Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi all , am here to ask some advice my daughter is 6 weeks off being 2 years old and showing many signs of autism my health vistor has sent a referral to a developmental PED and that was 9 weeks ago I emailed them today to ask and see were the referral was up too and there response was shes awaiting an appointment and waiting times are approximately around 32 weeks. Well hearing this I am so stressed out thinking am going to have to continue to struggle for that long with not knowing anything in what to do to help my daughter and just trying to self diagnose her myself am driving myself crazy in second guessing in whats going on with her and what things I can do to support her as she's
Not speaking any words but used to say dada and baba
Never responds to her name
Not pointing or making gestures in any way to express her needs
She runs up and down and climb on everything
Spins and arm flaps
Like hanging upside down
Bangs head off everything and bites
Almost everything goes in her mouth
Runs on tip toes
Doesn't play with toys correctly just gathers them in a group or pairs and runs around with them in her hands or chews on them
She rocks back and forward on her knees
Doesn't make eye contact
Only likes cuddles and kisses on her own accord which is hardly ever
She won't really sit still for more then a couple of minutes even if engrossed watching something
The list can go on and on there is probably more I just would like some ideas or help please or if any one knows how I could get this 32 week waiting time down
Thanks for reading sorry am just a worried mum looking for answers
Remember that behaviour is language.
Rocking, hand flapping, biting and banging her head are all signs of inner distress, most likely anxiety included.
Autistic people are more sensitive to stimuli, so it can be helpful to remove any irrelevant stimulants from the environment as it's possible her physical senses are heightened or reduced, considering not making contact her sense of touch may be effected.
Concerning speaking, lots of autistic adults have shared they stopped speaking because they couldn't tolerate the world, it was too overwhelming for them.
All you can do for now is try and make a sensory safe environment and imitate your daughter instead of getting your daughter to imitate this world, don't force eye contact.
Look at some other resources here and if you can join any Autism Facebook Communities try and Autistic adults will share their experiences and how they overcame and learnt to cope.
When you're suffering and thinking "I need help," it's natural to want and need to talk to someone about your problems. Everyone needs a listening ear sometimes. When you can't find someone to talk to, it can be painful. Understandably, you would want to vent to a friend or loved one about what you're experiencing. myaarpmedicare.com As much as others care, you are the one who ultimately has to handle your challenges. That might sound scary but think of it as an empowering statement. You have the tools to change your life for the better. That doesn't mean you can't ask for help and you can. The dialogue about mental health is changing rapidly, and people are more apt to speak about their problems and needs.
Hi NAS75133,You might want to have a look at some of the resources here on the NAS site, like the guide to pre-diagnosis for parents and carers here - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis/pre-diagnosis/parents-and-carers - or the guide to the diagnostic assessment here - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis/diagnostic-assessment/parents-and-carers It may be possible to get referred to another service like a speech and language therapist while you are waiting, or you could ask your GP or health visitor about an M-CHAT (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers) screening. This will not give you a diagnosis, but it is a way of indicating whether your child may be autistic. There is more information in the links above. Hope this is of some help, Ross - mod