autism or not

[flowerpop]

I'm not sure if this is the right board to post on to start off with but really seeking some insight.

My nearly 4 year old DS is incredibly verbal and has excellent communication for context. But his social skills leave me questioning what's typical.

He is extremely friendly and has no concept that other people may not want to talk/play with him. To me he appears to lack understanding of social nuance, boundaries and personal space. He thinks he is an adult or a peer to adults. Loves other kids and grown ups and will talk and talk and talk at them without realising its time to stop. He literally never stops talking from when he wakes up. He often speaks like an adult, tries to organise /direct the play of other children. Uses other adults bodies like playgrounds, e.g. lets pretend you're a tree and I'm a stag beetle. He did this yesterday to two of our friends, who he'd only met that day. Is that typical behaviour? he seems much MUCH more forward, confident and socially uninhibited to other kids we know of the same age.

In all other areas he seems to be developing normally.

For context he has always seemed 'different' to me and his dad since babyhood. But very interested in stories, very imaginative.

Does this sound like he could be on the autism spectrum?

Many thanks

What you describe alone wouldn’t result in an autism diagnosis. Have you spoken to nursery and the HV about your concerns?

thanks for replying. i've mentioned it before to nursery and they seem very non commital (maybe as he's still very young) but i can see he annoys them. they've mentioned recently he has been dobbing other kids in for not following the rules which i've heard can be a sign. maybe i'll try asking them again

My DD is like this, has dialed it down a bit now at nearly 7. Before we meet adults we brief her on personal space etc, but she doesn't always follow this, I have to remind her at the time, and adult friends normally say 'no, no it's fine.'

I didn't know many other children, when she was 4. I also think the effects of the COVID social distancing environment when she was 2 had an effect. I have recently been wandering about ASD. She doesn't really direct the play that much of others but have seen this trait is very common in other children her age and by now, around 7 they are better at negotiating and not just telling each other what to do!

that's reassuring to hear she's dialled it down... i do a lot of briefing too but obviously he forgets/ gets carried away especially if they show him lots of interest...! is there anything else that makes you think she has asd?

She learnt to read early, generally bright and loves Lego. In reception had tantrums at pick up, not massive but I didn't see many others like it. At preschool age she had tantrums about her art an early handwriting not being perfect. She is also also a little noise sensitive with handryers.

But she loves school, has friends and is generally sociable