Paed has suggested 3yo DD on spectrum-rather new and v.clueless

[amymouse]

Hello, I posted about a week ago about some speech difficulties with my 3.5yo and someone posted a very helpful link to echolalia. I can't recall who but thank you! Anyway, to cut a long story short we saw our paed today (we have been under a neurodisability paed for a while as DD was premature and has some longstanding feeding difficulties as well as mild cerebral palsy affecting her legs) and he think there are some red flags suggesting DD is somewhere on the autistic spectrum. He said it isn't classic ASD but the likelihood is that there is something going on (he did actually say "she isn't NT") and the best way would be to use stratergies you might for a young ASD child to help overcome difficulties/understand things and if she appears to grow out of it then brilliant, if not then we will have things in motion. So! Please share your collection wisdom-amazon suggests there are about a million books but any recommendations would be brilliant. Also if anyone can recommend any really good picture books that emphasize social skills, as DD is very receptive to stories?

Our next step is applying for a statement and his opinion is we need to look at primary schools with specialist units attached. I'm sure that will go down fantastically with the Early Years team attached to the LA who have trying to tell me everything (including DD's mobility) is all in my head for the past year. We also have just been referred to health psychology about DD's feeding anxieties and paed is keen we also get them to look at social anxiety.

Sorry this is so long-had a fair bit of information given to me today and now floundering a bit. It all feels very new and is taking a while to process on top of things I am already dealing with for DD. It doesn't change her of course, but does rather explain a few things if paed is correct!

Hi amy I am glad and sad for you that your Paed is so on the ball. Is he going to diagnose her or does he want to wait a while? It shouldnt make any difference because he has suggested Asd strategies anyway.

If your Early Years team are not helpful on the statement front you can apply for assessment yourself. If you ask a specific question about it on here you will get lots of help.

As for a book I liked 10 Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew. It is American as lots are but is is very easy toread and great as a starting point.

If you google girls with Asd you should get some articles by Tony Attwood, I like his stuff as again it is easy to read.

Good luck

Good books : on social skills : Join in and play - Cheri Meiners
On emotions - when I'm feeling books by Trace Moroney

A PECS UK course - even if verbal can help with working out the general approach as children on the spectrum can benefit from using pictures as they are often visual learners

Ipsea website to help with how to apply for a statement (look under common problems section)

Go chat to SENCOs of the schools you are interested in and some parents of children with ASD there if possible

Thank you all, they're all really helpful. Will get on amazon.

Ineed I don't think he is going to dx yet; we have 6 monthly reviews so it may well all change at the next one. Reading between the lines, he seemed to suggest he would be inclined to go with a dx on the understanding it was a 'work in progress' as he felt within our LA this would open more doors. It's slightly complicated because she was quite premature and our paed has said as such prem brains are often wired different anyway, so while they show many ASD traits they are not "officially" on the spectrum as such.

Polter those factfiles are brilliant and thanks for reminding me abour Cerebra; I've meant to be in touch with them for yonks due to the CP anyway so this is another kick up the bottom to get a wriggle on.

When you first get on this road, is it normal to have days where everything fits and others where you feel like you are going mad and becoming utterly neurotic?! Sometimes I read about things and it seems like things have just got out of hand and then sometimes DD is just really hard to manage. I can't always put my finger on it (she is never violent or aggressive) but there is "something" that is unusual and she really stands out at nursery/within groups of peers. Argh! It is all so confusing..

Yep, some days I still look at Dd3 and wonder why we went to all the trouble of getting a dx for her. they are few and far between these days to be honest though.

The gap between her and her peers has grown a lot recently!

Don't worry, stick around on here there is always someone to remind you you are not neurotic