advice needed - ds has autistic traits

[NKffffffffa5e131efX119f156648a]

I'd really welcome some advice. My DS who is 27 months has some autistic traits. His eye contact isn't great - ok at home but when he's in a busy environment he appears lost and his eye contact is pretty poor. Also, he's not as interested in other people as I would expect and doesn't always look at people when they talk to him. He's also obsessed with cars and puts head on floor and watches wheels go around. And does some echolalia. He's doing ok in other respects - good pretend play, speaks in sentences, understanding good, affectionate, enjoys playing with older brother, no issues with food, sleep routine, does parallel play with other children. Also he seems to be developing empathy - recently when his brother hurt himself he asked him if he was ok. Any way I'm really worried about him and would welcome some advice on whether this sounds like autism? Also, what's the best things to do next. I think if I took him to GP he would say it was too early and to wait to see how he develops. Many thanks

Not too early in theory - but that depends on you having professionals locally clued up enough to see the signs at 2, especially in a child where signs may be more subtle than for eg zero speech or social interaction. So yes get on the list to be referred. But my experience is very few areas have any education services for 2 year olds so in terms of practical help you may need to rely on yourself or get private help. You may be eligible for SALT but as speaks in sentences tbh you would be lucky to get much more than basic half termly-termly advice for you / a nursery to follow - and you could get this from a book eg Hanen More than Words. You may get portage or specialist early years outreach teacher. You may get some support eg extra 1:1 in a mainstream nursery but they may only get advice from a specialist teacher half termly. If you have funds look at ABA or private SALT, or private specialist nurseries. State services are geared towards over 5's and support for under 5's is very patchy.

Thanks very much for your replies. I'll contact the GP as its probably best to get things going on the assessment if possible. I'll also get the Hanen More than Words. I hadn't considered that book as DC's speech seems pretty good but have just googled it and realised its also aimed at improving social skills. Thanks again.

No not tooe arly although I know several Paeds who will only give a generic dx before 36 months- although the diagnostic process almost always takes far longer anyway.

Absence of empathy is NOT a diagnostic criteria of ASD_ although common (this is my research topic LOL).

Agnes is right about services sadly, although advice from play specialists might help (some areas do, others do not), this does vary hugely though and some areas have pre-school provision. More likely though getting in early will be useful for one key reason: you can always come off a waiting list, but you can't jump straight to the top of one should his issues develop or need more input.

Thanks Peachey. I was hoping the developing empathy might mean he was unlikely to have autism but useful to know it's not part of the diagnostic criteria.