[undecided2011]

I saw my GP today with DD6 and expressed concern that i believe with 100% certainty she is a resistant eater (thanks to a suggestion from someone here), that in the last few weeks she's eliminated more foods from her diet and that i am just now at a loss as to what to do. He said he wasn't aware of the condition {resistant eater}and asked me to explain it (which i did), to which he implied that he feels she is just a 'picky eater' and it is just a battle of wills between me and DD.

I mentioned that it can be linked to an ASD diagnosis and as DS8 is on the spectrum was it possible she 'could' be on the spectrum as well? (although obviously a totally different end to DS lol) anyway he said it wasn't possible as she is in grade 1 and a teacher would have picked it up, and the fact she doesn't have developmental delays. He said that a child has to have developmental delays to be on the spectrum. is this true?

Im not saying i want her to have ASD, in fact the thought that she 'might' be literally breaks my heart and makes me sick BUT if there are other issues i want to know about it.

She's had an assessment by an Occupational therapist (early last year and again 6 months ago) she is below age expectation in her muscle tone, fine motor skills, in balance skills/gross motor skills, mild delay in visual motor skills and with her hand strength she has reduced hand strength/tone due to laxity in the fingers/hands - affects pencil grasp. The report goes on to say that she had improved in her development skills but she is still having issues with the motor skills and coping abilities.

Should i push for a ASD assessment of just surrender to the fact that the doctor thinks i am a nut job and all that's wrong it DD is she's a 'picky eater' and she's just a stubborn brat?

I just wanna add as well, she's shy, doesn't give eye contact, she plays by herself, she's very much a 'baby', cry's when you tell her no or growl, half the time you forget she's even in the house she's so quiet, she can't stand tags on her clothes, she scraches her legs when she is stressed, she has eating issues (which as last post is effecting her bowels working properly), she very quiet, i don't think she's every told me she loves me, she hates being touched, HATES loud noises, crys when there are fireworks, covers her ears when loud cars/trucks go past, covers her ears when there is someone threatens to bust a balloon, gets visibly upset when someone has party poppers, she's petrified of clowns for no obvious reason, she sleeps on top of her blankets instead of under them as she doesn't want to mess her bed. . . . the list goes on. . . .

She has similar trats to DS but mostly they are very very different. I have had a friend tell me that she is very much like DS but i have for the most part ignored it but more and more these last few weeks am i 'looking' at it as a possibility. I just don't know what to do anymore . . . .with any of it

Any advise? Thanks in advance

This post has been edited by undecided2011: 10/05/2012, 08:18 PM

[baddmammajamma]

Since you have concerns, and because your daughter is struggling, if I were you, I'd go ahead and have her assessed by a professional who is qualified to rule in or rule out ASD and other related issues.

Ask (or should I say demand) for a referral to a good developmental paediatrician. Alternatively, seek an assessment from a clinical psychologist who specializes in ASD/related issues.

Even if your daughter ends up not being on the spectrum, the assesment process will likely tease out (that is, help clarify) a lot of her issues.

Good luck.

There are some GPs who are really well versed on ASD, but anecdotally, they seem to be in the minority (understood, as they aren't trained as ASD specialists).

[firstatforty]

A gp doesn't have the training or experience in pediatrics to say she doesn't or does have ASD. Ask for referral to see a pediatrician who can tell you what is going on with your daughter. She might not have ASD but from what you have said there is something going on that needs checking out. If the gp won't give you a referral go to someone else.

Good luck and good on you for trusting your own instincts. Before you see the paed start making a list of all your concerns starting from her birth, that way you won't forget anything.

[dogged]

I can only echo what BMJ and firstatforty have said above.

Don't be hard on yourself because of the lack of training in this area experienced by many GPs.

You need to focus on the areas of concern that you have. Definitely seek out a developmental paed with experience in diagnosing girls.

BTW I hadn't heard of the concept of "resistant eating" prior to reading the book I described in your earlier thread, so I would not necessarily draw any negative conclusions if you find medical people don't know of it: but I find it a useful descriptor of a situation that is so, so beyond what we think of as "fussy".

[undecided2011]

We have a Paed appointment with a Paed who deals with ASD children (same one my son see's)

BTW I hadn't heard of the concept of "resistant eating" prior to reading the book I described in your earlier thread, so I would not necessarily draw any negative conclusions if you find medical people don't know of it: but I find it a useful descriptor of a situation that is so, so beyond what we think of as "fussy".

I wasn't overly worried the GP hadn't heard of it i told him to go home and Google it. . .and i believe he will lol he is a good doctor.

I was just annoyed that everyone keeps implying DD is just stubborn and picky when it comes to food and i know its not just that.

She's never EVER eaten fruit, right down to as a baby starting solids, when i offered her fruit puree she spat it out and gagged I assumed it was too tart for her and she wasn't ready for it. as time went on she still never ate it, I thought for a long while she was eating it at daycare till i spoke to them about it and they said she wasn't eating it. so from ages 3 to 6 we have been seeing Dietitians, GPs and me just finding things to try by looking on the web and hiding grated food into other food. . . . .until now (well last 6 months) where she is further limiting food (having bowel issues) and i can't ignore it anymore.

Either way thanks for the reply's I'll get onto getting an assessment and make sure we get a referral to a developmental paediatrician