New to autism and learning

Hi Skye

Our little boy is 4 and was diagnosed with ASD at age 3 - though we noticed at around 18 months old that he was progressing differently compared to his older brother when he was that age.

Jack didn't make much eye contact and he 'flapped' his arms a lot and rocked when sat on of the sofa. He lost the words that he had learnt to say and would 'disappear' into his own little world.

Once we had flagged up and requested an assessment - the ball rolled so fast we struggled to keep up!! We are so grateful for the early intervention we have received and still are receiving.

I found myself doing an awful lot of research just to make sense of Jack's world and to help us to help him.

We feel we're quite a way down the road now - even at the tender age of 4 years - Jack is learning to speak , he goes to a mainstream nursery school and has one to one care whilst there. He now has a full educational statement in place for nursery and for when he starts mainstream nursery in September.

We worried about his eating habits and behaviour at the table - but chose not to make a big fuss about it - it paid off - he now feeds himself with a fork or spoon and sits with us for all family meals everyday. We have also successfully taken him for meals in restaurants - something we would never have dreamed possible even a year ago! I researched diets and autism and chose to try a gluten and casein free diet for Jack - it has changed him dramatically. I consulted a dietician as I started the diet and she was all in favour as Jack began eating loads of foodstuffs he wouldn't look at before. We are SO proud of him.

It's a challenge but has fantastic rewards. I think some of our 'heartbreak' is the pressure we put on ourselves to be 'perfect parents' and I guess a little sense that we must have done something wrong - which we should know by now is absolutely NOT the case at all.

One of the best things I did for myself and Jack was to remove ourselves from the 'competition' of playgroups, mums and tots etc. We were lucky to have a place at a Portage playgroup and that was just amazing - Jack learnt to sit with other children and take his turn - a skill I couldn't teach him at home.

Your instincts are the best ones for your little girl - the fight (and there'll be plenty) is worth it.

Keep smiling

Sue x 

I wonder what causes a child to regress at 18 months? I heard it is quite common. I did. My mother said I was making grammatically correct sentences then at 18 months I stopped talking. 

I actually do remember a little but not that this regression was a concern. I did feel under pressure to grow up, I do remember that. It was decided the birth of a sibling must have been behind it too, as this was the 60's. There was a belief at the time you can have missed steps of development. 

I wonder what causes a child to regress at 18 months? I heard it is quite common. I did. My mother said I was making grammatically correct sentences then at 18 months I stopped talking. 

I actually do remember a little but not that this regression was a concern. I did feel under pressure to grow up, I do remember that. It was decided the birth of a sibling must have been behind it too, as this was the 60's. There was a belief at the time you can have missed steps of development.