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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

How to diagnose autism in toddlers?

20 replies

batey · 06/10/2004 20:20

I am writing this for my parents as their best friends are concerned for their grandson. He is now 2 1/2, has never spoken or babbled. He has aggressive and difficult behaviour. Makes no eye contact, dosn't play with toys etc. Has very little routine. His parents (h is my old school friend) won't see that their is a problem, until recently (6m) they had another son who is babbling, making eye contact etc.

So how do you go about getting tested? Is there an Autism Society? His hearing springs to my mind too. I think my parents friends want some info so that they can broach the subject next time they go and visit.
I know someone will know, it's at these moments when Mumsnet comes up with the goods. I will apologise now for not replying tonight, as have tonsilitis and a banging head so am off to bed. TIA.

OP posts:

Socci · 06/10/2004 20:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

blossomhill · 06/10/2004 20:36

Here is the CHAT test that is used by many pro's when diagnosing autism in toddlers, usually at 18 months
CHAT test

the website has lots of other useful imformation
HTH

Original poster

batey · 07/10/2004 07:06

Thanks for those links etc. I'll follow them up.Thinking of you Socci.

OP posts:

mrsforgetful · 07/10/2004 09:42

just 'picked up' the bit you said about the child having no routines......People may comment that Autistic peole LIKE ROUTINES....AND HE HASN'T ANY....THEREFORE 'CAN'T BE AUSTISTIC'.....

Well...........IN MY OPINION when a AUTISTIC child is surrounded by NO ROUTINES they cannot cope....and they may show this at a young age as terrible behaviour....my autistic sons in the absence of routines become anxious etc....and the 'worst' behaviour i get from them is when we have a day where we are in and out the house and they can't do things 'the usual way'. So ROUTINES=CALM NO ROUTINES=CHAOS

hope this makes sense!

Just wanted to post this as even if the parents 'follow his cues' for routines they may notice a significant reduction in his stress....and then if they don't follow 'his' routine that he reacts badly then they can 'use' this to explain that he NEEDS ROUTINES.....as well as having a strategie that calms him!

coppertop · 07/10/2004 09:51

I can't do links but I think the NAS site is at:

www.nas.org.uk

There are huge amounts of information on the website about autism.

As for going about getting tested, that really seems to vary according to where you live. Has the little boy had a 2yr development check yet? If so what did the HV say/do when the child didn't speak etc?

The most straightforward route to getting a dx on the NHS is usually to ask a GP for a referral to a developmental paediatrician or a child development centre.

Original poster

batey · 07/10/2004 12:55

Thanks for both of these. I was wondering about the routine thing, and it does make sense Mrs Forgetful. Thanks.

OP posts:

milge · 07/10/2004 20:40

also try childbrain.com - i used this as a basis to get my gp to give me a referral for my dd. she's now on the waiting list for local autism consultant,she turned 2 last week. I keep her and her twin brother in strict routine, and she loves it. my gp was reluctant to refer as she has good eye contact, but child development team observed her for a day,and backed up my request. you really have to push at such an early age, but mothers instinct counts for a lot. good luck.

CleanKittyCat · 10/10/2004 20:28

My ds was 2 1/2 when he was diagnosed with ASD we never noticed it until dd was born when ds was 2. WE noticed that she did things he never did, eye contact, babbled etc.. After only 5 months we got the diagnosis and at first it was very hard to come to terms with but he is now 9 and he is his own person, we wouldn't swop him for the world. We are lucky where we live we have a local Autistic Society who can offer help and support.

ds was assesed by several different specialists over the course of a week, eating, playing, talking general behaviour. He is statemented and is in mainstream school, with LSA support but he copes very well.

If I can be of any further help please let me know. I've been there

mrsforgetful · 11/10/2004 10:54

cleankitty.....you mentioned that your child was observed eating....this is one of if not the worst area of my son's 'undiagnosed' autistic behaviours.

any ideas how i could get someone to take me seriously on the meal time stuff......i'm sure we're going to get a diagnosis....but i really need help on this food stuff....i wondered if an occupational therapist would be the right person?

he's nearly 8 by the way and we end up spoon feediing him so that he eats more than just 2 chocalate spread sandwhiches.

JAKBROWN · 11/10/2004 11:24

Yes, my dd has very tricky mealtimes too. Loves food (obsessively) but spits anything with 'texture' out and does a standing up on chair and spinning round between each mouthful routine. Still totally spoon fed as can't yet grasp feeding herself. I did get advice from a very good private OT and think need her again. Do you want her details? Am I allowed to put specific details on here?

