Suspecting ASD for 20mo

[Ivfgottahope]

Hi everyone, I’m becoming anxious my 20mo is displaying signs of (what I perceive to be) autism and I’ve got a telephone call with the GP in a few weeks as that was the soonest I could get. Firstly, if anyone could outline what I need to do for an assessment following the call that would be hugely appreciated as this is all so new to me and it sounds like it’s a battle from what I’ve seen so far.

In terms of traits, I’ve spent hours on the internet and she’s quite conflicting hence why I’m so unsure whether it’s all in my head. She’s always been quite a whingey baby/toddler, head butts the floor sometimes when tantruming (only a small amount, perhaps 10% of the time), doesn’t respond to her name, doesn’t smile at strangers or us unless we really work for it, sit and listen to stories for more than a few pages and she is still mouthing inanimate stuff. She also doesn’t seem to register my emotion - for example if I ever scold her she giggles. If I try and get her to do a puzzle or something she loses interest very quickly.

She does hold eye contact though, give kisses/hugs, get involved in imaginary play (particularly caring for dolls) and is very verbal - she is way ahead on her speech. She is constantly singing and her word count is amazing. She was behind on gross motor but has quickly caught up.

We’ve had a really rough couple of years as my name could suggest so please nobody see this as me picking fault - I’m truly not - I’d just want to get her intervention as early as possible to help her if required. She’s all I have. I know it’s a spectrum but I’m already imagining the worst and can’t stand the thought of her experiencing troubles in life. I feel like a monster for even being worried about all of this when a few years ago I didn’t ever even see myself as a parent.

I guess my question to anyone reading is - did you know by this age if your child had ASD and how much does it tally with my daughters behaviours?

In some areas you can self refer for an assessment.

Have you spoken to the HV and looked at the MCHAT?

Yes MChat helped me at this age. You can Google it easily. For DD she was clearly in the high risk category when I did that.

Is her speech echolalic ( repeated songs, catchphrases, nursery rythmes) or can she ask and answer simple questions ? If she wants a biscuit or juice - how will she get your attention ?

She’s point and say what she wanted - it’s still just one or two words at this stage. And if she doesn’t get it quickly she’ll cry

It does not sound like autism to me but I am aware the spectrum is very wide now. Imaginary play, pointing and requesting at 20 months are all re assuringly normal though

DS would point and ask for things and could combine the two, but didn't do imaginary play - if it looked like he was, if you actually listened he would be recreating scenes from the Thomas the Tank engine films with the playset of that scene.

I knew my son had ASD from him being about 8 months old. Everyone told me I was a neurotic mother (especially the health visitor) but I just knew. He wouldn't always respond to his name and couldn't follow the direction I was pointing. Very delayed gross motor and speech. People just told me "he'll get there in his own time" and I got sick of hearing it. He did get there with walking at 2 and speech got better around 3 but as soon as he started school his teacher started saying he should be assessed. We're in the process now and they've said he's definitely autistic. I know it couldn't easily have been diagnosed earlier but I wish I'd been taken more seriously at the time

My ds1 could easily have been diagnosed from 12 months onwards probably well justified grave suspicions well before that - but he is severe with severe LDs. A lot of ordinary people (supermarket staff, library staff) routinely asked me if he was unwell or tired. I was puzzled at the time but i now know they were reacting to his lack of engagement and trying to rationalise it in some way.

I honestly could not believe how 'fast' and 'phenonmenal' ds2's development was by comparison and yet he was just average in all areas and I never had any enquiries about his health or energy levels. I think the issue is more that the UK lacks an adequate paediatric system and oh that there is little to go on to once diagnosed......

Hello. My son i 20 months and very similar to your girl.
Does pretend play, points,has many words and does request. Ansewering yes no questions is not amazing but he is starting (where and what questions are good). Follows instructions but has some bad days where he is just not compliant at all. He often zones out (but I can get his attention by saying something like do you want chocolate or so) and not always answer to his name (some days he completely ignores me) even if he calls himself by name (so for sure he knows his name). He also has some kind of visual stimming and lately he is afraid of swings.

Sorry i forgot to add my question. How is your little one doing? Esatto came out of your call with the GP?