LisaKaz75

thanks for this! I know that the paediatrician has collated information from the specialist childrens centre, nursery and speech therapists Will let you know how I get on LisaKaz

My little boy has his ADOS assessment in 2 weeks time Can you tell me will they tell us there on the day whether it is thought he is on the spectrum or not?? Its one of those things I am really not looking forward to - someone saying the words Lisakaz

thanks again We have been really fortunate so far. Leo was referred to a paediatricain in Dec 09, who immediately did chromosome and genes testing as Leo is an IVF baby and I could not get it out of my head that there may be a link. This was proved unfounded. However, due to general delays in development, constant toe walking and what I call crab hands - we were referred to community paediatrics The community paediatrician met him a few times, referred him to SALT, audiology and asked for him to go to a childrens centre a few hour a week, where they could carry out a more in-depth analysis of behaviour. The centre have been great! and not only work with him, have helped me locate pre-school provision, visited all facilities with me and initiated IEP and AIs within weeks of him starting! They also give me parent support and advice regarding ASD The regular meetings with commuinity Paed. and the centre formed the reasoning behind his Bayleys test and the results from this and feedback from others involved in his care have driven forward the ADOS assessment. Yes he is young, but the centre beleive its best to have as much support as possible in the next 2 years, before he starts primary school The preschool he attends, although linked to a primary school, is well geared to children with special needs and I was able to meet children and a parent of another autistic child before I enrolled him their. So feel have made the right decision on that score for now Just the waiting for the ADOS - which I am dreading. Although we are expecting the diagnosis, we are both dreading someone saying the words that our child in autistic Thanks and will let you know how we get on LisaKaz

thanks for all that information and so quickly too!! Not sure about the statement thing, was told that East Cheshire not doing them, as it was costing a lot legally, but I think they do something in its place? Leo only been in preschool setting for 7 weeks, but we have suspected and ASC for some time and was already in the system. We are not expecting a problem getting the funding for a key worker, just may be later then Jan due to the slow process of collating medical reports I am at the childrens centre tomorrow where he has weekly assessment, so will ask again about the statement thanks again LisaKaz

My son is 3, and has not had a formal diagnosis as yet. He has had the Bayleys score assessment which puts him at low average and low fine motor skills, and we hope to have his ADOS before or just after Christmas At the moment he attends 2 mornings at preschool, and this will increase to his funded 15 hours a week from January. We are very new to all of this and things seem to be happening in a bit or a whirl for us. We seem to have a preschool manager who is very on the ball, (who is also the SENCO) who has completed his first IEP and we get support from a childrens centre too; who last week with the nursery carried out a Action for Inclusion plan. In short the nursery are happy to have Leo, but he needs some one to one at key times and this leaves them short at some occasions. So we are applying for some funding to get him a key worker. Am happy with this as the main thing with Leo is social interaction and integration. We have seen improvement in this in the last 7 weeks and think this could improve. Also he has no recognition of danger and outside play is an issue and he is always on his toes, not looking where he is going, and on climbing equipment he has no comprehension of falling. My question is should we be doing more. In our area Cheshire they do not carry out statements so not aware of any thing else we can do It all seems such a lot for a little boy that has just turned 3! But everyone insists that he has 2 years at preschool and its important to do as much as possible ready for his progression to primary school (in whatever format that may be) Any advice or thoughts to 2 parent who are having to be fast learning, would be very gratefully received LisaKaz

thanks everyone! A lot of what you have said is good common sense and I know a lot it to be honesst, just have those days where I have more worry than others I honestly think that Leo would go without food, he had never asked for it! And someone said about smell - he has a very keen sense of smell, he sniffs food, drink, toys, clothes everything. So any new food e.g wholemeal bead would be refused on smell alone! thanks again Think I may see GP about supplements/ vitamins not sure he has everything that he needs LisaKaz

My son Leo is 3 in a few weeks. As a baby he ate everything we did. Then as food got lumpier/ harder feeding started to become a nightmare We are now in a position, where his diet is affecting his bowels, but there seems to be nothing I can do about it. He lives on toast, cereals, sandwiches (jam, occasionally chicken, cheese, ham) and will eat biscuits, crisps, on odd satsuma or apple. He will eat chicken in a tomato and herb sauce (but not without the sauce) and yogurt He does not eat potatoes (cooked anywhat way), pasta, rice, any veg, gravy, sauces, crackers, fish, chicken nugget type foods, beans, spaghetti, beef, most fruit It makes life so difficult! he often misses a meal, as he sits with us and its often tough luck! Noone has been too concerned as he looks a healthy little boy. However, it is affecting his toiletting and he is constantly on Movicol. Also, I am sick and tired of serving food he wont eat. People keep saying "put it on the plate, he will try it eventually", but although he holds the food, sniffs and names it - he has introduced nothing new in his diet for nearly 12 months Help!! any suggestions LisaKaz

Silly question! but its really bothering me I have been a stay at home mum for 3 years, as the company I worked for closed down when I was pregnant. Had been there for some time, so meant I got a good pay out, meaning could have time off with my son Then decided to have some more time to try IVF again (not successful) and then started realising there were issues with my son He is only 3. At the moment he is classed as having developmental delay. He has speech therapy, attends an assessment centre 1 afternoon a week, cranial osteopathy every month, and is starting a main stream nursery initially 1 morning a week to be built up to 15 hours in Jan. We are putting in a bid for the funding (sorry can not remember the official name) for one to one support for him. Its been explained that this will mean regular meetings with nursery, his centre worker etc.. So theres the dilemma. Need to find a job!! Market not great and many people for the same job. I need flexibilty for the many appointments he has. I am concerned if I am open about this will ruin my chances of getting work. At the same time, if I dont mention it its going to look appalling quite quickly as I ask for more and more time Any suggestions anyone?? LisaKaz

Title says quite a lot really My little boy will be 3 next month and has delayed development and goes to a childrens centre, where they assess him for possible autism I knew nearly 12 months ago that Leo was not developing as quickly as his peers and also had a number of strange habits (smelling everything, eating very few foods, walking on tiptoe, lobster claws, very little speech) My GP and health visitors were not overly concerned but referred me to a paediatrician - who have ruled out any medical reasons. He is now under regular assessment with the community peadiatric team, has speech therapy and a continence and diet nurse!! My confusion is that so much of Leo seems atypical with what I read about autism. He has come along such a lot in the last few months. Speech and vocab has massively improved, handles social situations better, gives eye contact, loves cuddles etc.. Can there be people on the mild end of the spectrum, who maybe dont show the main traits, or who grow out of them?? Just feel like I dont understand enough and dont want to be led down a one way path What is your experience?? LisaKaz