Not sure if N's brother has ASD - advice please!

[jo4themo]

Hi there

I haven't posted on here for a while, although I have been reading the posts.

N was dx with AS when she was 5 and she has virtually all of the characteristics - poor social skills, an obsession with books,unpredictable behaviour and physical signs like hand flapping etc. She displayed some of these from as young as a few months.

Her younger brother is almost 4 and I am now getting worried about him. He has no physical signs, but he has extremely poor social skills. He plays with his other sister at home OK and will do imaginative play, but when at playgroup (he has been going there for 18 months) he does not activley seek out the other children. I work there 2 days a week with him and he will go off and play with the different toys and will play alongside others. If another child speaks to him he will normally answer, but he rarely initiates it.

He also likes some things just so - eg if he has a chocolate bar in a wrapper he likes the wrapper kept on and will get upset if its removed.

He also loves computers (although not to the same extent N liked books at that age)

However, he does play quite imaginatively on his own, making up storylines beyond his years at times.

SENCO at playgroup hasn't mentioned anything to me but she didnt with N.

As N was referred to her paed by our health visitor due to poor mobility) I am not sure what to do.

Any help much appreciated!

Thanks

[bid]

It's a very worrying situation to be in, I know <'>

 

Have you tried speaking to your Health Visitor? When my youngest was tiny we had real concerns (lining things up, bowel probs, poor socialisation, etc, etc). I talked to my HV who was very supportive when I explained about DS#1. I was never made to feel neurotic or anything.

 

Anyway, the HV was able to refer to the paed. and DS#2 did go through the whole CDC assessment. As it took about 18 months, I could see how he had deveoped and progressed, and felt happy with the final clinic assessment which decided he didn't have ASD but was just a very anxious child.

 

DS#2 is now 7 and an absolute sweetie. I don't know whether he does have a teeny pinch because at times he does sound as though he should be puffing on a pipe, but he has a select few 'quiet' friends (he doesn't like 'noisy' children) and is so easy-going it's untrue. Bowel probs thankfully disappeared by 18 months, and finally he does eat more than just bread and pasta!

 

I would talk to your HV as a first step and see what she suggests.

 

Good luck <'>

 

Bid

[Anna Van Der Post]

Jo,

 

It is so hard to tell when they are young because lots of tots are slow to learn the ropes. It does sound as though there are some traits but he may not have full-blown Aspergers. If you want to see a range of other people's experiences of their children during the nursery and primary years may i be so bold as to recommend the following book

 

(Link removed by moderator in line with forum rules. Please pm Anna for details of her book.)

 

It is only available as an e-book but the paperback will be out in March/April.

 

It is very helpful to read other stories in order to get a feel of typical early warning signs.

 

My son certainly hated playgroup and had no interest in the other children and as a result I had to home educate him.

 

Hope it resolves soon for you. It is hard to get a diagnosis at this age as no one wants to take you seriously until the problems are so evident or are interfering with others! All you can really do is keep a diary of your concerns with examples to use as evidence in the furture and to help build your case.

Edited January 8, 2009 by Kathryn