Showing signs of improvements - GDD and possible ASD. Your thoughts please.

[laurabatty]

Hello all. Our DS (2) has been diagnosed with global development delay and showing several signs of ASD - not pointing, lack of joint attention, delayed speech, not waving etc. As you can imagine we went into panic mode and started working intensively with him on trying to improve these things in the absence of any imminent help from the NHS.

Over the last week or so we have seen a massive improvement and he is now regularly waving bye bye, starting to point, using many more single words and most movingly for us he asked for a drink for the first time - twice in one day.

He is still inclined to flap any bit of fabric he finds and spin the wheels on cars but has also started to pretend to talk on the phone, brum brum a car and look at dolls.

My question is: what does all this mean? Is he starting to catch up? Is it possible that he is not ASD? Can improvements like this happen in such a short space of time? Or something else? I want to hope that we've turned a very important corner in his development but at the same time don't want to be realistic. Your opinions are very much welcome - we are at a very confusing time!

Last paragraph should have read 'want to be realistic'!

Just wondered if anyone had any thoughts/ personal experience. Thanks.

Hi, laura. My understanding is that because ASD is a developmental disorder, autistic traits are merely a developmental stage that NT grow out of. If your DC has GDD DX he may simply be slower to grow out the autistic traits.

I can only give you my experience as that is all it is, I have two boys dx with autism at three both where non verbal. DS1 had rapid improvements from the age of 3 till he was 7 then the only difference was the social side that was different to his peers he in now at MS secondary school and needs no support. DS2 is still non verbal he is at a special school and while he does improve it is very slowly so the gap between his peers is growing.
Work with your child as if he has a dx of asd as this will do no harm be careful with professionals as they may reduce the help.

I agree with squid.... We were told by a fab MH nurse to use strategies that can work for children with ASD while Dd3 was being assessed. We did and many of them really worked especially the visual stuff.

Whether your LO gets a dx or not doesnt matter at the moment, what matters is that you can see progress which will make your life easier and is a very positive thing.

Be kind to yourselves, keep up with the good work and good luck.

I think it is good that your son has a diagnosis whether it it the right one or not and even if it has sent you into "panic mode" as it will enable you to access the help he needs. You have already seen results from being more proactive in his development and I'm sure you will see many more. Is he your first child? It is so much more difficult with a first to work out where the problems are as development takes place at such different rates even within the normal range.

My ds1 was by far the quickest to do everything. Walked at 10 months, talked early, taught himself to read, could count up to 100 before he was 3. I thought he was so clever but it was the other things I missed. Still dribbling at 5, complete meltdowns, difficulty doing even the simplest of jigsaws and he has a dx of ADHD and has a degree of dyslexia and ASD. My ds2 who was so slow to do everything and was really not even ready to start school at 5 has, with encouragement come on in leaps and bounds. He has many autistic traits but we have never felt the need to seek dx as he is coming on just fine. He is above average at school now. (Don't start me on ds3).

I would push for assessments and get as much help as you can. That he is already responding so well is a good sign. Ms ds's, despite initial worries, are happy, loving boys with loads of friends and doing well in school.

You are a wonderful, helpful bunch. Thanks

Ineedalife - can I ask which strategies you used and which were the most helpful?

Ellen - so NT children can show signs of autism but then grow out of them?

Yes, things like flapping, playing alongside rather than with, etc. But they do tend to grow out of them at a very early age. This is only from things I've read, I'm not an expert in child development!

Firstly, i use MAKATON i think you should get yourselves on a course, it is a great way to communicate with LO's and it really supports spoken language too.

Dd3 is much older than your Lo, i use a visual timetable with her. You could scale it down to a.choice board. Using photos of toys or foods etc you get your LO to choose from 2 things. It is great for them to have some independence.

I use a red and yellow card for challenging behaviour. Like the footballers, the yellow is a warning. Again this will be too complex at the moment but a possible one for the future. There is post a thread on here about visual aids which might help you more. If not post a question and someone will be able to answer it.

The basics are pictures, signs, pictures, symbols and more pictures.

Good luck.