Is this early autism??

[Isitme1]

I've had this thought for a while and was deepend when I was approached about it by 'random lady who worked for autistic society' was talking to be on the tram ride home fate?

Anyway I did the online test for pdd and ds got score between 118-128 (If I remember correctly) the results diagnosed him with moderate autism/PDD.
It also said it wasn't a final diagnosis.

His symptoms:

• he is very possesive over he clothes. Hates being undressed. If I try to roll his pants up so he doesn't fall he screams until I undo it again. Doesn't like taking shoes off or coat. Just taken me an hour to take coat off. Hates nappy changing for that reason too.
• his obsession is small hard animals. For a long time he was obsessed with a little hard pig which he never let go. Even at night. Now it's an heavish elephant and giraffe. ( more elephant)
• he's very clumsy walks almost tip toed with out shoes on.
• he isn't really bothered about hurting himself. He runs like there's no tomorrow and then falls, bangs his head. He might rub his head but doesn't cry.
• he hates being in crowds! Shopping can be a nightmare sometimes ( recent thing) ( weve been to 2 playground with him. One went with a little girl and I think he felt safe as he might of felt comfortable with the little girl coming with us to play group as it reminded him of niece whom he plays with at home everyday here. When we went to the other playgroup with out her he screamed until he was sick then played then screamed. We had to leave early)
• doesn't seem to like sudden change. We changes colour of one of the bedrooms from pink to blue and he didn't like it- reaction was crying.
• he used to say 123 and ready steady go he seems to have 'forgotten' them and no longer says them. He's never said mama or dada.

-speech delay. His vocabulary consists of at max 4 words which he only knows with environmental clues.

• he won't eat of spoon

Background: He's 2 in sept. Has a few health problems. He is now gastrostomy fed. Food aversion too. Slow gastric emptying and low immune system. Being in hosp might of made matters worse too.

Sometimes I think yes he's got it others I dont. I know that i have to be consistent to help ds.if I wasn't consistent he wouldn't be here as gp was no help. Pump finished will add more soon Thanks X

This may have been the test you mention but if not, have you looked at this it is used by many health professionals - In the last 14 years I have never seen the gp about ds2 or ds3 autism - the health visitor back then referred us to the child development team. The chat isn't a diagnostic tool but if you are worried do mention it to your health visitor

Lots of symptoms there.

He really needs to be assessed by a paedetrician. (he must be under one already?)

That stuff is not about your parenting and you being or not being consistent.

I used childbrain.com/pddassess.html
This is a little more detailed than the one on the autistic society website.
Hv is a little 'simple'
She didn't help at all with ds other problems. She's supposed to be doing a caf or something which she said would take a week and it's been Nearly 6 weeks.
I am going to ring on Tomorrow and express my concerns. I do think there something a little more going on with him buuut can't put my finger on it.
As I was saying before gp was telling me 2oz a day of milk was more than enough for ds to thrive on.
Took me a long time for a gastric referal. If it wasn't for my persistence then he just sim

*persistence in knowing something was wrong.

I'm defo going to get in touch with hv though to see what she has to say.
I would like to know how everyone got their diagnosis??
Very new to this and want to make sure I don't sound like a neurotic mother
Thanks everyone
X

Indigo these vary on a day to day bases. Some days worse than others.
I don't really know that much about autism as I've been so focued on his gastric problems.

Also he had meningitis at 10 weeks. We don't know what that's done to him.
He's under salt. She doesn't know if everything is going right with the way the brain processes words(cognitively)
She wants to know if he understands words without the environmental ques. Which is mainly a no he doesn't.
X

is the gastro paed approachable - may be a quicker "in" to an assessment if he refers you anyway rather than HV. unfortunately before age 3 lots of parents get fobbed off with "there's a wide range of normal".

The language delay together with the behaviours you mention do sound concerning as if they merit further investigation.

Thank you.
The gastric is brilliant in his field other wise useless
He's got general paed appointment end of next month.
Will mention to her too. She's brilliant. I just don't want it to be left too long. I don't want to be 'making him worse' if that makes sense
Thank you all
X

How is DS hearing? Have you had his hearing tested since meningitis?
In my case our HV was useless at the start. I would suggest if you have doubts about his development to push for a referral to a paediatrician.

