could my 15month old have autisim

the purpose of this post has been the very slow development of my daughter. Physically she is still only crawling, she does walk around the furniture tho. her only words spoken are mummy and daddy. she also plays like a normal toddler.

my concerns apart from the lack of words and walking is her habbit of rocking back and forth in a trance while sitting in her high chair everytime, also she has an obsession with light switches ....... both of these concerns have been highlighted on many autisim websites.

i do know some children can be slow learners but my main concern is the rocking back and forth .... i do have an appointment booked with my doctor later in the week but would welcome other answers.

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

I appreciate you taking the time to write.  Children develop at different rates, and reach certain milestones (e.g., walking, talking) at different ages.  It's impossible for me to read a short statement and offer opinions about whether the behaviors you describe may be early signs of autism or not.  So, the first thing I would suggest is to discuss these issues with your pediatrician.  Some of the behaviors you describe, such as rocking back and forth, are emitted occasionally by some typical children.   However, it will be important to discuss your concerns with your pediatrician.  You might also ask your pediatrician if there is anyone nearby who specializes in assessing and diagnosing autism in very young children.  If your pediatrician or the diagnostician suggests that your child may have an autism spectrum disorder, it will be important to investigate what type of early intervention services are available in your area,

For chaildren with autism, early intensive beahvioral intervention is extremely important.  If you do speak to someone about early intervention services, I would ask them if there are any Board Certified Behavior Analysts in your area, who have experience working with very young children (you can search for someone in your area at www.bacb.com).  He or she may be able to provide you with information regarding how to best manage your sons behavioral challenges.

Best wishes for you and your family.