?Aspergers in a pre-schooler

[LaDiDaDi]

My dd is 3.5 and a delight but there are various things about her that make me wonder if she has Aspergers/HFA (but never had a language delay).

I have wondered if I also have Aspergers or at least some traits; I manage well socially now but I feel strongly that I have learnt social rules rather than them being innate to me.

No one else has mentioned the possibility of a "problem" with dd, including the pre-school that she attends every morning, although other family members do comment on her being a real "little charachter" etc in ways that I identify as possibly representing Aspie traits iyswim.

To confuse me further I have professional experience of children with ASD and I sometimes wonder if I'm seeing things that aren't there (in dd) because my awareness is heightened by my experiences at work. In addition I'm not sure that I can see the value in persuing an assessment/diagnostic label now when I feel that we can offer her appropriate support ourselves though then I worry that we are doing her a disservice by taking a wait and see approach. I suppose partly I don't want other professionals to think that I'm overreacting to nothing and that when she starts Reception in September school may either help me to confirm my worries.

I'd appreciate any thoughts or experiences. TIA.

"In addition I'm not sure that I can see the value in persuing an assessment/diagnostic label now when I feel that we can offer her appropriate support ourselves though then I worry that we are doing her a disservice by taking a wait and see approach".

TBH I don't think there would be any harm in having your DD further assessed by a developmental paediatrician. Many preschools would not spot many potential problems anyway, they're not really trained enough to do so besides which they aren't really looking for such things.

You can and do offer appropriate support at home but unfortunately school is full of rules both written and unwritten. How will she manage with the social side of things particularly as she gets older?.
Statements as well are not just for educational needs, they are also for social and communication difficulties as well. I would seriously consider applying for a Statement before she goes into Reception. With that in place, the school will have a definitive record of her difficulties and it may even go some small way to making her school life that much easier. I would certainly consider applying for such a doc sooner rather than later.

I always see a "label" as a signpost to getting more help. My son's a bit older than your DD and I also see "no dx/label" children in schools getting no support whatsoever, well much of any value that is.

Our pre school saw the signs but didnt put 2 and 2 together, but dd1 was dx in June at the age of 6years. I see some traits in DD2, things like hand flapping, spinning but looking where (hard to exlain), linning things up, playing alone, screaming if a child comes near her and long level of concentration. She is 2 btw. At this time we are still not sure how to move forward either, and toddler age is very hard to dx unless language delay imo.
I would be tempted to say, write a daily diary, get the video camera out and wait and watch. Call HV if your worried, but i would gather evidence before any appointments.
HTH

Good post Atilla

AS rarely gets picked up before school,I assume becuase of the no-language-delay element (that may be changed in new diagnostic criteria apaprenlty but I only get hints and never actual facts- also suggestions that they are looking at dropping AS for a blanket ASD dx, but won't know for over a year yet).

But IME if you know about ASD etc then you can certainly spot kids who may be heading down that route early on, I have done with accuracy (child recently received a dx aged 6), and I would palce money on my 20 month old having AS at some level from his habits etc.

I'm very pro DX with AS becuase of the tollkit it gives you; statements are avialable later on 9and you cannot predict if they will be needed- at preschool ds1 was being pushed by his teacher twowards a private on a sponsored place as he seemed so bright, now he is statemented with a potentialpalce in an AS unit at 11).

Most kidswith AS don't need a statement but having the dx there doesn't mean you need to utilise it or anything, but it is helpful to have.

(when I say most kids with as don't need.... I should really say don't get-many need,for a variety of reasons)

My 6yr-old was dx'ed with AS as a young pre-schooler.

I would say that AS can often be a case of 'now you see it, now you don't'. Things can change very quickly so I would be wary of assuming that your dd will continue to cope as well as she is now. I don't say that to scare you but more as a caution from bitter experience.

My ds went from "I almost can't believe he's got AS. We haven't seen any problems" for the first 12-18mths of pre-school to "We don't know what to do with him. We've never seen him like this before!" in the space of just a few days. There were no obvious triggers for the change and all I could get out of ds was that he was bored.

Having a dx in place (if your dd does have AS) can be useful. There are so many extra elements for a child with AS to cope with when they start school. Things like working in pairs and groups, life in the playground, lunchtime, sitting in assembly etc can all be a minefield.

Ds followed a similar pattern when he started school. Surprise that he had AS as he had no problems to "I can certainly see it now!" when something triggered ds' anxiety.

Waiting lists can be so long in some areas that even if a school notices that there's a potential problem, it can be a long time before a proper assessment is carried out.

I would also say that when a child is at school the amount of support you can realistically give is reduced. I have worked with ds on various issues and strategies at home to prepare him for situations at school, but I can't physically be there to prompt and remind him.

I like the idea of keeping a diary too. It can be useful not only as evidence but also as a way of spotting any patterns with particular issues or behaviours.

DD 3.6 has just been diagnosed with ASD. We are hoping to get 1:1 for her when she starts nursery full time in the new year. The school have been brilliant and will be applying for a statment for her but I believe this can take around 6 months.

Children on the spectrum have different needs my DD has main problems in speech, socialization and motivation so I know she will struggle if she does not have 1:1.

I believe early intervention is critical it certainly cannot do any harm.

I still don't think I have accepted DD's issues. I keep thinking she is just a little behind her peers and will possibly catch up in another 18 months (hmm)

But on the other hand I am glad we have diagnosis as it means DD gets help

Also - she was at pre-school for 14 months but they never mentioned any serious concerns to me!

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

I will mull it over a bit over the Xmas period. I've just started mat. leave lately so will observe her a bit more closely than previously in group social situations and then decide how to take things forwards next year.

I may well come back to ask for more advice .

We picked up on dd1's AS when she was 2.5, but really i knew before then that something was different about dd1. Nursery didn't pick up on it, they just thought she was awkward and sensitive.

The thing that made me take her to the GP was her phobias, she had a phobia of any female (apart from me) which was starting to become a problem (we couldn't go anywhere without dd screaming), as soon as Aspergers was mentioned i knew she had it.

Dd1 was diagnosed when she was 4, she's now almost 6 and has very few AS traits, she's still sensitive and has AS traits but none that causes huge problems, she fits in well at school and is doing well but i am still please that she has a Dx (incase she needs any help in the future).

DD 3.6 (ASD) seems to have a phobia? with other adults. Does not mind being around them but when they talk to me she starts crying hysterically. Sometimes she can tolerate other females it usually men that set her off. She also is going through a phase of hating anyone coming into our house again cries a lot - even with familiar people.

Does anyone know if this is common in ASD or can it be just a typical toddler phase. Has anyone experienced anything similar - I feel like this is taking over my life has been going on for about 8 months now

Sorry have posted the above in the wrong thread - have started a new discussion