My son just turned 20 months old and I have some concerns. I have been reading a lot on the internet which I shouldn't do but I also want to make sure Im not missing something and if my son is autistic I want to make sure I can get him the help he needs in time. I feel in so many ways my child is normal and is just stubborn and ignores me at times but then sometimes I wonder.
POSITIVE things he does: He has said about 15 words (not consistently though or with proper word recognition) he says "its done" when the microwave beeps or when hes done with something, just started with flash cards and he can correctly name the ball and makes the duck noise when he sees the duck card- he can correctly point out 6 flash cards, he loves to sit while I read, has great eye contact, always looking to make sure I am watching him, always coming to me for hugs and kisses, loves to play hide and seek and peekaboo, very affectionate, knows how to follow simple commands such as sit down and play ball with me or hold my hand, understand stop or no, meets all his physical milestones such as using fork and spoon, climbs up and down stairs and all over the furniture, mumbles "lets go" when I put his pants on to go byebye, just learned how to brush his hair, and he will feed me food.
THINGS THAT WORRY ME: he doesn't really talk- knows about 15 words but never really says anything consistently or with proper word recognition, does not point to ask for something, does not know how to ask for things, does not bring me things to show me, when he is playing or watching tv he will not respond to his name, and sometimes stares off into space but can be easily snapped out of it, doesn't play with blocks - knows how to stack only 1, and doesn't really have pretend play yet - he does steer the wheel in his car like hes driving and will use toys to pretend like hes brushing his hair and sometimes will act like hes loving on his stuffed Donald duck - is that pretend play?
I see other 20 month olds who have been pointing and asking for things for months now and also respond to their name better.
With all this could my son be autistic or just a normal toddler? I have said something to his pediatrician about him not responding to his name that great and he said hes just ignoring me while hes busy.
Normal! Kids do things at their OWN pace. Pretending dies not start until about 2 1/2. Please do not compare him. He sounds like a happy toddler.
I think we all pretty much said this is normal toddler behavior - I know I did last month :)
I also know a number of Autistic children. What you are describing does not remind me of any of the Autistic kids I know - and it's a spectrum right, so there are different degrees, but they all exhibit similar traits.
I think you are comparing your child to other kids, and you need to stop doing that.
If you have concerns, bring them up to your pediatrician. They will direct you to early intervention if necessary. You don't sound like you trust your pediatrician. So maybe it's time to switch?
Instead of looking up symptoms, I'm just wondering have you met an Autistic person? I remember going through the symptoms when my child was evaluated, and thinking 'wow, I could have scored 7 out of 10 on this' because symptoms can mean different things to different people and taken out of context.
Enjoy this time with your little guy. Good luck :)
** I think I mentioned ENT probably in my last post - you can always have them check his ears for fluid (mine didn't always respond to his name if he had a cold or ear infection).
I'm reading this on April 20th. You asked the same question on April 9th and got lots of great answers. You've provided more details here, but otherwise I don't see anything different from 11 days ago except that your child crossed the date from 19 to 20 months. What do you expect in his development in less than 2 weeks? Go back and read all the answers you got on the last question, and stay off the internet looking for problems! He sounds so perfectly normal!
Gosh, he is still so young and at this age, there is such a wide variance on what is considered typical for a child his age. I think every parent wonders if their child has some learning delays or physical disabilities.
But we learn to allow some real time to pass.
I used to write down my concerns and then take the list to the Doctor. Usually by the next check up, our child had reached whatever milestone I was concerned about..
But No potty training!!!!! I tried everything. But finally late, very late, right before... she turned 4.. she finally got the concept. Keep in mind, there were neighborhood kids that by 12 months had potty trained!!! They were the same age as our daughter..
You can check his hearing, by calling him from another room. Do this while he is in his room, but you go 2 rooms away and call for him.
When you hold him in your arms, does he look at your face as you speak with him?
Make sure you have some face time with him. We are so much taller and bigger than children, many times they see our legs and hands all of the time, but being up there in our faces can really get their attention.
