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

I've rang through to salt.
Shes on annual leave. Poor woman she's always on the go.
I will pick her brains in 2 weeks time lol.

I then rang hv. She's out too. ive left message with other hv so she should hopefully get back to me today. if she remembers

I think dx will help with what fustrated said. not being crap mum not being neurotic mother and ds is not just a naughty baby.

Today since hes been awake:
I was 'teaching him what a mobile was and that you say hello on it (environmental que was hello) I then let him have a play and I encouraged him to say hello. He was trying. I then put my iPod next to it and Im sure he knows that we play videos on it. So without environmental que I asked him which one is phone.
He did not understand
I have done that with him before too.
That's what salt said do. He doesn't understand without environmental que so thats what she was saying cognitively things might not be working. It is worrying.
Every morning without fail I say right we are going to go downstairs and I point to the stairs. I was asking him shall we go downstairs ( he can nod) and he just didn't seem to understand me.
I don't mean to offend but how do you all cope?
If a child doesn't understand you then what can you do?
He seems to have bundles of energy and is always running from one side of the room to the other (starting to think it's a bit repeatative?)
X

Hv rang back. She told me it's a long process of getting ds dx.
She suggested ringing through to hosp to get earlier appointment and I told her his general paed is on leave.
She suggested going to gp but he's useless
And she said if I'm really worried she will refer him to community paed.
We have been seen by community paed before ( she was one of his consultants when ds had meningitis)
She won't be much use though. I'd rather wait until I see his paed.
She's got a caf done for him I need to sign it on thursday
X

Hi isit - if they aren't getting the clue then you support the clue. Pictorial support works well. (pecs or similar) and being repetitive. (we also sign)
My dd confuses people bacause sometimes she knows but won't answer direct questions so will appear that she doesn't know. although sometimes she really doesn't know
with my dd I find that personally I'm more relaxed and she's happier if I don't expect her to know. and usually get happy surprises Iykwim

Get him assessed by a paediatrician and depending on score, research about applied behaviour analysis. There are experienced behaviour analysis here (moondog for example). Look at diet too via biomedical treatment. Join the biomedical yahoo uk group, they're very helpful.

of course there are other alternative therapies... son rise, RDI, they work well with children who are delayed even if they have got no diagnosis.

Fustrated pants ds only knows with the clues so I suppose I will be sticking with them hoping I get somewhere with him.
One of his fav things to do is scream when we move something he's put there or one of his things ( mainly pram) even if he's not using it.

Tomorrow is a shopping day for me. Let's see how he goes!

Ds is mainly tube fed so I don't have that much to do with diet anymore. He does have 3 meals a day but hardly eats them. It normally has to be finger food too
X

Are you ok Isitme? I remember going through this...all the worry is very draining whether you end up with a diagnosis or not. Look after yourself...

Nnat thank you for that I will look into it.
I Just want him to understand things.
If I turned a light switch on and off ge wouldn't understand that I'm the cause of the effect.

Rnb thank you. Myself?? I'm knackered.
Ds doesn't tolerate feed too well at night so we have bad nights and then wakes up really early.
It is worrying. I've ever experienced this before nor has my family so we don't know what to expect.
Fear of the unknown is horrible.
With his gastric problems I had seen it first hand with another child in the family and knew ds wasn't normal.
My nephew is 'lazy'he gets comfortable doing what hes doing. He's 1/2 year older and is delayed too but there's a big difference in them.
He's interested in learning it's his mum that doesn't teach him.
she's not English so speaks her own language

Ds today screamed when It was time to change clothes. X

I bet you are exhausted, you poor thing. And having to deal with all of the gastric problems too - so hard.

I hope the paed appointment goes well. Be firm, say everything you are concerned about. In fact, write everything down, then you won't forget in the moment.

I was first suspicious that my son had autism when he was 18 months and managed to get a paed appointment when he was 23 months. He was diagnosed there. I told the paed not to just tell me, I didn't want to be told to wait and see. I was very lucky that he did. This enabled us to get a Statement of SEN and funding for ABA (after a fight). ABA really helped my son and he started to talk and gain skills.

Sorry - I told to paed TO JUST TELL ME.

It can be harder now to get such a quick and early diagnosis I believe. We also went privately to Gilly Baird who also confirmed diagnosis.

He wasn't too bad today.
Did play up in a few shops if it was too crowded or dim lighting.

Just doesn't want to get out of pram though atm.

I don't even know what to ask I'm just very confused.
Can I ask how will this effect his quality of life?
the one question I've been dreading to ask
I just want him to be happy and healthy but I know it's a cruel world out there too.
X

Isitme - that's a really hard question to answer. But I can talk from my own experience and my son is really happy and has a good quality of life. Feel free to PM me x

There is no way to know. My girls do wonderful and life has good days and bad.

I suppose so yh.
He's not been too bad today.
He's done some of the sniffing, licking and biting things today on the bus
He's quite confusing. He's at playgroup tomorrow and then hv.
I've got a good long list for her to go through.
I'm not playing no games I just want my son to get the care and support he needs from the proffesionals.
It's not easy getting there but once your there you realise it was worth it.

Ds gets a lot of pain in hands feet legs and arms.
Anyone else have this??
X