Hi
I am a worried Nanny
My 2 year old grandson is showing signs of autism and I dont feel like anyone is taking our concerns serious
He isnt talking, he doesnt interact very well, he doesnt like a hug, he keeps flapping his hands, he doesnt respond to you when you talk to him
Can anyone please help and advise
Many thanks in advance x
Hi, I'm new here as well, newly diagnosed with autism, and I'm not sure that I've got anything to offer here but I just wanted to say hi really and just extend a bit of moral support. There are others on here with more experience and knowledge but what came to mind to me was to maybe join a local support group for parents of children on the spectrum. I'm just thinking they would be able to not only offer support and discuss your concerns with you but they will most likely know what is happening in your area etc and they will definitely take you seriously. The support group I just joined has parents of children on the spectrum and many of them are not yet diagnosed or they failed the assessment. They get a tremendous amount of benefit by being in the group where other parents and people on the spectrum share their experiences and tips etc.
There are information pages on this website and there might be older posts that share a similar concern. I feel for you, as a newly diagnosed autistic person I am quickly finding out how much misunderstanding is out there, in the medical profession and in general. Have you tried more than one GP?
I sincerely hope you get the support you need, it sounds like you're doing everything within your power. Maybe read up on the early signs of autism and ways in which you can help your grandson and his parents.
Thank you for the warm welcome
I just want to.help and support my daughter and more importantly my beautiful grandson x
You are, trust me, you are already supporting her a great deal, just acknowledging, accepting and doing everything you can to support your daughter and grandson is so valuable and you will find the support you need. Have faith and know that you're doing a tremendous job and make sure your needs are getting met as well, who is supporting you? You will find the support when your intention is rock solid, and you are already a great support. To have my family even acknowledge my autism would be so wonderful. In fact, my dad did actually ask me the other day what autism is, so I gave him Tony Attwood's book on Asperger's Syndrome, and that means the world to me, to have him ask me about it. Your daughter and grandson are blessed to have you.
Hi NAS35244,
You might want to have a look at our 'Diagnosis for Children' page here on the site, where you can find information about the process for getting an autism diagnosis. The normal way is to book an appointment with a GP who will refer you to a specialist for diagnosis if they believe there are signs of ASD. The link is here: http://www.autism.org.uk/about/diagnosis/children.aspx
Something you and your daughter can start doing before you see a doctor is to keep a diary of any unusual or concerning behaviour you see in your grandson, so that you have a record when talking to the GP.
Best wishes,
Ross - mod