help

I have a friend with a 2 year old girl. i have concerns that she may have autism. her mother says the doctor says she is fine but i have doubts. i hope by telling you some things i have noticed you can help. about 6 months ago i started realizing that she doesn't make eye contact. she walks on her toes. she doesn't respond to her name or want to play with other kids. she is continuously running back and forth in the living room. for the past few months she has been getting up in the middle of the night for hours at a time. she won't wave hi or bye. I am not an expert so i don't know what to say to my friend who thinks nothing is wrong. thanks for your help

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

It is always a difficult situation when you have concerns about a friend’s child’s development, and they don’t “see” what you are talking about.  Particularly when the family’s pediatrician is saying that there is nothing wrong.  (Pediatricians are usually the first contact point for accessing additional assessments and services.)  One point that I should make is that many of the behaviors you are describing can be typical of any developing two-year-old child (and the younger the child, the wider the range of these behaviors).  It usually comes down to the frequency of these behaviors that is indicative of a problem.  Below are several websites with information about autism spectrum disorders (some specific to early identification).  You may find it helpful to review these sites and see if your concerns are valid.  

All I can suggest is that you use your judgment in discussing your concerns with your friend.  Perhaps a mutual friend or, if you have a relationship with another family member of your friend, they may help.  No one wants to hear that their child may have a problem.  I strongly advise that you use all the sensitivity and patience you possess in trying to talk to your friend.  


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/
Association for Behavior Analysis
http://www.wmich.edu/aba/index.html
Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies
http://www.behavior.org/

[pumpkin310258]

i wanted to add that i have never seen her point for what she wants. or ask for something specific like "juice" she is big on repeating what she hears around her. she even repeated what i ordered in a drive threw once.