Doubt

My mother has been constantly nagging at me to get my son checked out because she believes he may have autism. He is 23 months old and doesn't talk yet, but he does baby talk A LOT! I read a couple of autism articles and don't think my son has it but it could be I'm in denial. He loves watching cartoons and acting like any normal 23 month old child, such as: running around, playing with his toys, asking me for more juice by bringing me his cup and pushing me towards the kitchen, making a mess anywhere he can, and exploring every where he goes to. The only thing I'm worried about is that I can never seem to get his attention for longer than a mintue. He doesn't like to stay still and when I call his name he acts like he can't hear me unless I say "pacifier" or "juice", then he'll turn around really quick. When I'm talking to him he doesn't look at me in the eyes but only glances and walks away. When he's in the mood he can stay still so I can read him a book and if I'm playing with him he'll play back (hide and seek, peek-a-boo, legos, musical instruments, or just tickling games). Can it be that my son has something else rather than autism for not making eye contact and not speaking? Or am I just being paranoid and it's normal for not all children to develop at the same pace?

[William L. Holcomb, Ph.D., BCBA-D]

One of the first questions I frequently ask is what have been the pediatrician’s thoughts about your son’s development?  Pediatricians are often the first point of contact when any developmental problem is raised.  If you are in the United States, your son’s pediatrician can refer you to a local Early Intervention Program for further assessment.  The behaviors you are describing may be the early signs of ASD, particularly if your child’s pediatrician has ruled out other factors (e.g., hearing problems).  Below are several websites with information about autism spectrum disorders.  You may find it helpful to review these sites to see if you think you need to take your son in for further assessment.  

Another point I like to remind people of is that most professionals often note that there is a wide range of development with children.  While that is certainly true, it is very important to monitor any child who appears delayed in achieving a developmental milestone or behavior is atypical.  The earlier any problem is identified, the easier it is to identify an effective intervention to help.  I think that there is very little to lose and possibly much to gain by discussing your concerns with the pediatrician and at least more closely monitoring your son’s development.  


About.com Pediatrics
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/weeklyquestion/a/04_signs_autism.htm
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/Autism.cfm
First Signs
http://www.firstsigns.org/