Anyone with kids dx after the 18 mo screening?

Post Reply New Topic

Hi I have been lurking in the parents board for a few weeks. My husband and I have recently come to the conclusion that he is an Aspie and I am hoping he will seek DX in the near future, but it is not necessary for me I know he is.

Anyways I have had concerns for my sons from the get go, due to age Dr's allways tell me to wait it out, the usual. I brought them in for the 18 mo check up today. And they did the 18 mo Autisim screening and from what I understood neither one of them passed so they are being refered out to the school district for further observation in their own enviroment. They have done the developmental in house a few times due to concerns and becuase one of my sons is Deaf and hard of hearing so he qualified. But they are excelling at most development motor skills so they allway pass. Dr is requesting they test social skills instead I guess?

Anyways I am just wondering how things went for you if they failed the 18 mo screening, what came next etc etc.

I am not quite sure how I feel yet. I know it is just a screening and is not for sure indicating autism or other spectrum disorder...but yet I have allways felt they were on the spectrum so I kinda feel like finally somone is listening, but I also know that by them proving me right we are in for alot of challenges.

my boys are still the same boys they have been, I guess it more about how I feel about it?

Um, I never heard o' no screenin'. It must be new. I can tell you, though, that I hadn't any motor delays, but am fairly clumsy. I have AS. My social problems are much more obvious.

I think it can be good to get them dx'd while still children, so that they can brace for the times ahead. Puberty, and the social strata that accompany it, can be VERY demanding on a normal kid. Children that stick out, like Aspies/Auties do (even in very subtle ways), have a rougher time of it.

Thanks I do belive the screening is pretty new I guess they do it at 18 & 24 months to "weed" out those on the spectrum before the age two so they can get support services which is great. I just know that the screening is pretty un forgiving as out of like 20 questions they are refered for failing 2 or more questions. the boys failed 10/13 of the questions

I know the test basically puts them on the spectrum I am not sure if they specifically will label them with Aspergers until they are older, which i guess is what I am hoping to learn from other parents experiences.

They boys are doing good with motor for the most part and one of them has a few words and lots of sign language, and the other has a few signs and no words but he is also hard of hearing.

They are both pretty clumsy and un coordinated...so is my husband.

True all children have challenges

They are so young, but I would trust your instincts. I really believe early intervention is key for helping them along in their development. So, even if they do not turn out to be on the spectrum, the therapies will not hurt them. The only signs I noticed in my son that early on was delayed milestones (sitting up, crawling,walking) Around 1 yr of age, he started flapping his hands. He always had words, but at 2 yrs.old, we realized he was memorizing lines from tv shows and books. He was diagnosed as PDD-NOS/possible Asperger's at 2.5---He is almost 5 now, and his language skills have improved greatly, although he still struggles with motor skills and social skills. At this point, I am not sure if he would be considered HFA or Asperger's. He does have special interests, but is pretty flexible with his routines, so who knows! Every case of AS is different.

In your case, I think you will just have to wait it out a bit longer to see what progresses. If autism is the case, it will be a journey. It will have its struggles, but it will also be filled with moments of joy as well. It sounds as if you are doing okay in accepting the possibility of it. You have come to the right place for support! Just keep interacting with and loving your boys as much as you can!

I had to request the screening when my son was over two.I don't think it is a test all doctors give at a certain age-though they should-so it's good your doctor was on top of it.My son has never had any motor skill problems at all.They probably want them to test them for the autism.I would go by your instincts as well.I would get them on a waiting list for a devlopmental pediatrician and take that word as gold but still have Early intervention test them and give them services if need be since it can not hurt.