Received autism Dx at 17 months, would they Dx it again at 26 months?

[EmilyScully]

We went to a pediatric specialist with concerns that our son had some odd behaviors. He was fixated on his bead maze toy (as seen in medical offices) and anything mechanical like doorknobs and cabinet locks.  He only sometimes responded to his name. He wouldn't tell us if he were hungry or thirsty. He wasn't waving good-bye or pointing, but he would reach for and obtain objects on his own.  He enjoyed books but was easily upset when we would touch them.  He was diagnosed autistic even though the specialist admitted that she would be exaggerating with analysis so he could obtain services.

He has never been a toe-walker and loves getting hugs, playing peek-a-boo and hide and seek with multiple rooms. He can find toys when I hide them.  He has learned to bring cups or empty food/drink containers when he's hungry.  He'll get our attention by grabbing our faces and turning our heads to look at him, or taking our hands and pulling us to the item he needs help with.  He often smiles at us and will hug spontaneously.  He smiles when he recognizes a song he knows.  He's physicaly strong and can pull himself up onto a countertop by hanging on the edge and climbing his feet up the wall.  He likes doing flips and rough play as well has getting his back tickled softly.  He isn't bothered by bright lights and loud noises but some food textures bother him.

He seems to "hear" both quiet/loud and high/low noises but I'm not sure of the clarity of the noise.  He only babbles Ah dah, and Di but can do B, F, V, S, T and various silly noises.  He only says mom (Em) when he's upset.  There may have been some brain damage to him at 10 months due to hitting his head very hard on a metal chin-up bar while my husband was rushing out the door. (He still feels guilty about it over a year later.)

I know you can't make a perfect analysis, but does this truly sound like autism to you, or more simply developmental delays?  Would a good parent keep searching for clues?

Kim

[KarenDiane]

If your son has good eye contact, good motor skills and doesn't exhibit sensory problems, I wouldn't think of autism. He seems to have some speech delay and maybe something else going on but I think I would be skeptical of an autism diagnosis.

[lesley3232]

Hi, your son sounds a lot like mine. He hasn't been diagnosed with autism yet but we undergoing tests to diagnose what he has got. I have been saying since he was a few months old that he did everything a lot slower than my other two boys but just put it down to every child is different and you shouldn't compare. Is he receiving any therapies?