Is an ASD diagnosis important before school

[ABitStretched]

I'm convinced my 4yo ds1 is on the autistic spectrum. He has obsessions and rituals, extreme tantrums if we don't get things quite right, would cry if a stranger talks to him. I've read a little bit about it and he ticks all the boxes. HV has been on the scene ever since he was born because I had PND and PTSD following the birth. We also have medical problems with ds2 so the are keeping a welcome eye on us. I recently suggested ASD to HV and she is convinced the root of the problem is me. She is coming back tomorrow and I am wondering should I push the issue and risk looking totally bonkers / incompetent as a mother or let it slide til ds1 hits school where they will probably pick up on it. How important is it to get a diagnosis asap?

I think you should investigate it further. You are his mother and have a right to find out why he behaves the way he does regardless of what anyone says. Don't worry at how you look to others just be as honest and as objective as you can be.

If he is on the ASD spectrum - the sooner they diagnosis it the better as you will/should recieve support and strategies to help cope with his behaviour - therefore the better you will understand him and he will develop.

Really no harm in checking it out as if he is great - help at hand and if not great at least you know it may be a behavioural issue or something else.

I am actually a paediatric Occupational therapist so I see a lot of austistic and various diagnosis come through the door. I have only come on here to hear what mothers difficuties are and what strategies work for some people as I feel that would make me a better therapist. Although a genuinely encourage mom's to tell me their honest thoughts and feelings - I feel some hold back for fear of looking silly or whatever the reason so if I am on here I feel I have a better insight into their view.

However I can't help everyone (although somedays I wish i could!!!!) and am not always online as working full time and studying further.

I really hope I have reassured you but please go check it out just in case. He would need an ADOS screening.

Good luck

Hi AbitStretched

My DS2 is dx with an asd. He is 8 but was dx when he was 6.

I suppose I feel that early interventon is the ideal way forward. If your DS is on the spectrum ( and I'm not saying that he is) then having a dx prior to school could be very beneficial for him.

It might be helpful to write down all your concerns prior to your meeting tomorrow.

You don't sound bonkers or incompetent, but worried and concerned for your DS. Trust your instincts and good luck for tomorrowx

Thanks. I have been keeping a record of all the things that either concern me or i think are a bit unusual and I am going to show the HV the list as I find it much easier to get my point across in writing and then discuss it rather than just trying to explain myself straight off. I feel bad for him because I have been so tied up with ds2 that I hadn't really been aware of ds1's problems. Once I tuned into his obsessions, rituals and understood I need to help him rather than discipline / control him everything has got a lot more relaxed and happy apart from the odd day when I am tearing my hair out from lack of support / having anyone to talk to.

Don't let your HV sweep your thoughts under the carpet. You are his mother and know him best. Go with your gut feeling and ask to be referred to your local hospitals Chidlrends Development Centre.

My ds2 was dx when he was 2.6, and I would say that early intervention is very important. I don't think Ds2 would have progressed as fast as he has without the help we have received for him.

Another one here saying go with your gut feelings!

I just knew that something was different with my ds3 (he's the youngest of 5 kids so could compare him) but I was told by the GP years ago when I raised concerns that it's probably because he's the youngest in the family and is just spoilt. I phoned parentlineplus one night when I was at the end of my tether and they arranged a CAMHS telephone consultation, where the woman said he possibly had ODD and that was down to inconsistent parenting and a busy household.

I just put up with his behaviour until recently when it started to become even stranger and more difficult to cope with and luckily saw a new GP who referred me straight to a paed, who after just one consultation said that my lad was definitely HFA.

Just really really trust your instincts! No-one knows your child as well as you do. Good luck x

Is he at nursery? Do they have any concerns (I find that if you say "nursery has concerns" they take you more seriously). Also do you get on better with your GP than HV?

as GP should also be able to do the referral.
I would say definitely start looking for referral now, as waiting list in some areas can be quite long, so he might not be seen till he starts school anyway if you get referred now.

othermother - I know of a few kids who initially got misdiagnosed with ODD instead of HFA, at least one by CAMHS.....

I'm so glad that the new GP didn't decide to refer him to CAMHS now! I think he must have suspected autism himself you know.

Oh, and what totalchaos says... say that nursery has concerns.