dd1 is 4, nad dx'd ASD. No idea where she is severity-wise. She has a severe speech delay, and can at times present as NT if the environment allows, but at other times she is very clearly autistic.
- Wants environment the same
No. She is very happy to go anywhre/do anything, as long as a familiar adult is with her, and preferably gives her an explanation. She did use to have a meltdown if we changed eg her toothbrush (try putting on your internet order that the toothbrush must be green!) but not so anymore.
- Avoids change in daily routine
Happy to change, where necessary. We live quite a routine life (eg toddler group every Thurs) but if we have to change (went to the hospital last thurs instead of toddler group, have ABA consultant this Thurs instead of toddler group) then there is no major problem. she may need a lot of reminding ove rthe morning why we aren't there, but happily accepts the change.
- Has obsessions
Not really. She has a few noises she makes and wants repeated, but you can get away with not doing them. She also holds books and small objects to her nose as though smelling them(but she isn't) - this started with some small magnets that did smell, and ha carried on as a reflex habit, i think.
- Doesn't understand the feelings of others
gets happy and sad, but little else. She knows if dd2 is upset (and also is affected all the more so if it is her fault) and will occasionally give her something to make her better - dd2's comfort toy eg. she will laugh along with you at a joke, and share enjoyment
5.Overreacts to noise
Yes. she is sensitive to some noises (crying especially) and is wary when her envionment is noisy. She covers her ears if it gets too loud (but also does when unsure), but there is no massive overreaction.
6.Does not seek the company of others
constantly seeks out company and attention form familiar adults (mostly family, but she likes her SALT and will keep coming back to attract attention, and also her keyworker at pre-school, ABA consultant and tutor), and has begun to try to get dd2's attention (gives her a PECS card and tells her what the picture is/hands over a book or toy - usually when dd2 doesn't want it, though!) She has started randomly saying hello to people in shops when she is bored, as well.
7.Does not make eye contact
makes very good eye contact with family and people well known to her. her strength of eye contact is more related to whatis happening than eye-contact issues. If you are focusing on her, she gives very good eye contact. If it is a more general situation (at the shops, large family gathering, etc) then she is not so good - maybe finds it hard to switch between talking to you/not talking to you?
- Seems distant
if not being actively engaged, she can drift off a bit, but usuallycomes back every couple of minutes to get you to read a book/sing a song.
- Engages in stereotypical behaviour
she does like bouncing off chairs, and pacing/running up and down, but she can be distracted away form these.
10.Has problems in his/her eating routine
has always had a strong preference for routine at mealtimes, but until recently has been easy to cater for. would eat several different main courses, and I could always vary what was in them as long as the overall look was similar (eg spag bol with any veg in it, curry with different meats,e tc). Now a complete nightmare - not eating anything except snacks. Has huge issues with drinking when younger, but seems to be ok for now - will drink juice and recently a couple of different innocent smoothies.
- Has temper tantrums
never.
- Has sleeping problems
no. she can take a while to settle, but then sleeps thorugh until morning (usually asleep by 9pm atthe very latest, through until 7am at the earliest)
- Does not seek physical contact with others
always wants a cuddle, or to hold hands when walking. if we have to wait somewhere (not always possible, but when it is...) she will be found leaning on me, glued to my leg.
- Does not get attached to a person
is incredibly attached to me - her biggest problems are with leaving me/me leaving her. she does go into pre-school happily, though, so as long as it is a regular leavetaking she is fine. she ahs never got over dh going back to work when she was little (dh was at home form when she was 5 months, to about 17 months ish, and she totally preferred him in that time) and now finds it hard to relax with him at weekends (does not see him in the week) because she knows he is going away again... has good relations with pre-school workers, and her ABA tutor and consultnt 9asks for him all the time, but has only seen him 4 ties so far!)
- Makes slumsy movments
clumsy? yes. quite often trips over her own feet, and can bump into furniture etc.
- Does not have self-care skills
yes, she has no self-care skills. can help getting dressed, but would not know where to start if left alone. still in nappies, and obliges with teeth cleaning etc, but again, it has not ocurred ot her to do it herself.
- Does not play with objects
will play with some toys well - shape sorters/inset puzzles. likes magnets - so blocks, and even magnetic books - she will put animals in the right place on the farm etc. can play ball well, and is beginning to play a version of coits. has apparently started feeding dolls at pre-school, but I have yet to witness this.
- Does not develop speech
she has a severe speech delay. started speaking jargon from about 18 months, but only really intelligable to me - dh struggled (although english not his native language, so I think that hindered him). clear words form 2.4 ish, then single words came thick and fast. has a huge vocab. can learn entire books/songs, even quite lengthy ones. has quite a number of learned phrases which she uses to get by at pre-school, and is beginning to put words together on her own - usually by changing learned phrases, so "here we are at home" has recently expanded to "here we are at XXXX (pre-school)" and "here we are at the shops", and, just yesterday (an hour after we left home, which waswhen we last mentioned where we were going) "here we are at the zoo"
- Presents problems in his her physical appearance and health
she did have a few ear infections when younger, and has some gut issues, but nothing major.
- Has hearing problems
it was thought she did when younger, but she doesn't. she just chooses not to hear sometimes.
- Does not have feelings
no. she has clear emotions, but cannot always articulate them. recently, she was stroppy all afternoon with her ABA tutor (tutor had not been at pre-school on the Wednesday afternoon, when the previous week she had). I twigged this might be the cause, and said to her "dd1, it is not X's fault she wasn't at pre-school. it is ok to be cross, but she was not meant to be there today. she has come to play with you now instead. within a couple of minutes, dd1 has gone across with a book for her tutor to ead to her (had refused to stay in the room with her until that point). she shows emotions readily if she is hurt or happy.
- Has hallucinations
no.