autism in toddlers and parents of toddlers with autism…..?
autism in toddlers:
Question by mommy to one: parents of toddlers with autism…..?
My daughter has displayed some unusual behaviors and has made me think that she might have autism. she is almost 2, no real words, does not point, does not wave bye bye, does not seem to recognize everyday items such as ball or cup, knows them but will not point them out, she still does not point to body parts and half of the time when i call her name she acts as if she doesn’t hear me at all. my question is, for those of you that have gone through this with your young toddler, where did you begin? I mean did you start by taking them to their pediatrician first? I am a little confused about what to ask and where to take her. Will her pediatrician do an autism screening or is that something that only certain qualified people can do? I just need a little assistance in where to start all this. i appreciate any help!! thanks
Best answer:
Answer by KaylaBean.
Perfectly fine!!!!
My niece candance,shes 3 and was diagnosed with autism when she was 1 1/2 its perfectly normal.
we saw she always looked up while looking at stuff
Hard time walking right.
hardly talks
display of temper tantrums cause she didnt understand something.
and ..just alot of un toddler like behaviors… 
What do you think? Answer below!
My niece behaved the exact same way when she was that old, unfortunately my brother & sister-in-law were in denial for a couple years and didn’t get the help right away. She was diagnosed with autism when she was four. You are right to bring her in to get an assessment as early as possible. Your pediatrician or family doctor can give you a referral to a childhood development specialist. Good luck!
My son is 5 and has Asperger’s ( a form of Autism).
While I cannot diagnose, or even really speculate what is happening (if anything) with your daughter, I can advise you to share your concerns with her doctor. He/she can refer you to the proper resources.
Also, if she is Autistic, this is not the end of the world (even though I know it feels like it, I’ve been there). My son is in Kindergarten and is at a 5th grade Math, Reading, and Reading Comprehension level. Yes, he is a genius from what we can tell, which is common with Autism. He has his days that are very difficult and needs extra assistance with some tasks/activities. But, he is popular at school, happy, and just a great kid. I honestly wouldn’t trade him for anything. We have been through a lot together and he has made me a better mother and person. I am proud and confident in my parenting, and a lot of that comes from dealing with Autism.
No matter how hard things get please know that your daughter will be just fine! While I do not buy into there being a cure for Autism (sorry Jenny Mc Carthey but it’s almost insulting to suggest your son is “cured”) I do know that a very normal life is possible.
Early intervention is important. It looks like you are on the right track. Also, there are hundreds of support groups, chats, etc. online. You can find many groups on Facebook even.
I would also suggest to begin brushing up on your child’s rights regarding I.E.P.s and special education. There is a lot to know BEFORE you are in a bad situation with the school.
Best wishes to you and your wonderful little lady!!!
EDIT-
Sorry this is long. While there are many signs of Autism, a very important thing to understand is that the condition is known as an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Meaning that there is a huge range that people can fall into regarding how many and how severe the symptoms are. Generally people are categorized from low to high functioning. If you have ever seen Rain Man Dustin Hoffman’s character is not completely low functioning (the most severe Autistics are often mute) although he was very low functioning. My son is high functioning. So, with him it can appear that he is just an average kid, or that he has a behavioral problem (when he is having a bad day). His condition looks to the uneducated or uniformed to be very similar to OCD.
I would also like you to know that while symptoms can seem to go away, they can always come back, they also do change. We have been through a bunch! Of course my son has been worked with for a long time now, but I have noticed that a huge part of dealing with Autism is the parent learning to parent around the condition. This applies to other family and teachers and friends as well. My son does best with people who can anticipate how he will react to things.
You may also want to look into what constitutes appropriate discipline. People with Autism are very prone to self blame. They believe everything that is wrong with the world is somehow their fault. So, spankings and yelling at these children is very damaging. We use time outs followed by an explanation that we sit love the little guy, we are proud of him most when he behaves, and an explanation as to what caused the time out. Because of the Autism and the high IQ, you can never seem to be too detailed in explanations.
my nephew now 3 1/2 has autism
Signs of Autism
Child doesn’t turn when you say his or her name.
Child doesn’t turn to look when you point and say, “Look at…” or doesn’t point to show you an interesting object or event.
Lack of back-and-forth babbling
Delay in smiling
Failure to make eye contact with people
Attachment to hard objects such as ballpoint pens, a flashlight, keys, or action figures — as opposed to soft objects like blankets and stuffed animals
Other signs of ASD that warrant evaluation by your pediatrician include:
No babbling or pointing or other gesture by 12 months
No single words by 16 months
No two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months
Loss of language or social skills at any age
If you’re worried about any of these symptoms, or your child has exhibited early warning signs, talk to your pediatrician. He or she can use a standardized screening tool to determine if your son is at risk. While there is no cure for autism, early intervention can make a big difference in a child’s life. Behavioral therapies can help kids develop social and language skills, for example, and medications can treat impulsive behavior and hyperactivity.
If your child doesn’t exhibit any symptoms, and you’re still worried about autism, try to relax. Pay attention to his behavior patterns (and remember that even the healthiest children can be shy and remote at times), ask questions of your pediatrician, and try not to let your fears get in the way of enjoying your time with your son! Chances are he’s just fine!
Ask her dr for referral and they will tell you how to proceed