4 year old obsessed with numbers

[Hotchocolatesnow]

He doesn’t have a diagnosis yet, but I’m pretty certain he does have ASD or old style Aspergers.

He gets so focused on numbers that you can’t interact with him.
His speech and understanding are fine in general.
But he gets so focused on counting (today it was to 5000 before school!) and doubling numbers/doing any kind of maths, you can’t seem to distract him or change course.

One of the teachers in his class noted that he finds it tricky to communicate with other children when he’s so focused on counting/numbers, even if they want to interact with him. It’s like he has tunnel vision.

Other times he’ll play quite happily with friends and run around with them, join in with their games.

He counts / focuses on numbers from the very moment he wakes up in the morning until bedtime. He absolutely adores numberblocks and wants to watch it all the time. He’ll draw each character too and colour them in.

Sometimes you can get him onto another subject for a short time, but then he’ll go straight back into it again. Other times, there’s just no distracting him.

Has your DS ever seen a speech and language therapist? Speech and language therapy isn't just about helping DC to talk but they also help with social communication/interaction.
Your DS's school/nursery may be able to help with a referral if not.

My DS has ASD and he has very specialised interests. He likes to talk to himself about evolution while pacing up and down. I think it helps him to decompress and self-regulate. It sounds like your DS may be using number patterns in a similar way.

My DS is older than your's and things have got a bit better now. I tell him he can tell me 'three facts about dinosaurs' and then he needs to ask me a question about my day etc. It is a struggle though!

Is your DS actually on the pathway for an ASD assessment?

No he’s not on the pathway. To be honest we hadn’t noticed anything major until recently.

He spoke early, smiled early, walked early. Had his 2 year review and they were hugely impressed with him and his abilities.
Then covid came along , but he’s always been one for talking constantly, into everything, no major sleep or eating issues. Nothing has been a huge red flag, except numbers and being very good at them. He also taught himself to read and is now way above his peer level in that too.

I’m up against his dad and dad’s family as they just see him as very clever. And there’s ‘nothing wrong’ I just want to ‘label him’.

@Toomanyminifigs

Is your son in mainstream? If so, how’s he getting on?

God bless Numberblocks. 'More to Explore' should be on the West End.

Manipulables are helpful here - as well as the numberblocks toys on 5 minutes of fun, try numicon or (my favorite) cuisinaire rods. Get him into board games too. And look at the Nrich website for ideas about maths.

He sounds fabulous.

My son is at secondary school now. He's in a specialist autism unit attached to a mainstream school. He has a classic 'spikey profile' in that in some areas, he's years ahead of his peers academically but he still can't tell the time or get his thoughts on paper in a way that means he will pass GCSEs.

Your DS is still very young. IF he does have autism, it may become more apparent as he gets older. At 4, my DS was playing alongside his classmates. It was around Yr4 that the social differences started to become really apparent as the other children's interactions become more complex/mature.

I would say to people that say a diagnosis a 'label' - would they say same about a child who had diabetes or was hearing impaired? Knowing where a person needs some adjustments/support means they are more likely to thrive.

Your DS may not have autism. Apparently I taught myself to read at 3. It's good that you are open to the possibility though and it sounds like you're a great parent.

If also sounds like his class teacher is also 'on the ball' which is good. As I said before, it may be worth seeing if you can get a Speech and Language referral anyway. They may be able to offer small group interventions to help with develop social skills.