Is my son autistic?

My son is 2 1/2. He was born at 34 weeks and is still tiny for his age. He does not speak. He babbles a lot and makes a lot of the same sounds over and over again. He runs in circles all the time. He throws awful tantrums, to the point of bruising himself. He has extreme sensory issues (likes rubbing things on his lips, freaks out if sticky/messy stuff is on his face,hands and feet, having me touch random parts of his body). He never sits still unless his show is on. He has no fear, would jump off my porch if I let him. Whips his head back, throws arms around, walks on his tip toes a lot. He doesn't like to play with his toys. He does sometimes play with other children,but prefers to play alone. He makes excellent eye contact and loves giving kisses and hugs. He is very smart. he will watch me do something and on a later date do the same thing without me actually teaching him (he took my key and unlocked the door.) I do not think he has autism...but many people do and I was just wondering if anyone on here thought it sounded that way.

[Richard B. Graff, PhD, BCBA-D]

Thank you for taking the time to write about your child.  The first thing you need to do is to discuss your concerns with your child's pediatrician.  Some of what you describe occurs in some children with autism, but some also occur in typical children with they are young (e.g., babbling). It will be important to make a list of all of the concerning behaviors your child has, and have examples of times he does this, so that the pediatrician gets a good feel for the extent of the issues.  For example, saying that "he never sits still" may be overlooked, while saying, "During a typical afternoon, from 2-5 PM, he sits still for approximately 5 minutes; the rest of the time he is running in circles, and jumping on furniture, etc.", may be taken a bit more seriously.

I would also ask your pediatircian if there is anyone in your area who specializes in the assessment of young children with autism.  It certainly would not hurt to get the opinion of someone with expertise in this area, as early intervention is crucial for successful intervention.

Best of luck!

[beeinslc]

Your post caught my attention, as I have a 6 y.o. child diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and I am well familiar with the warning signals. The behaviors you describe are very familiar and concerning. We experienced those same behaviors and more at that age. I would definitely seek the help of a professional, but please beware of pediatricians! Unfortunately, a lot of pediatricians are not trained to identify autism, especially where they use a basic developmental screening test that does not necessarily raise flags for autism. I was told by three different pediatricians that my child's developmental delays and weird behaviors were 'normal' and not of concern. I believe they may have been eluded by my son's great eye contact and outgoing nature. I'm sure you understand that the earlier you catch it the better your chances for successful intervention. Since your son is under 3 you will qualify for services provided by the state. Please, seek the help of a professional who has extensive experience with autism specifically!! And hang in there, things are going to be challenging and exhausting (I'm sure they already are), but you are asking the right questions now and that's going to help you so much.

Good luck with your journey! My heart goes out to you...