Health vistr thinks he's autistic what now?

[dukester]

My ds is 3 years old and the nusery staff have been concerned over his devlopment, the nuserys senco even agreed with me when i said I think hes autistic. So yesterday we went to see the health vistor and she said unoffically that she thinks hes on the spectrum too. So we have been reffered to see the peaditrican. So what now That appointment will take a while to come through, so in the mean time what should I be doing for him my friend said dont try and stop him spiining thimgs because it calms him down. where as the health vistor says distract him. What do you guys think. I would be gratefull for any help or advice with this because I havent a clue.

I have just been reading my emails and discovered one off the universty where I was meant to be beging my degree in september. Is it totally unrealsitic off me to consider going now? OH and salt friend think I should go what do you guys think.

Please excuse my terrible spelling.

Re the spinning. Mine loved spinning - could spend hours in front of a washing machine and would spin them and wheels and himself etc.etc. Anyway, he used to roll around his room and spin at school. Now he is 12 he just bounces around and around his trampoline and that's it. He will still give the washing machine a bit of a look at times. I found the stimming thing disconcerting and, like you, was in a quandary as to whether to allow him to do it or not. It is definately stress relief for him. So I let him but tried to discourage him from watching the washing machine for too long or only put it on at night. He used to love toilets as well (think it might be the spinning of the water) and would ask to go to the loo if we were out all the time - I think I got to know every public loo in our local area and. Well that's gradually improved and virtually stopped (thank heavens) even to the point this holiday when we did the whole 'does anyone need the loo before we go into the caves' - he said NO - he didn't need to!! AND we went to his friend's house and he walked past the washing machine and tumble dryer without looking at either or asking my friend about them (yipeeee).

Re the degree thing. How much support do you have for you and your children - because you will need child free time to write essays and things. I think if you really want to do your degree I should go for it. It will also give you something else to think about because it is very easy to become a bit obsessed about the ASD thing and just focus on that and your child.

All the best