Could My 19 Month Old Be Autisitc

My daughter had 15 words at 19 months. She didn't say her first word until she was 15 months old. I was concerned she had autism, too. She didn't consistently respond to her name either. I had her evaluated at 19 months and again at 30 months. Both times, she scored at least average in fine motor, gross motor, receptive language, expressive language, and cognitive development. In fact, at 30 months, the evaluation revealed she was beyond above average in cognitive development and above average in receptive and expressive language.

It'll come, just be patient. If you are truly concerned, have him evaluated by early intervention and keep an eye on it since it's good to detect these things early and get help ASAP, but don't jump to conclusions.

I would call and schedule an evaluation with early intervention..NOT saying you do have cause to worry, but this would ease any worries or get the help he needs.

http://www.floridahealth.gov/alternatesites/cms-kids/fami...

My son didn't speak a word, not one, until 16 months. They all do things in a different order. He was very active (walked at 8.5 months, for example) and did other things "early". Your child seems to engage with you socially and is not uncomfortable with tactile things. A lot of kids don't respond to their names because they are absorbed in what they are doing. They also know, somehow, that their parents will keep trying so they don't have to respond. I think that might be one reason my son didn't talk - I anticipated everything for him (as you do with the food). And I'm not sure what you mean by playing with toys "properly" - maybe a toy has a specific function, but what's wrong with a child doing something different with it? There's an aspect of creativity in that. My kid was always doing something "different" with his toys - he used his buckets for helmets (not for carrying things) and a plexiglass storage cube for a beach day aquarium and so on. Then there are the classic moves of using chair cushions to make a cave or fort. (He's now a civil engineer in construction so maybe all those creative uses of materials paid off!)

If nothing is showing up on your child's exams and he's meeting all his milestones within normal ranges, he sounds fine to me.

You will be shocked by the "language explosion" between 18-24 mos. Read to him 2x a day.

He sounds fine to me.
Talk to your doctor and have him evaluated if you have any concerns.
Our son was pretty quite till just after his 2nd birthday and then it was non stop chatter chatter chatter!

I think it's wise to bring it up with his doctor but don't stress yet. I'd guess it's more like a speech issue, if anything. One thing I'd suggest is to not anticipate every need, but make sure you're encouraging him to use communication skills by giving him some practice with simple language. I was given that advice when my son was around that age and I think it helped. Try like "do you want milk or water?" "This ball or the block?" And see if he can communicate be pointing to his choice. And follow with "oh MILK. Can you say milk?"

I would talk to your pediatrician with the concerns that you have. Or you can also have him evaluated by a speech-language pathologist.

Ask your pediatrician. Every child's language development is different, and while communication issues are PART of autism, they are NOT autism. Communication /language delays can be completely separate issues on their own. And speech is complex. Some kids take longer than others. Perhaps google "baby sign language" and use that - model the words he needs to say, and use the signs at the same time. It might help.

You need to talk to the pediatrician about concerns and remember that language delays or speech/hearing concerns can be very different problems than autism. A friend whose son was diagnosed about 2.5 yrs old shared this recently on her FB page: http://www.parents.com/videos/v/78954740/early-signs-of-a...

Based on what you describe, I would say no. I n the video you see that the children who are developing normally interact with others, like you say your son does with you. The children with concerns in the video don't respond to their name at all, even when someone is in front of them, or care that anyone wants to help them or interact with them. These are children in a similar age range to your son.

Remember he is just over a year and a half old. There is a wide range of normal. Keep teaching him through play, and consider teaching him signs to augment what he can speak. My DD could tell me she wanted a drink in sign, even if she didn't know in spoken words.

Sounds ok to me. My daughter had similar speech delay and needed speech therapy temporarily before she was 4. The hallmarks of autism that they told me at her evaluation were no or little eye contact, not smiling appropriately, etc. Social things... After the speech therapy my daughter is completely normal... Maybe too social! Lol
All kids develope at their own pace. Since you are feeling he is falling behind you should ask for an evaluation. There are lots of early intervention resources out there for things other than autism as well.

Give him the words he's probably looking for when he cries for something. "Mommy, I want a drink" "I want to play ball" "I want my blankie"

My granddaughter is 20 Mos old and isn't talking clearly. The only "words" I can consistently understand are K for ok, mom. She makes other sounds sometimes and I figure out what says based on circumstances.

She has aa very outgoing personality. So she does find ways to interact. She's in constant motion. She does point to what she wants but often I don't know to what she's pointing. She tries, sometimes, to tell me what she wants to do but rarely am I able to understand.

I suggest your baby has a more quiet personality causing his slower reaction to interaction. His speech is normal and probably so is the rest.

Sounds pretty normal to me.

I would recommend getting him tested through Early Steps or CARD. Usually they won't diagnose children with autism at that young of an age, but they will let you know if he has any reg flags.

When my son was that age, he didn't point or know any words. It was determined that he had several red flags for autism. He started with speech therapy. The therapist had us use sign language. It can help them put together that words have meanings. My son is 6 now and doesn't receive any therapies. I wonder sometimes if he would be doing so well if we hadn't had him tested when we did. Early intervention is best.

I think it's worth having him tested through a children's hospital program or through a psychologist. This way you get the person who's certified and can legally make a diagnosis.

We had my grandson's speech evaluated at 20 months. He was not saying words at all. They told us to keep an eye on the situation and if he was still not talking in a few months to call them again.

He started talking in complete sentences a week or two later and didn't look back.

Don't blow off your concerns. It may not be autism but may be a language/communication delay. Every state has an early intervention program. I looked yours up here it is, Florida's Early Steps Directory at (800) 218-0001.

There is no harm in calling. He can get some free intervention if needed and if you're wrong and he's typical after all, then even better.

My son, at 18 months, was evaluated for Autism.

His speech was delayed, he did not always respond to his name, and didn't always play with his toys "appropriately".

He was affectionate, made eye contact, and was very playful.

He said "All done!" and other things, but his speech was behind.

Turns out he needed tubes in his ears. He had extra fluid from colds and ear infections, and had missed out on hearing quite a bit (or it was muffled).

After the tubes, he started saying multi syllable words and stringing short sentences together immediately. It was amazing. He started playing more appropriately because our communication with him went way up and he actually was more involved in play.

He's never shown any signs of being Autistic and he was fully checked out after the Tubes by the Autism team here.

Just wanted to share that with you. Good luck :)

I'm going to suggest that because you anticipates his needs, he doesn't really need to talk. And obviously you are getting him what he needs/wants when he cries, so again he has no need for the words.

I think you should have his ears checked, but if that all comes back fine, then encourage him to use his words. My nephew didn't talk at all until he was about 3 because my sister just anticipated what he wanted based on his schedule so he had no need to talk. when they moved in with my mom, although she knew what he wanted, she insisted that he attempt to say it. Once he realized that he really did need to use words, he started talking and hasn't stopped since!

Every state offers an early intervention program (in FL it's called Early Steps) for children birth-age 3. They will come to your home and evaluate your son in 5 areas: fine/gross motor skills, speech, cognitive development, self-help, and I can't remember the 5th. They will determine if he needs services. If he needs services, they are free! You can probably get the number from your pediatrician or school district.