Hi nnat I can't actually remembered what I put down there. I'm sure I put mild down as he doesn't talk but babbles.

Fustrated yep he's had hearing tested a few times.
Everything is fine.
Hes been such a pain today and there's no way he can do that on purpose as he can be a nice little boy.

X

Nnat just checked. I put no on ones like can't hold conversation, talks loudly And repeatative language and copying tv was no too.
I put mild on Can't sustain convo ( when talking to him he doesn't babble back most of the time) and the last one for loss of speech and infantile squeals.
Can't remember the other ones.
Hope that helps.
Can I ask what score you've got?
X

Dd just scored 159. We have autism dx and dd also has severe S&L delay because of late diagnosis of HI. Dd is 4 now, and I part if me wishes that we had pushed for a dx sooner as we suspected autism when dd was 2. But she wasn't hitting any developmental milestones.
isitme1 it might be worth starting early intervention for behaviours, as these can help all children not just asd. portage may be able to help you there.
Also has you ds reached other developmental milestones on time?

The loss of words means he needs to be seen I think - it's something that always needs to be checked out. Don't let anyone fob you off - ds1 had loss of words and it was still a battle to get him assessed.

portage

Can't explain what they are exactly. Our local team helped with managing dds behaviours. (also went into dds preschool)

I think NHS route does work, but it is slow. you have to be refered to community paediatrician first) but you have to name autism to them. But we were already in the system for other reasons, and I guess we just happened to say the right thing to the right person.

Right whats hfa, hi and aba??
Saintly I hate being fobbed off!!
When ds was ill because of his gastric problems gp put me on antidepressants!!! I said no I know this is not a normal child. Refusing to eat and not gaining weight!
I've been told if it wasn't for me he wouldn't be here as he could of passed due to starvation and dehydration. I had to feed him baby food with a syringe into his mouth to help as he just wouldnt eat anything.
That's when I said enough is enough now I want referal or I will go to pct.
It worked!
Ds days are never the same. I had salt over on a good day and a not so good but not bad day.

Im going to leave her a message I think.
I did try to get ds paed appointment earlier but she goes on h

• holiday.

X

HI - hearing impaired although personally I hate that term and refer to dd as Deaf

Oooo right. Yep that makes more sense now.
Can I ask how having a lo with this has changed anything?
I already know how challenging it can be with out dx. Does having a dx make it any easier? More help maybe?
What is the point of dx?
X

For us it means that we have access to the EarlyBirds program, Provision written into dds statement of SEN. It's good in a practical sence because she is treated the same way by everyone, in that the approach to dealing with her is consistent. And to an extent it opens up funding (for respite care), and other professionals and help groups that need a dx to access.

I think on the most basic level it means that there is one sentence on a piece of headed paper that says I'm not a neurotic crap parent, and she's not just naughty.

Have had a quick skim read so sorry if I repeat.
I knew at 2 that dd2 was likely autistic. We have another girl with autism so knew the signs.
She hated being with other kids, and would always choose to play alone.
Her play was very repetitive and based on things she saw every day eg making a tea, serving cake, or lining things up.
She hand flapped, toe walked and spun in circles with eyes to the side.
She was late walking, lost a lot of her words just before she was two and would fall over loads but never cry.
We saw HV who watched her playing and referred to pead. We kinda went in back way as dd1 was under her anyways.
She was seen at two and we were told to enrole her at the autism nursery if we could afford it. We did and she made huge progress. She was dx with autism at three.

I would certainly start a diary, it helps you remember situations that are a problem as the pead will ask.
Start treating as if he has, it does no harm but the wait can be long, and be prepared for a massive amount of fighting and pushing to get what he needs

Dx has helped a huge amount, the difference between the support the girls got at transition points at school was huge (dd1 dx at 5 so already in school). It helps others the understand how best to help your child and sadly most professionals need that dx to get them to do things correctly.