Toddler displaying signs of ASD, any advice?

[CrabbitArse]

DD 20mo was assessed as at risk of autism last month, she has lost all her words, doesn't understand what I'm saying, displays inappropriate play, lacks social communication, no imaginative play etc. The doctor and speech therapists just said to keep doing what I'm doing and they'd see us agin in a few months. I've tried to look up guidance online but it all seems to be aimed at older children. Can anyone point me in the right direction or share any advice?

who assessed her. What kind of doc did you see? are you under an developmental paed?

She was seen by a Community Child Health doctor (am in Scotland if that makes a difference?) There has been no mention of developmental paediatricians, the same doctor will reassess her in a few months.

Try this. If you get a non typical score take it to your HV and insist on a referral to a developmental peadiatrition

www.m-chat.org/mchat.php

not sure what the difference between a dev paed and a community paed is (if any). but it is quite normal early in the process that not a lot happens and that instead you will be reviewed after a few months. if concerns persist they will then usually arrange for assessments (e.g. Ados).

If I can find the link there's a page on the NAS website listing doctors qualified to dx ASD. My son has asd and the doc who dx'd him is on their ( she's also a neuro developmental pead).

www.autism.org.uk/directory/search-results/pg=1~sid=205118.aspx

Found via following links from here

www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/all-about-diagnosis/children/getting-a-diagnosis.aspx

in some other countries they may well diagnose ASD at that age but in the UK most parents won't even be referred at that age. so it is great that you are 'in the system' already

are you getting any help? Salt or portage? Otherwise it might be worth to apply for DLA and fund therapy with that (that is what we did).

I do know I'm lucky to have got as far as I have when she's so young, I took her to the GP the day she turned 18m, we had the CCH appt a month later & SALT 2 weeks after that. I feel very overwhelmed with it all and don't know how to move forward as a parent. I hoped there might be some resources out there with things I could try to help with the areas she's struggling in but maybe she is just too young?

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied
I'm just so scared

No she's not too young for help, the younger better.

What does she need help with?

Portage are great for help.

For speech look up high intensity bag / bucket. You get a bag / bucket. Fill it with cheep nasty tat. Get the bag and get very excited while getting out your cracker grade toy and not letting your child touch it while you play. Idea being that your child shares your interest building eye contact and shared interaction. Which is the building block to language. That's just one simple easy thing I waited 18 months for SLT to suggest.

Key is absolutely getting interaction, turn taking, shared interest, play.

Don't be scared. Your not alone.

I have had so much help from this board.

The book An Early Start for Your Child With Autism is fantastic for ideas for working with under fives. It's based on the Early Start Denver Model, which is particularly designed for young children. It will give you some strategies to start using now and is play based so for me feels really natural. For example, if you can find a sensory social routines your dd likes, that can be both fun and therapeutic. Google 'sensory social routines' and you'll find some ideas.

2boys is right that all evidence suggests the earlier you start getting help the better but there is so much you can do at home rather than through formal therapy. I have also found Hanen really useful. You can do parent training through them but can also just buy the books and start using the strategies.

Just to add to the Hanen suggestion, apparently there is a website called "Teach me to Talk" which has lots of helpful ideas (although I haven't looked at it myself).

If you can afford to go privately, it is possible to get a diagnosis at this age (my DS was diagnosed at 18 months).

At 22 months, we started doing ABA therapy, which we think has really helped him. The problem is that it is incredibly expensive to fund yourself (in London where we are we (or rather very generous grandparents) pay about £30k per year for approx 20 hours per week - although it may well be cheaper in Scotland), so depending on your situation that might be something you look into further down the line when you have a diagnosis and can start looking into getting funding from your local authority.

As Polter says, this stage of not knowing is the worst and things will gradually get better. Good luck.

there is a very useful ABA Facebook group - it is called ABAA4ALL (ABA access for all). have a look. you will also find some resources.

also, have you heard of the book 'more than words' by Hanen. haven't used it myself but I know a few who found it really useful. I think it is cheapest here:
www.winslowresources.com/hanen-more-than-words.html

we also did ABA but couldn't afford a programme as dimple. we did only about 15h. I got trained up and did the sessions and we only paid for a supervisor/consultant. worked for us for a while and was much cheaper but still a 200-300 pund/months. I used DLA to fund it.

this is another book I hugely helpful:
www.amazon.co.uk/The-Verbal-Behavior-Approach-Disorders/dp/1843108526

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. I've found myself very "stuck" since we saw CCH, you have given me some great ideas to move forward with.

are there any groups for parents of children with SN near you? I started to to go there as I could not bear being in the groups with all the NT children. I found it really useful to connect in RL with partents in similar situations esp as a lot of 'friends' started to dissapear once DDs SN were more obvious.

it is really the toughest stage you are in now. But it will get better.

We've been referred to a SN playgroup, that starts next week.
No portage in Scotland.
I don't know why I've taken it so hard, I've known something wasn't quite right since she was very little. Time to get a grip and carry on the fight!

I second OgreIt's recommendation to get the book: An Early Start for Your Child With Autism. It provides lots of great ideas and strategies that you can start using immediately and work into your daily routines like meal times and bath time. You might also find this blog post helpful: littletalks.co.uk/index.php/blog/games-inspire-natural-eye-contact/

It provides ideas (much like the book mentioned above) about how to encourage engagement and interaction in children with ASD, as well as reasons why these things are important for the child's language development.

Your post is very familiar to me as I am in a similar position with my 20 month old son. I have been referred to the community paediatrics team but will be 3 months + until we actually see anyone . Like you I am keen to get started doing anything that will help. I have found the website teachmetotalk.com really helpful (discovered it through recommendations on mumsnet). Lots of practical advice with videos and podcasts and also resources to buy. We are having a lot of fun with new play tactics! It's given us lots of new ideas and has given me a much needed focus whilst I'm feeling so worried and useless waiting for an appointment.

Crabbit you've been given some great advice here. I second Hanen, ABA too.

Come over to the Virtual Playgroup here

We've all got toddlers/pre-schoolers with asd or waiting to be diagnosed with/concerns about asd.