My Sons nursery pulled me today and said they think my son is showing signs of "high functioning autism"...inexperienced in this area so would like advice as I'm not 100 percent sure yet...

So their reasoning firstly is his intelligence. He has just turned four and is "miles ahead" especially with reading. Since the age of three he is able to read long and complicated words without using phonics, the school have said they've never had a young child "so far ahead" with reading they don't even have a place of action for it and they're looking into putting something in place for him starting school because he reads like an adult, there's nothing for him to learn.

Now, he's not obsessed with reading? We did read with him from a young age but not like routinely, like we didn't read a book every night withhim before bed. It just seems to have come naturally to him.

They've mentioned he isn't very good at transitioning from one activity to the other at Nursery and can become emotional and upset about it. However, this isn't something he has difficulty with at home, so if we are playing trains and decide to move on from trains, we ask him to put his trains away and he will do this without getting upset.

Next is repetitions, she used a word that began with an E but I can't remember the name. So if the teacher is talking he will repeat what the teacher has said. He does this at home too. I do agree this is something he does.

He doesn't like his hands to get dirty and can get quite upset if they're sticky.

They mentioned they have had to hide a toy he become obsessed playing with. We have had to do that at home with two toys. However;

- He makes eye contact

- He is cuddly and loving

- he doesn't stim

- he doesn't have big meltdowns and can be easily consoled and distracted.

- there's no other young children in our family so he hasn't other than nursery had much interaction with young children. They didn't mention anything about him and other children but all he really knows is his mam and dad. Could this explain some social elements?

I've got a meeting with my health visitor going forward to discuss a referral they have advised the waiting list is about a year long. I suppose this gives us time to see if things develop as he goes into reception. I cannot say I'm in agreement so far with the traits he has shown above but I am not experienced with this at all.

I know this is wrong, and probably our lack of understanding. But it almost feels like as we his parents have done something wrong.

For example, I read once that teaching children to learn different languages at a young age is good for their brain development, so I have taught him some French, German and Spanpish. The teacher said "he repeats french" but what is so abnormal about that? Not that I'm trying to brag but I'm sure he will stick out because I don't think many other parents have taught their children so young. That's not me being judgemental, just matter of fact about the area we live in.

I feel like his intelligence is being perceived negatively, the HA explain its because they're going to have to kick their arses in terms of meeting his educational needs.

Is he autistic? Or is he just highly intelligent and ahead? He's not a robot? The teacher used words like "to help conform" in school. I'm not sure I like the word conform.

Any advice would be appreciated.