My 19 month old daughter has always been an easy, laid back kid. Since birth, she's been able to entertain herself, and is hands down the most insanely happy baby. But as my second child, I'm noticing a lot of things she's lagging on developmentally. She used to say dada and poppop, but has stopped, and now mama and nana are her only words. She just started walking, but doesn't point, wave, or clap. She doesn't play with toys "normally" (ick, I hate that word), but will turn a toy car over and spin the wheels constantly. She won't look where we point, but rather laugh at our hands. She doesn't make any attempt to mimicking words or hand movements, aside from drumming on anything she can find. Has anyone ever had or heard of a very very happy child being autistic? She meets a lot of the criteria for at risk, and our appointment isn't for another month, so I'm just trying to prepare myself for the possibility.
Hey everyone, thank you so incredibly much for all of your replies. We had the initial evaluation, and she is showing delays in all levels of development. It still is hard for me to completely wrap my head around. She's so insanely happy and sweet, this child could give you a cavity from a single smile. We are meeting with the therapist group to see what she qualifies for therapy-wise, apparently they all come in and evaluate her and determine a number of hours of therapy for verbal, cognitive , etc. and whether it will be weekly, biweekly, or monthly. I'm beyond grateful for all of your responses. As much as I wanted them to tell me I was crazy and she was right on track, I'm so glad I followed your advice and contacted early intervention. I'd rather do more than necessary now and have it be nothing than wait and wish I'd done more sooner. Thank you all so much! And apologies for any typos, I'm sending from an awful phone :)
My friend's son was the happiest, sweetest baby and he has autism. As you know, there are some red flags and just walking at 19 months is a significant delay. Good luck, you are very brave to address this now.
Yes, a happy child can be autistic, and there are some red flags there. Rather than wait and worry, contact early intervention ASAP. They are very good in NY. I am going through the process with my son and I am amazed at how quickly they respond and how seriously they take what I considered minor concerns. Google them for your local number and to read their list of milestones and concerns.
My son only said about 3 words (mom, ball, dog), didn't even babble. I called Early Intervention when he was around 19 mos. old without the Pediatrician's help. Therapists came to the house and evaluated him. I advise getting a Medical Diagnostic at a hospital as well. Early Intervention will set it up. Don't wait because it's only to age 3. I am so happy I followed my gut feeling that something wasn't the way it should be and called. My son was diagnosed with developmental delays as well as speech delay. He was receiving services for a year (Speech, Occupational and Developmental Therapies), on a weekly basis. Ask to have him evaluated for Autism as well, I wish I did (I also suspected). After falling through the cracks because he's a "happy child" very social and friendly, upon my request my son was tested specifically for Autism (ADOS Test). He was finally diagnosed on the Spectrum (borderline) two years later when he was 4. He attended Pre-K for 2 years and now attends Kindergarten and is doing well. Everyone told me he's developing at his own pace, boys are slow talkers and just to wait. I'm glad I didn't listen to them because my son is getting the help he needs especially on the academic level in school. He continues to receive speech therapy and OT once a week. Always listen to your gut. Good luck.
Yes, she does display symptoms of autism. So get her evaluated so that you'll know more. Federal law requires school districts to diagnose and treat any condition that would affect success in school. The school district pays for this.
Call your local school district office and ask for the number for the Early Intervention office. Once you know what is going on for your daughter you can deal with it in a productive way.
If you haven't discussed this with her pediatrician that would be a good way to start. The pediatrician will give you phone numbers for ways to get an evaluation. Your insurance may pay for an evaluation thru private channels.
Added: Yes do it now. Early Intervention applies up to age 3. There is still diagnosis and help after age 3 but it's not as intensive or easily applied. Before age 3 workers can come to your home. After that you have to take them to an office for therapy.
At 19 months, my son was only saying a couple words inconsistently. He had other "red flag" behaviors for autism, too, like not playing with his toys "normally" (he would also spin the wheels of cars, and would be easily distracted by things that spun like ceiling fans.)
Since he hadn't been responding to his name or making much eye contact when the experts say kids should, around 12-14 months, we had him evaluated for Early Intervention (EI) services when he was a little over a year old. He qualified for 30 min/week of speech therapy, and 30 min of occupational therapy due to his delays, and we started the therapies around 16 months old. The speech therapist would visit him at daycare, and we would take him to an OT sensory gym on Saturdays.
He was making some progress, but slowly, so we had him evaluated for autism around 18 months through EI. He received a diagnosis of PDD-NOS, which made him eligible for more hours of services each week. Due to our schedules (his father and I both worked full time) we were only able to increase each service by another 30 min/week.
For him, the services he had early on made all the difference in the world! Today, he is 3 1/2 years old, super social and adaptable, very happy and smart, always engages with people of all ages, speaks in full, clear sentences, and is fully potty-trained. No one that meets him would ever know from interacting with him that he was once diagnosed as being on the spectrum.
Sometimes delays are just that... delays. But even so, therapy will help your kiddo catch up. And it makes sense to get your little one evaluated ASAP to get the services, as EI stops at three years old in many localities. I wish you and your daughter the best, because I know how hard it is to worry and not know, and think of the worst scenarios.
L.,
It sounds like there are some concerns. Have your daughter evaluated ASAP. The sooner a problem is identified and worked on, the better the outcome will be.
My son was diagnosed PDD-NOS at 2 years old and had early intervention until 3, then a special preschool. At 2 he stopped saying the few words he had, he would spin things and stopped pointing. Now he is 5 1/2, doesn't stop talking and asking questions. He plays with toys "appropriately". He is a very happy, curious, smart little boy. He will be going to a regular kindergarden class in Sept. He will still need some services, but most people that meet him today have no idea that he walked a different path than most other boys his age.
I was devasted when the Dr told me my son was on the spectrum. I wish I had known that his future would be as bright as anyone else's, he would just have to work harder to get there.
Best of luck,
R.
Yes, I would have her evaluated. There are red flags here. My son was also a super happy baby...easily my easiest child. Slept well, hit all his milestones ahead of time, just the perfect child, until around 2 1/2. He is on the spectrum and also has ADHD and Tourettes.
It's good you're getting her checked early on. I'm happy to say that my now 15 yr old son is doing really well in 9th grade. Mainstreamed with the help he needs through his IEP. He has friends and is generally a happy kid (as happy as a teenage boy could be, of course!). A diagnosis of autism isn't the end of the world. They're wired differently, but they will also teach you to look at the world in a different, and sometimes very cool, way.
Good luck!
Well, my friends Aspie (now a brilliant teen!) was a very happy baby.
If you are concerned, please just talk with your pediatrician.
Help is out there and usually, the sooner the better.
Don't be afraid. These professionals deal with this every day and know what they're doing.
Knowledge is power.
More facts means you can make better decisions for your child!
Sometimes babies stop using words that they already know and recollect them after some period of time. Does she understands commands? If so then that indirectly means she is pointing. Pointing doesn't necessarily mean they do it with their index finger. Few kids are late bloomers. Since you mentioned few red flags better get her evaluated
Sometimes babies are just quirky. I would give her some time before jumping to autism. I would wait until she is two and if you think something is off, get her evaluated. In the meantime, interact with her the way you always do. Not all babies are the same. You said she just started walking. Well talking gets put on the back burner. Very difficult for them to learn two major things. As far as playing normally, I have four kids and eight grand kids. Each ones "normal" was different. So I would relax and enjoy your child. Don't create problems that are not there.
