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Just want to know I'm not alone....Any advice please??

Mummyof2

Hello All,

My 2 1/2 year old has been assessed by a team at an early intervention centre and they have said he has sensory problems and other things. It was not a formal diagnosis, I have had to book a private assesment as the waiting list is around 15 months where I am :'( I will just go over what he does to see if anyone else has experience of this stuff and is it just him being a normal toddler:

- Spits what he drinks down his front or lets it dribble down

- Spits out food then eats it again

- Chews his nails and clothing

- bites when he's excited playing and giving hugs

- Hand flaps on tip toe when he is really really happy/excited or when he's about to get very upset

- Screams and throws himself down (to the point of self injury) when we are leaving somewhere he likes to be

- Doesn't like his baby sister touching anything he deems to be his, he'll even take toys of me sometimes.

- does funny blinking and head shaking and will sometimes look at me out of the corner of his eye.

- if music comes on he likes he'll just spin round and round sometimes covering his eyes.

- He mainly will walk away to eat a snack on his own in his room or go away to play alone.

The thing is I'm not sure as to whether he IS actually AS or not. Like he'll come up to me and say 'Hi Mummy' or 'Hi Mate' when I say to him to say hi to someone. If he want's help or for me to get something he'll pull my hand and say 'come on mummy' Like if we are around at toddler group he ignores the other kids but the mums there have said that is normal for a toddler... so it's making me so confused. Anyone able to say this is typically autistic or do you think it's just him being a crazy toddler?? I have a pretty strong feeling that it's going to be AS but just want a bit of reassurance.

Thanks xxxx

  • I find with a lot of people that they all assume autism is just a social interaction only thing, when in fact it affects a lot more than just social interaction.  I'm on the spectrum and I'm not shy, I'm just choosy about who I speak to and I have no problem going up to a stranger and saying something random (as long as I know what I'm going to say, I can't improvise).  Autism can also include sensory issues, anixety problems, repeating the same things over and over again, need for routine, etc.  It's called a spectrum for a reason.  Most people who meet me occasionally would say I seem fine, or 'normal', but family and people who see me on a daily basis know that it isn't the case, so I would go with your own instincts rather than that of people you see occasionally.

  • Hi PieceofPie and Mummyof2 - sounds like we are all in a fairly similar situation - my son is 2yrs 4 months and we have just started the road to diagnosis.  Ive felt incredibly lonely these last 6 months - if you do fancy some mutual support my email is [personal details removed by moderator].

    great advice from outraged as usual Smile

  • My son is 2yrs9 months and has been diagnosed with autism. I knew that he wasn't developing typically from about 18 months too. I second the advice to find a good support group. My local one is excellent, though sometimes it is a little scary to hear some possibilities for the future. Just remember every child with asd is different. Your boys behaviour is in some ways quite similar to that of my little boy.

  • Are you in contact with a support group? You can search for one located in your region on the community page. Membership in such a group is recommended; you will learn much to help your child and it offsets any feeling of isolation.

  • And also through a support group you will find other children who are ASV that your son can be with as he gets older. I'm firmly of the opinion that we benefit from contact with our own kind.

    As he grows find your son positive role models for being autistic. You sound like a great parent but the world will do its best to make your son feel he has a disorder and doesn't fit

  • Hello,

    No you haven't been offensive at all, I think perhaps I was Undecided I logged off and went to bed lol I simply meant I knew there was something wrong with his development. I love that little boy soooo much and I am just really keen to start learning more and helping him Smile I'm new to all this so I am terrified, but slowly I am embracing it and know that I actually wouldn't have my little guy any other way. He's fantastic just the way he is Laughing

    Thanks xxxx

  • have i caused offence again? i ask because i frequently have, and you disappeared from the activity list shortly after i posted. Please be assured I meant no offense and dont know what may have caused such. This is symptomatic of my ASV. Please don't be put off this helpful community by my personal failings...

  • As I say, nice spot...early intervention gives your child the best chance of success and social inclusion. Please be aware however that many of us on the spectrum object to having our ASV's categorised as "something wrong"...Autism has its positive as well as negative traits but society, being institutionally obsessed with social conformity (for reasons i've detailed elsewhere), presents a squed picture of the condition. For the good of your childs future self-esteem, you need to be careful in your choice of language regarding the condition as we tend to notice detail and take speech very literally.

    Read this to observe how a condition can be represented unduely negatively: 

    http://isnt.autistics.org/

  • Thanks Outraged, I have known something wasn't right for a while (since he was 18 months actually). He was talking very late, wasn't pointing things out or showing me toys, wasn't saying mummy or daddy and the worst was that he was saying some little things and suddenly it all disapeared one day :S When I noticed that I took him straight to GP and that started the ball rolling. I know they say you should never compare your babies to others. But you actually really do! (give or take a few months) otherwise how would  first time mummy and daddy know? Thank you for your reply xx

  • Quite clear indications of Autism. Well done spotting early.