Originally Posted by Nickie And Kev

Im no health visitor but i do work in a preschool and have kids!

How was the diagnosis picked up?

My son didnt start speaking till he was over 3, hes 4 and half now!! he didnt have a bottle for ages or a dummy!he doesnt shut up now, dont feel bad about your son having it my daughter had a dummy till she was 3 and a bottle and her speech is fine, he doesnt pronounce all his letters, say tee instead of tree but the letter R is tricky and nothing to worry about till they are over 8.

children generally play alongside other children till they are about 3, this is called parrallel play.

Did you express concerns yourself or was something said by his preschool?

lining toys up, lots of children do that, we have children at our school who do that.

Im not saying that you are wrong to worry, obviously i dont know your son or your situation but a lot of what i read does seem normal behaviour.

Let us know how you get on.

good luck
nickie

Originally Posted by Josie1100

Our son is autistic (asperger's) and was diagnosed when he was 8. For us it took a very long time to get all of the reports in place and a diagnosis to be made. Diagnosing a child is a very complex thing and a decision that when made, has to be made correctly.

We got our visa's and arrived in Australia 3 months ago. Our son also has mild cerebral palsy, and tightened muscle tone occurs with this disability. With Asperger's you can also get tight muscle tone. So you can see that the Doctor's and specialists have a huge task to be in agreement as to what diagnosis is to be made. The diagnosis then can make a huge impact on everything.

I found so much information on the National Autistic Society website. Trying to read as much information I found to be very helpful. It was also very comforting to know that there is so much support out there. I had a hard time about 8 years ago when we were in the thick of my son's problems but had no answers.

Our son was the main reason we came to Australia. The sunshine gives him just about full mobility. He has made the senior cricket team last week and wow for us that is just amazing. In England he was always in his major buggy for about 2 months in the winter months. We went through a tough time weighing up if we should try for visa's. We decided to try as we would never know the answer if not. Every disability/medical problem is different and each case is looked at independently.

I just want to say that I very much understand where you are at right now. I hope the reports start coming together so they can find the correct support for your child and also for you. You must remember you are very important in all of this too. I would be happy to try and answer any questions should you want to.

Tammy x

Originally Posted by Josie1100

Our son is autistic (asperger's) and was diagnosed when he was 8. For us it took a very long time to get all of the reports in place and a diagnosis to be made. Diagnosing a child is a very complex thing and a decision that when made, has to be made correctly.

We got our visa's and arrived in Australia 3 months ago. Our son also has mild cerebral palsy, and tightened muscle tone occurs with this disability. With Asperger's you can also get tight muscle tone. So you can see that the Doctor's and specialists have a huge task to be in agreement as to what diagnosis is to be made. The diagnosis then can make a huge impact on everything.

I found so much information on the National Autistic Society website. Trying to read as much information I found to be very helpful. It was also very comforting to know that there is so much support out there. I had a hard time about 8 years ago when we were in the thick of my son's problems but had no answers.

Our son was the main reason we came to Australia. The sunshine gives him just about full mobility. He has made the senior cricket team last week and wow for us that is just amazing. In England he was always in his major buggy for about 2 months in the winter months. We went through a tough time weighing up if we should try for visa's. We decided to try as we would never know the answer if not. Every disability/medical problem is different and each case is looked at independently.

I just want to say that I very much understand where you are at right now. I hope the reports start coming together so they can find the correct support for your child and also for you. You must remember you are very important in all of this too. I would be happy to try and answer any questions should you want to.

Tammy x

Originally Posted by LOVERINGS

im so glad everything has worked out for you and its been like pulling teeth to get my son seen by anyone here we had to conplain to get him seen what did the med people look for when you went with him if you dont mind me asking

Originally Posted by Josie1100

Our son is now 11 and the amount of paperwork and reports I have is too much. I took nearly a boot full of paperwork with me. His consultant had written a letter for the Australian Immigration with a history of our son and what he felt his needs would be in the future. When we went in the doctor started the medical for my son. I explained straight away that he was diagnosed with Mild Cerebral Palsy and Asperger's Autism. He sat and read the letter from the consultant. He conducted the medical and took just a photocopy of the one letter. For us that was it and then weeks of hell waiting and sweating.

Seven weeks later and we got that magic email to say we had the visa's. Our son has just received a grant of $3,000 a year for support in the classroom.
The Australian system with regard to help and support have been amazing. The most important thing is to be honest at the medical. I cant see that you will have enough paperwork by the time you go for the medicals? Maybe an idea to ask your doctor for some advice on this?

The best advice I ever got was to forget a little about milestones right now. Go to inchstones and when you reach one it is truly amazing!!! Our son didn't talk till he was 3 and didn't walk till he was 3 and a bit. We got there through hard work and therapy and the results now...I have no words for it.

Originally Posted by Nickie And Kev

Im no health visitor but i do work in a preschool and have kids!

How was the diagnosis picked up?

My son didnt start speaking till he was over 3, hes 4 and half now!! he didnt have a bottle for ages or a dummy!he doesnt shut up now, dont feel bad about your son having it my daughter had a dummy till she was 3 and a bottle and her speech is fine, he doesnt pronounce all his letters, say tee instead of tree but the letter R is tricky and nothing to worry about till they are over 8.

children generally play alongside other children till they are about 3, this is called parrallel play.