JAKBROWN · 11/10/2004 11:41

Sorry, also, a message for Batey. Can they get referred to a developmental paediatrician through their GP? Also, interesting you mention hearing. From my experience, it is quie common for autistic toddlers to go down the 'hearing' route first. We did as my dd got frequent ear infections and appeared to have hearing problems as didn't respond to her name etc. We had grommets fitted and it was when they made no difference that we got further down the autistm route. Hope this helps

Davros · 11/10/2004 13:07

The eating issues are probably more behavioural than OT related. Is there a behaviour team or psychologist who can give advice? There must be books about it too. I know of one called Can't Eat, Won't Eat that is very good but its ages since I've seen it and can't remember if it goes into mealtime behaviour

JAKBROWN · 11/10/2004 13:15

Funnily enough got behavioural psychologist team coming tomorrow to discuss! Just got DD to sit in chair without being strapped in (sweet as she has very little communication but now sits in chair to demand food! Sound like a small step, but huge for her) and don't really want to go backwards by strapping her in again. Anyway, this thread is not about my situation! Has anybody read George and Sam? Charlotte Moore says in the end she has stopped worrying about food. Think one of her sons virtually lives on Twiglets and another went through a phase of eating breakfast on top of the fridge. She's refreshing.

Jimjams · 11/10/2004 13:53

Can't eat won;t eat is a great book for stopping you worrying abut food (as is George and Sam- loved that chapter). I felt dreaful and quite anxious about ds1's diet until I read Can't Eat Won't Eat and realised that compared to some people his diet isn't a total disaster.

In Ds1's case I think his eating problems are a mix of mild sensory issues but also big behavioural ones. I would like to work on it using ABA at some stage- I do know that that can be successful.....

JAKBROWN · 11/10/2004 14:05

Sounds exactly like my DD. Will deffo get book. Thanks for that!

At my last ABA workshop, our consultant suggested 'ignoring' the wondering around and gently physically prompting DD to sit down if she stands up in chair. Great when you've got support- harder when you've got other child screaming for yoghurt, the house is a tip etc etc...

OT suggested giving DD chewy food so she gets used to idea of 'chewing'. Didn't work. She just methodically spits out each mouthful.

mrsforgetful · 11/10/2004 16:11

CAN'T EAT WON'T EAT- Is excellent- and certainly began to stop me worrying about nutrition....and then George and Sam put a total end to the worries i had.

Now it's more of a feeling that we cannot go anywhere other than mcDonalds to eat- his behaviour/stress/anxiety about food is so extreme that anywhere else is a nightmare.

his problems range from being able to detect the 'wrong' potaoes used for chips- to finger feeding foods which should be ate with a spoon or fork. my husband and i went to a local pub recently which is alongside a canal- and one of the barges is fixed permanently to the side (no rocking around!) and has been set up as part of the restaurant- well the food is lovely....and very 'un-fussy'....and i think he would tolerate the chips....so i picked up the kids menu- and have been talking to him about going there- it's just a pain that we cannot be daring and just eat anywhere- but i suppose it's the same for many people who have allergies etc....they cannot just go anywhere.

Also i struggle with the behaviour he shows when it's mealtime....my husband has zero patience and says that 'if we gave him sweets he'd eat them no problem'....but then with sweets there are still 'rules' that he has developed- and he is very reluctant to try even new sweets.

CleanKittyCat · 11/10/2004 16:12

I found that the best way to get ds to eat anything was give him anything he wanted, if this means he lives on pizza for a week then fine. He now eats just meat and broccoli with the ocassinal chocolate sandwich/cereal.

The OT team will look at this aspect of the diagnosis as will the psych team. As for the texture thing I just fed him allsoft stuff and gradually introduced lumps, (just like when baby) It amy be one of those problems that yo will never get over sorry. But your autistic peadiatition (?) should be able to give you definate advice

HTH

JAKBROWN · 11/10/2004 16:47

Blimey, it's an interesting one! My DD can't tell me what she likes- just spits it out if she doesn't! (effective communication, I suppose...). Have to admit I have resorted to pureeing up food despite OT's suggestion to give her 'bits of chicken' etc...
Mrs Forgetful- my friend has a DD with AS who is similarly picky about food. I want to recommend mumsnet to her- think she would get alot of support.

mrsforgetful · 11/10/2004 20:29

he's sat here at this very minute 'reacting' to the different cup i've put his last-drink-of-the-day in- i still get 'caught out' when i foolishly think 'he won't mind' something- then he does! Asperger's may be classed as 'mild' autism (???!!*!!!????) but i would say the disruptions are 'little and often' which still wears me out!

CleanKittyCat · 11/10/2004 20:34

AS mild and often? ds's are infrequent and wild. It takes quite a lot to start him but when he does light blue touch paper and back away!!

Any parent with ASD will tell you that it is VERY exhausing no matter what end of the spectrum they are on.

BTW doncaster has just started up a helpline for parents and carers for children on the autistic spectrum. anyone want the number?

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