In the car talk with him while you drive. Ask him questions or point out things, but do not expect an answer. Play kid friendly music and sing along.. Does not have to be an actual children's CD, but songs that you know so he can learn the words.
IF you are really and truly worried, ask your Pediatrician for an evaluation.
Stay off the internet, you are freaking yourself out!
Same answer I gave you last month.
You're kid is fine and perfectly normal.
Please relax and just enjoy your child.
What you need is to learn how to talk so he will listen to you.
When he's playing, he's too busy to hear you.
First get his attention, have him come to you and look you in the face.
Say what you are going to say and then have him repeat it back to you.
Keep instructions short and simple.
'Pick up your toys' is too general.
Break it down into simple tasks.
"Put your cars in their bag" and when that's done
"Put your books on the shelf" and when that's done
"Put your bear on your bed" etc.
Every parent's got to learn this some time or another so don't feel badly about it.
Again, normal.
Just wait until 3. They pay even less attention to you, and then 5. At 5 they run away from you or hide!
he sounds just fine to me. kids develop at way different rates, and a kid who talks or stacks blocks early isn't any measurably different from a slower starter when they hit 20.
the spectre of autism is everywhere these days, and i can only imagine how eeky it is to be a young parent with it looming over you. but it looms nowhere larger than the internet. if your pediatrician hasn't raised any concerns, try to let it go and just enjoy your little boy. there will always be others who are doing more (and less) than yours.
don't google it any more!
khairete
S.
At his age, I would not worry to much, honestly it doesnt sound like he has autism. I have an almost 8 year old autistic DD who was born with a rare chromo abnormality. She was diagnosed with that at age 6 months, but then was diagnosed with autism at age 5.5 years old. Usually kids that have autism almost always have another underlying condition. If you really want to know you might want to have genetic testing done. I understand your concerns but give him time to grow into himself a bit. Good luck.
You asked this question ONE month ago. Please stay off the internet. Talk to your pediatrician. Re-read the answers from last month.
As the parent of a child who is on the spectrum, who got evaluated by the school district, and got services, your son sounds like he's developing typically.
Your anxiety is NOT good for either of you. If you are so anxious, then contact your school district's Early Intervention and get an evaluation. It's free.
And please know that autism is NOT the end of anything. The media presents a pocket of autism, not the full spectrum. If you have questions, give me a shout (PM me).
So I see that you posted a similar question just recently. You've gotten some great responses and even indicated in SWH that you would be wait to see what happens. So do that. And stay away from the internet. If you're so concerned that your anxieties are making you post the same question every month he gets old, then get him evaluated through the early intervention program. They will test his fine motor, gross motor, receptive language, expressive language, social/adaptive, and cognitive skills. They are FREE.
I understand your anxiety because I had the same concerns myself when my daughter was around that age, but everything you're describing is pretty normal. You need to give him more time -- kids grow and learn at a different pace, especially when they're this young. Get him evaluated. It will probably ease your concerns and if there's anything to worry about (which I doubt), you can get him the help he needs.
Only a developmental specialist - who will evaluate your child in-person - can answer your question. Did you call Early Intervention after your last post?
You need to call Early Steps and\ or CARD for your area.
The state of FL has a FREE program called Early Steps. It's FREE to call. It's FREE for them to evaluate your child and, if your child qualifies, the services they offer are FREE (OT, PT, Speech, etc). FREE, FREE, FREE.
http://www.floridahealth.gov/AlternateSites/CMS-Kids/fami...
I hate to tell you, but he's going to tart to ignore you more and more and then get better. He is busy! He's 20 months.
You should start to teach him to point or say words when he wants something. If he wants a drink, ask him to point to which one. Or say use your words. Talk to him a LOT. He's a boy, boys often speak later than girls. So he's fine. You'll see, at about 2.5 a switch will turn on and he'll talk up a storm.
Also, put your hand out and say, show mommy. He'll understand that and start to show you. If he's not very verbal, he'll need you to help show him how to get around that.
Don't worry, he sounds pretty typical.
