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"Could My Child Be Autistic?"

With the epidemic of autism, one of the most common questions I'm asked during an initial speech-language evaluation with a child is, "Could my child be autistic?"

It's a question that brings worried parents from all over the world to this website every day.

Today this question may be "Does my child have autism?" The word "autistic" has become offensive to some and is not used by professionals, but parents do continue to use this term during their initial search for answers.

Many people assume, incorrectly of course, that because a child isn't talking by age two or three, he or she must be on the autism spectrum.

There are many reasons for speech-language delays in toddlers, and autism is only one of them. Late talking in and of itself usually does not mean autism.

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex disorder that lasts throughout a person's life. Autism is called a developmental disorder because issues start before age three, during the critical period of development, and it causes problems in the way a child develops, learns, and grows. Areas affected by autism include delayed or disordered skills in:

1. Social Interaction – the way a child relates to and connects with others, particularly those outside his immediate family.

2. Language – the way a child understands and uses words, gestures, and symbols.

3. Cognitive – the way a child thinks and learns.

4. Motor – the way a child moves his body.

5. Sensory – the way a child takes in and processes information through his senses of sight, touch, hearing, smell, taste, and movement.

Autism is a "spectrum disorder," which means that all children with autism do not share exactly the same difficulties. Degrees can range from mild to severe.

Possible Signs of Autism in Toddlers

Below is list of the other concerns noted during daily routines in young children with autism spectrum disorder. This is not an official diagnostic list, but rather a list of concerns that parents might note. This list below was gathered from several sources.

• Does not consistently respond to his/her name.
• Cannot tell you what he/she wants with words or gestures.
• Doesn't follow directions.
• Seems to be deaf at times.
• Seems to hear sometimes, but not others.
• Doesn't point or wave bye-bye (past 15 months) or use other gestures such as shaking his head "yes" or "no" appropriately and back and forth in conversation.
• Used to say a few words or babble, but now he/she doesn't.
• Throws intense or violent tantrums.
• Has odd movement patterns, such as flapping arms or shaking body, especially when excited.
• Shows other odd visual behaviors, such as staring repeatedly at spinning wheels on a toy or shifting his eyes to the side as he runs.
• Seems hyperactive much of the time; is always "on the go."
• Is often uncooperative or oppositional during daily routines.
• Doesn't know how to play with toys. Might spin or line them up excessively.
• Doesn't smile when smiled at.
• Doesn't make eye contact. He/she seems to look right through/past you.
• Gets "stuck" on things over and over and can't move on to other things.
• Seems to prefer to play alone.
• Gets things for him/herself only, without asking for help.
• Is very independent for his/her age.
• Seems to be in his/her "own world."
• Seems to tune people out.
• Shows very little interest in other children.
• May interact inappropriately with other children.
• Walks on his/her toes.
• Shows unusual attachments to toys, objects, or schedules (e.g., always holding a string or having to put socks on before pants).
• Spends a lot of time lining things up or putting things in a certain order, and gets upset if this is disrupted.
• Has delayed speech-language skills when compared to other children of the same age.
• Memorizes and quotes long scripts of favorite TV shows, sing entire songs, or label lots of objects, but he/she uses very few "real" or meaningful words to ask for things or participate in conversation.
• Repeats what he/she hears rather than using words on his own.
• Learns to read at age two or three (or has a very strong interest in visual symbols such as letters and numbers), but has difficulty communicating with others in a meaningful way.
• Is a very picky eater. May eat only three or four different foods.

Let me reiterate that the presence of a few, or even several, of these concerns does not mean that a child will receive a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Please discuss these signs/symptoms with your pediatrician, and then decide whether a comprehensive developmental assessment is needed for your child.

Research tells us that early identification and treatment for children with these difficulties is essential before these symptoms become severe and chronic patterns are established. Waiting until a child is in preschool or kindergarten before seeking professional and educational assistance NEVER leads to the best outcome for a child with any developmental delay. The earlier a child is diagnosed, the better chance he has of correcting his problems.

Research also tells us that children with autism, regardless of the severity, can make progress with specialized intervention that focuses on facilitating developmentally appropriate skills. The recommended "best practices guideline" for a child with autism is that he or she be involved in AT LEAST 25 HOURS PER WEEK of engaged time with caring, nurturing adults. This can be a combination of time in therapy, structured and developmentally appropriate preschool (NOT "Mother's Day Out"), and quality, focused 1:1 play at home with mom and dad or other trained assistants.

Parents of children with autism play a crucial role in determining the ultimate outcome for their child. Success comes when parents make a huge commitment to learning their child's unique strengths and weakness, become their child's biggest advocates, and wholeheartedly embrace a comprehensive approach to improving their child's developmental skills. This means getting a child professionally evaluated as soon as your gut tells you there's a problem, selecting and following through with appropriate treatments, and pursuing additional education about your child's needs until you become the best "expert" you can be. It's not easy, but it will be worth it.

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If you're looking for additional resources to help you work with your child at home to improve his ability to use and understand words, I can help!!

Help My Child Learn to Talk

Help My Child Learn to Understand Words and Follow Directions

Other helpful information:

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If your child can't imitate any words, here's a step-by-step approach to helping him learn!

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Source: https://teachmetotalk.com/2008/03/14/could-my-toddler-be-autistic-signs-of-autism-in-toddlers/

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