Is is ASD?

[Millymoo]

Hello, sorry if I'm repeating other posts, but I couldn't find this anyehere.

 

My husband was diagnosed last week with Aspergers and we've been wondering about our 2&half year old for a while now too. Do you reckon these are signs/traits of ASD or just normal toddler behaviour?

 

Only can use about 5 words and uses Makaton sign language to communicate with a series of noises (speech therapy)

Obsessional about lining up his cars. They have to be millimeter perfect

Gets really upset if he sees specs of dirt on the bottom of my socks

If someone takes his toy he gets upset like it's the end of the world. He's really sad and sobbing, not angry

Doesn't like lots of noise

Plays alone even in a group situation and always has done

Doesn't like crowds

Understands everthting we say to him and can follow instructions

 

Any advice would be great, thanks x

[zaman]

Hi Millymoo

 

Why don't you go and speak to your Health Visitor about your concerns and see what see says in light of your husbands DX? Depending on how clued up she is on these things though, it may be worth asking her for a referral to Paeds anyway.

 

Z

[Greenman]

My husband was diagnosed last week with Aspergers and we've been wondering about our 2&half year old for a while now too. Do you reckon these are signs/traits of ASD or just normal toddler behaviour?

 

Hi Millymoo,

 

You say that your husband was diagnosed last week with Aspergers. Did your Husband have any problems, when he was at school as a youngster?

 

The reason for asking is last years our son S was diagnosed with Aspergers and after talking to the AS Doctor I could see a lot more of me in my son. I myself could not read and write until I was about 10, I had a lot of trouble getting what was in my head down on paper, my hand writing was and still is very poor (that's why I love PC's so much, no writing by hand) and a few other things to boot. I did read in one of Tony Attwood's books that AS can run in families. Before looking at your child, I would look to your husband's family to see if there is any history of AS there.

 

If there seems to be a link beween your inlaws and your husband, then I would maybe ask myself does anything tie in with my child. Then I would seach for the right help. As your child is so young you would have a head start. Our son was 11 when he finally got his diagnosed of Aspergers. I hope this is of some use.

 

Andy

Greenman

Edited May 17, 2007 by Greenman

[MichelleW]

Hi, I would definitely ask for a referal. I'm having the same issues with DS2 who is 2 and a half. Only has one clear word, the rest of his words are single vowels. He is under SALT, not that they are doing much - still waiting for pre-school assessment after 3 months. He has seen a general paed who has already referred him to autism specialist - again still waiting for an appointment.I'm seeing Health visitor this afternoon and will be raising new issues.

 

Up until now DS2 has displayed delayed speech and obsessional play, spins wheels of cars, lines cars up in rows (sometimes in size order). Turns on trains and leaves them running round in circles and gets upset if turned off - but he doesn't "play" with them! Tends to "play" alone at nursery with cars/trains. He has just started showing distress at changes in routine and noises over last 2 weeks. These are exactly the same signs that DS1 displayed. However DS1 had marginally better speech at same age, but also hand flapped and head banged (DS2 hasn't started this yet). I haven't had experience with NT toddlers to know if this is normal toddler behaviour, DS2's father insists it is normal behaviour (like he knows loads of 2.5 year old toddlers)

[Millymoo]

but also hand flapped and head banged (DS2 hasn't started this yet). I haven't had experience with NT toddlers to know if this is normal toddler behaviour, DS2's father insists it is normal behaviour (like he knows loads of 2.5 year old toddlers)

 

Thanks for your replies, My husband's brother has Asperger Syndrome and was diagnosed 17 years ago when he was 11. I'm comparing DS to other's his age (I help in the local pre-school) and he seems to avoid interraction most of the time, unless he specifically wants something.

 

Also, sorry if I seem ignorant, but what is the hand flapping? DS flaps his hands if he doesn't get his own way but I might be talking about something totally different? It's still all new to me so I'm trying to learn!

 

I forgot to add, He sees the Paed every 6 months for his kidneys anyway so we did raise it at the last appointment. She tested for Fragile-X (he has a large head) and it was negative.

 

The speech therapist has decided to refer him to a specialist as he's not getting on too well with it. Apparently one specialist is predominantly language and the other specialises in ASD. They'll decide which he needs.

Edited May 17, 2007 by Millymoo

[MichelleW]

The hand flapping is "stimming" which is what J does when anxious or excited. At about 2 and a half to 3, J used to flap his hands in front of his eyes until he became boss-eyed. Another form of stimming is spinning objects or themselves, or watching spinning objects such as washing machines for the sensory feelings it gives them. J then progressed onto doing quite complicated stims with his hands - I think this is what is described as sterotypical behaviour/movements. Someone correct me if I am wrong. J also used to pat me in a stimming kind of way (non agressive) but usually at the end of the school day as he came out of class - I think it was his way of releasing stress.