General aggression when upset.
Overwhelmed by busy places, loud noise, other children.
Copies sounds but no inclination to form any words.
Will only watch one thing on tv.
Will only play with 2 specific toys, everything else is bitten then thrown, unless a soft toy which is carried in his mouth.
Understands things by putting them in his mouth and biting (including people)
Hangs tongue out a lot
Obsessed with screws and wheels
Becomes distressed if strict routine is disrupted
Won't sit in pram if it's still
Struggles with bathtime, getting dressed, nappy changes

Development

Crawled 16 months
Pulled up 16 months
Cruised 17 months
Walked 19 months
(Nb. These developments all happened as soon as I took him out of nursery at 15 months)
No speech
Doesn't respond to name, point or wave
Often lost in his own world

_Sleeping
_
Never sleeps longer than 6 hours
Gets up in the night for 2-3 hours
Always wakes at 5.30am for the day
( Nb the above is true regardless of any routine we try)
Will only fall asleep holding my hand

Eating and drinking

Will only eat mashed baby food spoon fed by me
The exception to this is a couple of specific snacks but you have to give him one piece at a time, if you put several pieces down he will pick one and throw the rest
Will only drink from a bottle, has regressed from cup
Will only drink milk, which I dilute with water
Stopped eating at 8-9 months when nursery started and only was fully on solids at 15 months when I took him out

And that's all I can think of. Does it sound like autism and shall I put all this forward tomorrow and see about a referral? Any tips?

Thanks and super thanks if you managed to read it all.

Even without any evidence at all? How will they know I'm just not making it all up? @Relaxinghammock

Sorry to keep bugging you this is all new to me

I've just called the echp team, who said they would need evidence ie. Reports etc. they have advised me to contact SENDIASS for advice. Can't get through at the moment but that will be my next step I think. Thanks @Relaxinghammock hopefully we'll get there

You will need evidence of needs, but you do not require evidence of diagnosis or referral. The legal threshold for an EHCNA is relatively low - a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need SEN provision to be made via an EHCP. Anything else is unlawful.

To gather evidence you could make SARs to the GP and HV, including the information in the incorrect GP referral. You can make a SAR to DS’s previous nursery. If you can, you could look at self referring to SALT, OT, Portage, then use that information. Do you attend any organised play groups? You could ask if the organiser will write a supporting statement. Do you have any SEN sessions locally that you attend? If so, you could ask those organisers.

Have a read of IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites. The process will be easier for you if you understand the law behind EHCPs rather than believing what the LA tell you. LAs often act unlawfully. Do not believe everything they tell you, check everything. Be careful with SENDIASS. Some are good but far too many repeat the LA’s unlawful policies.

This is brilliant thank you 😊

I will work my way through it