Did you express concerns yourself or was something said by his preschool?

lining toys up, lots of children do that, we have children at our school who do that.

Im not saying that you are wrong to worry, obviously i dont know your son or your situation but a lot of what i read does seem normal behaviour.

Let us know how you get on.

good luck
nickie

Originally Posted by GillyG

I agree with Nickie. I trained as a Nursery Nurse, worked as a nanny for 7 years, then trained to be a Primary school teacher and am currently a reception teacher. Yes, the majority of children are talking by 2.5 years but not all. Throughout my years of working with children I have met loads that have unclear speech until 4 or 5 years old. My niece didn't start talking until she was 2.5 years old, she is 3.5 now and is a right little madam always trying to boss people around! I'm not sure why the lady who assess your son was so worried that he lines bricks up...what does she expect of a 2.5 year old- a perfect reconstruction of the Eiffel Tower??? Obsessive behaviours can be looked at as Autistic tendencies but what 2.5 year old doesn't have an obsession about one thing or another (wearing wellies in the middle of summer, carrying a blanket around, wanting to watch the same DVD over and over again, always having to have the red cup etc.). I'm not saying don't listen to the advice of the "professionals" but I would say don't worry too much, your son is still very young and their development at that age can be affected by so much, not just "conditions". I wish you all the best and even if your son is diagnosed with Autism it isn't the end of the World, you and him just need to find ways for him to best cope (trying to keep to routines, communicating in a way that he understands, avoiding, as far as possible, situations that stress him out until he learns to cope with them).

Gill x

Originally Posted by Mrs Jackaroo

Oh Tammy reading that has just brought a tear to my eyes - you must be so proud of him.

I'm so glad to hear that your move to Australia has benefited your son so much

Originally Posted by quoll

Late onset language development is quite normal - well, reasonably common anyway. One of the features of autism is that language begins to develop and then quite suddenly stops. There may be other little signs like rocking or self stimulating behaviour of some form - repetetive and habitual behaviours like spinning the wheels of toys. Parallel play is normal but there is beginning to be an acknowledgement of other children in the play area by playing the same sort of game but just not "with" them. An autistic child will be in his own little world playing his own little games regardless of the kids around him.

Sounds like the assessor is being good and thorough which is great. Then you will be able to be sure that she is going to be very professional about her decision. She may tell you that diagnoses at 3 are only tentative - unless there is absolutely no doubt that it is Kanner type autism - and that things may change and he should be reviewed in a couple of years time. But she will make recommendations about things you could do to help him in the mean time.

Originally Posted by quoll

Late onset language development is quite normal - well, reasonably common anyway. One of the features of autism is that language begins to develop and then quite suddenly stops. There may be other little signs like rocking or self stimulating behaviour of some form - repetetive and habitual behaviours like spinning the wheels of toys. Parallel play is normal but there is beginning to be an acknowledgement of other children in the play area by playing the same sort of game but just not "with" them. An autistic child will be in his own little world playing his own little games regardless of the kids around him.

Sounds like the assessor is being good and thorough which is great. Then you will be able to be sure that she is going to be very professional about her decision. She may tell you that diagnoses at 3 are only tentative - unless there is absolutely no doubt that it is Kanner type autism - and that things may change and he should be reviewed in a couple of years time. But she will make recommendations about things you could do to help him in the mean time.

Originally Posted by Mrs Jackaroo

You obviously really know your stuff. Do you work in this field?

Originally Posted by Nickie And Kev

Its true what you said about the obsessive bit. harv is 4 and half and will not go to sleep with out his 'baby' this baby has been everywhere.

I think that the 'professionals' like to lable children and get the parents worried over nothing...im not saying dont get him checked, but i wouldnt worry tooo much at the mo.

good luck
nickie

Originally Posted by Nickie And Kev

Im no health visitor but i do work in a preschool and have kids!

How was the diagnosis picked up?

My son didnt start speaking till he was over 3, hes 4 and half now!! he didnt have a bottle for ages or a dummy!he doesnt shut up now, dont feel bad about your son having it my daughter had a dummy till she was 3 and a bottle and her speech is fine, he doesnt pronounce all his letters, say tee instead of tree but the letter R is tricky and nothing to worry about till they are over 8.

children generally play alongside other children till they are about 3, this is called parrallel play.

Did you express concerns yourself or was something said by his preschool?

lining toys up, lots of children do that, we have children at our school who do that.

Im not saying that you are wrong to worry, obviously i dont know your son or your situation but a lot of what i read does seem normal behaviour.

Let us know how you get on.

good luck
nickie

Originally Posted by quoll

I quit quite recently but yes, it was my job for 25 years.

Edited to say - I share a reluctance to label kids too early and I fear many are diagnosed way too early. However, autism, when clearly indicated and identified about this age, is one exception because there is evidence that early intervention can be very effective and unless you have a diagnosis you dont get the intervention. It's a bit of a catch 22 really. Not sure what interventions are on offer in UK these days but early is better!