What is the difference between mild and severe autism? Is my son mild or severe?

[Shootingstar2289]

Seems a bit of a 'daft' question but my son is 4 in a few weeks and awaiting a diagnosis for autism. I felt like I've been shrugged off for a few years being told 'it's just a general speech delay' and 'he will catch up'.

It's not until he was 3.5, professionals started to take notice.

1. My son is very speeches delayed. Literally only said a few words up until he was 3.5. Now he says hundreds of single words but only occasionally ps them together in 2 or 3 words. Usually sticks to one word only.

1. He is a VERY happy, giggly, affectionate child. He was a very smiley, content little baby. He was such a happy good baby. I could take him anywhere without a problem up until he was around 2..

He is often too clingy and I can't go for a wee without him stood next to me.

1. His behaviour can be very demanding now, especially in public. He's obessed with pressing buttons - ATMs, arcade machines, ticket machines, door opening buttons and often screams when I take him away. But this is improving and takes less notice to things like this now.

He is terrible for screaming when he doesn't get his own way. In public it can be bad in shops.

He runs off a lot.

When he was younger I used to take him to toddler group and he stood playing with the doors and the taps rather than play. He has a thing about opening and shutting doors and gates.

1. He doesn't play with children his age but loves company of adults and older children.

1. He is very clumsy.

1. At pre school he has improved a lot. He will sit still at story and snack time now but this took a while but he struggles to share toys etc. He is also hard to move from task to another.

1. He has no sense of danger whatsoever. He runs off and has attempted to run into roads but I'm always there to grab him. I try to explain but he doesn't understand everything and does it again.

1. At home he is very good! I can get on and do housework if he's sat playing, doing puzzles, colouring etc.

Although his speech is very delayed. He doesn't seem 'severe' in other areas related to autism. He can be very well behaved but it just takes one thing to upset him and he cries. But his tantrums never last too long.

He says please, thank you and sorry appropriately.

His eye contact has got better over time but still not the best.

My son never had any SALT ...after 3 years of diagnosis...

Nhs...useless

@Soumia have you requested speech therapy I had to go to a drop in clinic to get a referral

There is no way I’ll be waiting that long , it angers me so much that they take this long when if these children had early intervention they would more than likely have a better outcome in the long run !
I have already decided that if they stick us on a long waiting list I will pay for private sessions x

@kellbelle92 I know it's absolutely disgusting, we were very lucky as we had a portage worker who started teaching my son pecs which speech therapy told me is all they will really do as my little boy is completely non verbal, he is now 3 years and 10 months, I would suggest that if you speak to your health visitor and find out if portage is available in your area and get a referral, they do play therapy I can honestly say portage is by far the best professional help we have had.

Luckily my mum works at a special needs school and they have an outreach portage worker at her school , they have advised her that no service will really see him till he’s 2 and I will still have to go through speech and language to get a portage worker as there is a huge waiting list for it! but in the mean time she has given me some tips to help him along , has your son been diagnosed? X

Hi yes he was diagnosed in March this year, asd and global developmental delay, he is functioning around the age of 16-18 months, I would recommend pecs, it took lots of hard work but he has started to pick it up now.
Have you had hearing tests etc? My son was referred to the paediatrician at around your sons age as well.
Are there other asd flags in addition to speech delay?
I was told at first it could just be a speech delay or sensory processing disorder

@kellbelle92 also my little boy lost speech, he had a handful of words and then lost them he only says mum now

@JessicaKenny2018 that’s great that your son in picking it up , progress is always a good sign 😊
Other signs I have noticed is lack of babbling , flaps hands , spinning in circles sometimes , spins wheels on his cars doesn’t play with toys properly at all, lack of understanding and climbs on everything he sees .. my LO has never had any words .. I have also been told that sometimes a speech delay alone can sometimes mimic asd so it’s so hard to tell at the minute !
We are at the drs tomorrow for hearing test I really don’t think that’s the problem but you never know ! It’s been a very worrying time the last 5 months x

How did they diagnose two things? ASD + global delay?

Strange...do you mean mental retardation?

Did your son walk at a late age?

I always doubt that my son has the same :(

@Soumia my son was diagnosed with both asd and global developmental delay by his paediatrician it is quite normal and common to be diagnosed with both, global developmental delay is a learning delay.
Yes he did walk late he was 2 when he walked

It’s labeled by their ability to function like a “typical” child.

I waited 6 months then went to pay out of pocket myself to which speech therapy themselves wrote into the dr for the referral and that worked for us more than the dr giving it