Please help me to diagnose these symptoms , What can I do to help my child?

[WorriedDad23]

He is 4 and has speech difficulty , we have been told he is probably autistic but doctors haven't categorised him yet . His behaviours started to changed around his 4th b'day .

Please help me to identify his diagnosis, I'm burning inside thinking I am not doing anything to help my child.

Started flapping hands when he gets excited /playing with other kids.

Started being very hyper , other kids sometimes try to avoid him because he sometimes hurts others by touching or being very over-active.

Doesn't understand when to stop something, playing ,watching cartoon or opening and closing a window , he can go hours doing this and will kick off if we try to stop this.

Doesn't interact with other kids at nursery , had one friend but we think he is avoiding our child due to his hyper activeness.

He will kick off and cry for hours if he doesn't get something . ie. it can be anything , a plate , spoon, box, bottle . but if some other child ask for it he will give it straight away.He is only stubborn to adults , Specially his mum and dad(myself).

He is very very innocent and polite with other kids , specially if they are smaller than him, he will give any of his toys , even the ones he got after crying and kicking off.

Other kids don't need to ask for his toys , he will just offer his toys if they come close to him. If he is in a queue to go down the slide , he will let everyone go who is standing behind him, then only he will go on the slide to slide down.

Started repeating stuff ,a conversation can go like this

Daddy this is a door..
Daddy this a trouser..
Daddy this is a tap...
Daddy this is a bike..

Daddy this is a door..
Daddy this a trouser..
Daddy this is a tap...
Daddy this is a bike..

Daddy this is a door..
Daddy this a trouser..
Daddy this is a tap...
Daddy this is a bike..

Daddy this is a door..
Daddy this a trouser..
Daddy this is a tap...
Daddy this is a bike..

1. very fussy eater.

loves
Pasta
cheese
pretzels
waffles
chocolate
milk rice ( rice cooked with coconut milk)
Nuts (Cashew/peanuts)

hates (anything other than above list really but , he specially doesnt like below)

Chicken
Fish
Any red meat
Cows Milk

Likes holding hands when he is not happy or want to go to sleep. Even when we are driving.

Do you have a community paediatrician. If not ask your go for a referral. Do you have an ot secialising in sensory issues if not ask to be revered . Do you have a speech and language therapist. They not only work with learning speech but use of speech. Have you got a statement. If not think about starting the process. Talk to nursery. But you can start the process yourself. Worth also reading the tinsley house threads. Might no be your thing but worth seeing what others do. Get in touch with NAS and also look into ABA.
Sorry that's/alot

Is your ds being assessed for Autism? My ds is also 4 and has similar behaviour to your ds. The NAS website is useful for getting information about autism and diagnosis. They also have a helpline which is good.

Hi Worried, that's a lot to deal with. Do check out Tinsley House and the thread as they've helped my DC with some of these issues. Interesting about food as that is one of the things they ask about. I looked into lots of different things before choosing TH - there is lots of good advice on this board. I would also make a comprehensive list of everything that you think is unusual or worrying - right from the moment of birth. Good luck and let us know how you are getting on.

@mary21

He is having speech therapy at the moment, other than that no special treatment is given , we started the process of getting a statement , he just had an assessment for Autism few months ago and doctors said they will refer him again in 18 months, I'm thinking 18 months is too long , something has to be done now. Thanks for the suggestions

@tacal

He had an assessment few months ago and they couldn't say it for sure. I will go through NAS website, thanks.

@Ruggles Thanks very much , I will have look at Tinsley House thread.

The very Hyper, and food selectivity could be sensory issues which are very often co-morbid with Autistic spectrum disorders (is that how to describe it)....Sensory issues are also co-morbid with lots of other Learning difficulties. If you can afford I would recommend you look at doing a sensory assessment - an OT would do this.

@mrslaughan

I will get an assessment done, do I have to go through GP ? are there any links regarding finding information about this? (to arrange an assessment)

@PolterGoose

Thanks ,I bought the book after reading your post,Hopefully it will help me to diagnose my child.

How do I initiate the process to get OT referral and paediatrician referral ? through GP?

We are in the process of filling out application form for his reception class, Does having a statement help him to get a better school or special ed school? Sorry not sure what you meant there

Ys, GP can refer to developmental peadetrician and OT.

Only children with statements can go to special school. Check IPSEA for statementing process.

Is he on action plus at preschool - ask them, also he should have individual education plan. Look up Special Educational Needs Code of Practice - this is the law around SEN, often you will get told things that are not correct, so always check in there.