Autism Support Group

Hi, I'm new to this group and am looking for advice, especially from anyone with an autistic daughter.

My daughter is nearly three. She was slightly late with her motor skills, but the main concern is her lack of speech. Her speech therapist has assessed her as maybe understanding 10 words. She has also had hearing tests, like most tests were she has to follow instructions, or even just do something not on her terms they were unable to test her. This has happened twice. We don't believe that she has a problem with her hearing. She can follow visual cues but not verbal ones but responds to noises like airplanes or birdsong and will look for them.

She loves some things so much that the tasks the slt sets her are hard because she doesn't have any interest in some things.

She will play with dolls, she loves her playmobil dolls house but we can't let her play with it unless we can be right there supervising as she has terrible tantrums and kicks hard enough to break things (e.g. doll falls off chair, my darling destroys dolls house).

Likewise she has no interest in other children, and will push them if she thinks they want to play with what she's playing with.

She never initiates a conversation, but will parrot about 10 words if we say them, such as car, cat, dada.

She knows her alphabet though and can play games on the ipad identifying letters and can make the sounds of all the letters phonetically and the real name of them. She likes, and is good at jigsaws.

She is very affectionate and after a tantrum will come to be held and will kiss me with tears all over her face. She hugs other family members as well but until she was two I couldn't leave the room with her in without her screaming.

Sorry this is so long - but I suppose if you've read so far you don't mind and thanks for that. Does anyone recognise their autistic daughter in this? Or do you think it could be something else?

Welcome to the group! My daughter is 4-she was diagnosed with Autism at 28 months old. Things have drastically changed since she was first diagnosed. She would have (and still does have) huge tantrums if things happen during play she hadnt anticipated like a doll falling off of a chair like you mentioned. Mostly, she likes toys that "do" something. The girl has never played with a stuffed animal of any sort, but give her something with a button or that opens and closes, shes all about it

There really is no way to know by what you wrote whether or not she is on the spectrum. Each kid is so different from the next. I think its great that you are finding sites like this and researching. The next big step is finding a developemental pediatrician or an Autism center to have her tested to be sure. Once you find out the reason she is struggeling in some areas, you'll be able to properly help her.

Girls with autism present so much differently than boys. I have a couple book suggestions, Asperger's and Girls by Tony Attwood, Aspergirls: Empowering Females With Asperger Syndrome by Rudy Simone, Asperger's in Pink: Pearls of Wisdom from inside the Bubble of Raising a Child with Asperger's by Julie Clark . THese are just a few that I love.

I know that you might be feeling overwhelmed or scared, but please, know that we have all been through similiar situations and you are not alone. Keep us updated!