Final app - been told son doesnt not have autism but could be ADHD. Help

Looking for some advice. SORRY FOR THE LONG POST! Since my son was just over 2 I had concerns regarding autism, there a few children in my family with ASD. Some family members agreed with me and others didn’t. A few months later the nursery raised their concerns with myself, and I told them about mine. They helped with the referral. We had his feedback appointment yesterday, the speech and language therapist took the meeting as the paediatrician was running late in another meeting so could not attend.
In the meeting the speech and language therapist made many comments on how good is social skills and eye contact were, this was not a concern we raised at all. I said from day my son had ok social skills and good eye contact. The issues both myself and the nursery raised was rigid routines and dealing with change, not able to initiate play, some small sensory issues, repetitive patterns of play and sometimes we can have extreme reactions to minor things.


Throughout the meeting, the speech and language therapist commented on how the paediatrician thought my son showed many signs of autistic traits. The autism team do not want to see him again and have said there is no diagnosis of autism, however the paediatrician would like to see him in 8 months’ time just after he starts school.

The speech and language therapist did mention is attention. The comments on the letter  -  Lewis was not challenging in any way but he presented with considerable impulsivity and inattention, he was frequently up and down out of his chair or swinging back and forwards on it. He is quite a concrete thinker i.e. saying that’s not a carrot that’s pen during the play session. Lewis development in social skills are generally a little immature. He has a significant difficulties with attention and impulsivity and he clearly has a strong drive to be up and active. These difficulties are impacting on his social interaction as he finds difficult to sustain attention.

She believes he could possibly have ADHD, but also stated as has only 4 his attention could get better with age.

I am annoyed the paediatrician did not attend the meeting I would like to have had her thoughts more so because she has asked to see him again. Now I am more confused than I was before. Anyone been in a similar position or could offer advice?

Parents
  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Firstly, if he has good social skills and makes good eye contact then that would suggest the he is less likely to have autism.

    It sounds as though he does need some help though and I think that the best thing to ssuggest at this point is that you really try to emphasise the parenting style that best suits most children (including a child with autism). The key phrase that I have heard discussed is to use "positive reinforcement" which means rewarding success and occupying him with activities that can build his confidence and be rewarded. If he does something bad then he should be quietly and firmly told not to do it but you need to move him on to the next activity without raking over the bad behaviour. en.wikipedia.org/.../Reinforcement

Reply
  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Firstly, if he has good social skills and makes good eye contact then that would suggest the he is less likely to have autism.

    It sounds as though he does need some help though and I think that the best thing to ssuggest at this point is that you really try to emphasise the parenting style that best suits most children (including a child with autism). The key phrase that I have heard discussed is to use "positive reinforcement" which means rewarding success and occupying him with activities that can build his confidence and be rewarded. If he does something bad then he should be quietly and firmly told not to do it but you need to move him on to the next activity without raking over the bad behaviour. en.wikipedia.org/.../Reinforcement

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