Wondering if my toddler may have mild autism or similar?

kerri_gt · 19 April 2014 at 11:33PM

OP, my friends little boy is very gentle in nature, an only child and very clingy to his mum, he did have to go to pre school and play groups due to her returning to work and cried nearly every day going in (she had no choice in the return to work financially) he started school in sept and she was worried sick how he'd be...well lo and behold, not a whine nor a whimper and he loves it. Perhaps it's just him growing up amd being ready to school, of perhaps he finds it easier to manage in a more structured , less boisterous environment.

Regarding the speech, I was late myself so I'm told, used to make the odd noise at my mum which she had to decipher, but never did the one / two word step - just one day started spouting sentences and that was it. The same with walking , walked very late and until then would roll or shuffle on my bum, no crawling until I decided I was totally ready to walk and then that was it.

How is he when people come to the house? Perhaps you could have a good friend he knows come round and then all go out together as a start?

meritaten · 19 April 2014 at 11:37PM

I don't agree with the view that he wont settle in nursery if he doesn't go now. my grandson (who I childmind - the son of the 'clingy one') only entered nursery when he was three. He loved it from day one! he settled in straight away and he is six now and loves school.
its best, in my view, to let them do things in their own time.

yeah, its a bit of a bummer that he wont let you leave him - but, can I suggest that you get a babysitter or friend to mind him at home, now and then for a couple of hours so you can go 'lunch with friends' or have a beauty or hair treatment? just so he gets used to you going and then coming back?

Sequeena · 19 April 2014 at 11:49PM

Your son may benefit from a hearing test. A lot of delays stem from hearing issues. It could be something as simple as glue ear.

As for his other 'issues' it may or may not be normal toddler behaviour only a pediatrician will be able to tell you what is going on.

My son has global developmental delay and other issues including hearing loss, hypermobility, hypotonia and eye issues. He's been 'in the system' since he was 17 months and he's 2 years 8 months now. It's a long process.

easterbunny79 · 20 April 2014 at 12:03AM

thanks again everyone. I have thought about asking someone to watch him for me at our house but I don't feel he's ready yet, if a friend does come round then he usually starts crying. Due to my location and most friends not driving we generally go out to meet people, which is fine as we like to get out-just no shops! my older daughter looks after him while I wash dishes or have a shower and that. Hope it doesn't sound like I'm desperate to put him to groups and leave him etc as that's not the case, he's my little buddy :-) glad to hear people saying their LO's settled in school without playground tho as that makes me feel better. sometimes I do feel he's in a little bubble of his own, I try and sit us down and looks at books or play with toys but he's not interested, he just likes doing his own things in his own ways, usually watching tv, coming over for cuddles, having tickles and taking my hand for a wander round the house...many times a day!

susancs · 20 April 2014 at 7:35AM

He is till very young and all the behaviour you describe can just be that of a 17 month old child, as they are all so different and individual at that age. However if you as his mother (and I always believe a mother is the best expert in relation to their individual child), have concerns, then I would do as you have done and persue it. It can take some time to get a speech therapy appointment so you have nothing to loose in getting the ball rolling.

jetplane · 20 April 2014 at 9:01AM

I agree with susancs, generally no diagnosis is likely before age 2 but an appointment with a speech therapist can take some months, personally I would see how he is at about 20 months and if there is no changes then ask for a referral. However there is no reason not to discuss your concerns earlier if you feel anxious.

I think it is a good thing that we are more aware these days, but sometimes a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. As for google? we start looking for the symptoms and miss other reasons for the behaviour and always seem to find some specialist who can diagnose at 4 months and prevent autism which feeds our emotions. Have you looked on autism.org the national autistic society? They have a helpline and lots of information in one place.

easterbunny79 · 20 April 2014 at 12:04PM

Hi, yes I have looked at that site and also seen that the professionals go by a CHAT questionnaire, going by that he fails on all the questions from a parent point of view, but it could just be his age and that he's not ready to be doing the type of things it's asking about. I used to work with adults that have autism and learning disabilities so I lot of it is already implanted in me which hadn't helped or my concerns (or had, depends how you look at it!)
When we're at home, apart from the lack of communication I'd say that he's just a happy, cheerful little boy...it's mainly when we go out or other people visit that the alarm bells start ringing. if we meet people in town and they try talk to him he's completely unresponsive to them and will cry if they try touch him in anyway or come near him, then they will be kinda shocked at his reaction and make comments about how he's not very sociable etc! he isn't very good with eye contact, he'll look behind me or around me, he does look at me but not that often really, but again il not sure if that's his age or he doesn't feel he needs to? Also it's something I've read about so have been looking for it, but not sure i would have noticed had I not read it!

jaylee3 · 20 April 2014 at 12:10PM

I think also that it's too early to diagnose, and I also think that all children are different, and some children 'don't' talk until some time after others. My neighbour's son never said a word til he was 3 years and 3 months old. He is now 20 and at Cambridge university doing a science degree.

All children are different. I am sure he'll be fine and probably won't have autism.

dizzyblonde82 · 20 April 2014 at 12:28PM

From your posts I would suggest you still go to the GP appointment, they will be able to offer advice and put your mind at ease if they feel he is developing normally.

The symptoms for ASD are so wide ranging so it is difficult to diagnose. As I said my son was diagnosed at 5 but we were told that he was very young to be diagnosed. My son has been to 2 mainstream schools and now is in a specialist school for statemented children.

I spent ages online looking for information and it got me so confused I now don't look unless I have a specific issue I need help/advice with.

stardoman · 20 April 2014 at 2:02PM

I think your son is still very young to be speaking as I'm another whose son did not speak until he was over 2. He did not say any words at all until around 18 months when he made a sound which sounded like "Yes". There was nothing more at all until he was over 2. One day he just came out with a whole sentence and has not stopped talking since!.

Wondering if my toddler may have mild autism or similar?

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