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Toddler showing autism symptoms?

I'm concerned about my two and a half year old son. I know all children develop at their own rate but I can't help but be concerned. He shows numerous "warning signs": limited vocabulary, anti-social around other kids, walks on tip toes, has weird tendencies (shakes when he's upset or just stares, pulls out arm/leg/face hair, etc.), uses my hands as tools to get what he wants instead of asking for it, gets very upset if things aren't done exactly as he wants them, seems deaf at times, VERY picky eater, etc. My 21 month old cousin and even my 11 month old daughter seem to be developing much quicker than he has (I don't mean they're ahead of him, but developed at a notably faster speed than he has so far). I've spoken with his pedi a number of times about my concerns but she chalks it up to him being very stubborn. She says that if he we still have concerns by his 3 yr check up, she'll do some diagnostic questionnaires. I really want to get a second opinion but my partner thinks we should give him until his 3 yr check-up to "bloom".

I'm looking for your opinions on whether or not you would get the second opinion. I don't see the harm in it but for some reason (denial, fear?) my SO is adamantly against it. Also, if you're the parent or know an autistic toddler, what his/her behavior around this age? Lastly, if you have a toddler at all or spent ample amount of time with one, what was their behavior around this age?

Thank you very much and I appreciate all responses!

Update:

I also forgot to mention he shows a lot of regressions, which I've read is a strong autism indicator. He learn new things and then a week, a few days or even hours later seems to totally forget it and never do it again.

3 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I do agree with Nancy. I think our mommy gut tells us when something just ain't right. Early intervention is essential with autism. My son will be 3 in May, he was diagnosed at 21 months. When he had his 18 month check-up his dr. said if he wasn't speaking by the time he was 2 we would have him evaluated. So, I figured it was me that I just didn't try hard enough, so after a few weeks with no improvement I started researching on the net. That's when I come across the word autism. When I clicked on the site and read the signs I knew right then and there my son was on the spectrum. The next day I called his dr. and made an appt. for that week. I was really expecting to get a brush off which I was not going to allow that to happen, but to my surprise she agreed with me and sent us for an evaluation. My personal opinion I would get a second opinion, like you said what can it hurt. I am the one who says "its better safe than sorry"

    Wishing you the best

    God bless

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    What a worrisome area of pay attention! nicely you will be confident that despite if he does have some impairment, it relatively is uncomplicated. he isn't even 2 years previous yet, so not something is glaring. maximum 2 3 hundred and sixty 5 days olds do not work together with friends; genuine returned-and-forth social interaction does not come until approximately 4 or 5. Self-stimulating habit (flapping, head shaking etc) is common in youthful babies. Thumb-sucking and ear-pulling are examples of this. in spite of the undeniable fact that, whilst young babies self-stimulate continuously, it rather is their huge-unfold technique of soothing themselves or the habit will become greater well-known and sophisticated with time it rather is a demonstration something else is going on. Your son won't sense mushy along with his speech therapist; 23 months remains in the obstacles of separation rigidity, extraordinarily if he had early delays in progression. you additionally can evaluate getting a different speech pathologist if it seems your son isn't autistic. finally, i might take what your speech therapist reported into extreme attention and get him evaluated by technique of a toddler psychologist or neurologist in spite of your guy or woman emotions, yet be basic with your self - does your son rather strike you as "different"? Does it rather seem to you like there is something approximately him that looks somewhat off? There are different issues to observe for too: does he play imaginatively, with characters and made-united statesissues and such? (Such play might nevertheless be very uncomplicated in a 2 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous.) Does he ever rather "zone-out" or look unreachable? Does it at times look as though his techniques is caught like broken checklist? Does he use words in odd or eccentric techniques? Does he repeat words returned meaninglessly, etc you're saying "How are you doing?" and he repeats all or area of that word returned at you repeatedly? Does he prefer to function-play as mommy or daddy, or do those issues look lost upon him? Are his pastimes extensive or very narrow and obsessive? Does he have universal toddler anxieties of monsters or does he have unusual or phobic reactions to annoying circumstances? It sounds to me such as you're an extremely to blame and worrying mom, and in spite of your son's perfect prognosis i think of he's in reliable palms.

  • 1 decade ago

    I am an early childhood professional and it would be my suggestion to take him in for testing. Those are all signs of a child who has autism. It would not be fair to your child if they are not given every chance to succeed. There are specialist that can help with therapy and other ideas to help you and your child develop on track for whats right for him. Waiting to long especially in speech is dangerous and can delay it or it could cause him to just not speak at all. Go get him tested early so you and your family can learn ways to deal with it.

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