[Smylinatya]

Monday was my son's 18 month check up. Out of the blue, my dr starts talking to me about autism and says that its a normal conversation she has with parents at this age....huh? Here is the reason, my son only says 2 words not 6. She asked if he'd point to something and try to show me what he is looking at. I think I am probably delaying his speach because I don't make him ask for things. I try to always anticipate his needs and get it to him before he wants it. He says mama and dada and I think he says dog. The other day I THINK he said 'hi'. He is a very physical kid and loves to chase people and be chased. He likes to be held but often wants to be busy getting into everything. He loves our dogs and will often share his snacks with them, 1 for him and 1 for them . He is a very generous kid and doesn't mind sharing anything. The other day my dad came over and he went running screaming and laughing over to him.

Does anybody have any suggestions? I can't stop thinking about it.

Thank you,
Jenn

[roselee]

As for Autism to be a normal conversation???...well, if the Dr. really does have those conversations, that is quite strange... I wonder if a lot more kids from the office end up being dx with Autism and don't have it compared to some other offices.

I would ask the Dr. if s/he suspects Autism. I would probably be on the phone this min., if it weren't a saturday. With that being said...you can always read my long posting if you get bored. The huge saga that my child had "autism," etc....and really never did (although seriously, it really seemed like he did - my sweet little anal seeminly OCD boy).

You will probably be analyzing everything now until you are blue in the face...you know your child. I would really ask why the Dr. was really saying that. That would just bug me to no end.... Whatever the professionals tell you, don't let a possible label get in the way because later on you may find out the label was wrong...

...if a certain label wasn't right, you didn't loose anything. You many have gotten extra services, but every kid could benefit from extra individualized help...even the most gifted of kids.

Please enjoy your baby....You child may just have an expressive speech delay or it could be that your child will just suddenly take off and there was no reason for the delay...yes there is a delay in speech right now. Our son was dx with Autism but really had an expressive speech delay...which now is seemingly like more of an articulation disorder. That's what happened with us...but our son had even more characteristics of Autism (i.e., lining up everything, hardly any eye contact, didn't like cuddling - until now actually, etc - in post). Now he has the best eye contact, is the most sociable kid in daycare, loves to interact with kids (although he is not a follower at all - marches to the beat of his own drum so to speak).

Just thinking about what the Dr. said makes me anxious and upset for you because I would, again, want to know...Hang in there...you child sounds great. the fact that he likes to be held and chased...A LOT of pluses....

I would try to get your child into a speech therapist ASAP though...please do that. Your child does need to develop more speech. The longer you wait the more chance the speech disorder can turn into a learning disorder in school.

[Smylinatya]

Hello,

I did read your post the day I came onto this forum. Thank you for taking the time to post it as well as this post here. I have contacted Early Intervention and they came on Friday to fill out the paperwork. Our first meeting with the people who will be doing the evaluation is on July 20th. I can't wait for them to get here. I also feel that often times Drs are quick to lable a kid. I did hear that NY has the highest occurance of Autisum. Why is that??? What scared me was the fact that everything I was reading was contradictory, all of the 'conditions' were so broad that you could have find half of them in almost ANY child. The one thing that stuck out was the talk of the HEP B shot. My son was given that once in Guatemala and then got the series here in the States. While the ingredient that they felt causes autisum has been removed from the HEP B shots in the states, God only knows what he got in his dose from Guatemala.

Thank you again for posting.
Jenn

[Ktates]

Every appt I have had with my pedi for my daughter (at 15 months and on) - they give me a checklist of questions that indicate signs of autism...signs usually start showing up around this age - one of my friends son's has it. I wouldn't really start worrying though - there are plenty of kids that didn't start talking til later. My daughter really didn't start til around 2 and that's with 9 months of EI weekly - sometimes they don't talk til they are ready. But having an EI evaluation is a great thing and hopefully will alleviate your fears!

[happygmom]

Please don't freak out! Your doctor is talking to you about autism because recent research has found that early intervention is very beneficial. More and more children will be screened for autism because of this for ANY indication. And it appears that your doctor is targeting late speech development. 2 words - not 6? It is likely not a big deal.

Doctors go after late speech development as an symptom for a lot of developmental problems. MOST of the time it means absolutley nothing. My son was a "non-talker" at two (less than 10 words). He started talking in full sentences at 28 months, graduated early from HS, and was TA in his university department at age 19. I had a neighbor whose son was the same.

My husband and I joke that he started talking when he met a person who was not an idiot (what does that say for us?!).

Relax - go through the paces - but enjoy your son above all.

Happy G'Ma

[roselee]

Agree with the above poster!! Good points

[AMom2Two]

I'm in the same shoe's as you. Our children are very similiar. My ds walked early, very active little boy. I anticipate his needs so he really doesn't have the need to talk much. He doesn't throw temper tantrums yet. He also says about 3 words, ma, da, and hi sometimes. He understands us, and this week I've noticed a baby jibberish coming from him as if he is trying to say complete sentences. I think that is a good sign.

Our doctor told us the same thing about getting him evaluated, however she didn't bring up autism. She said that alot of early learning problems can be nipped in the butt with proper intervention. She recommend we call also. I have the first visit this Friday. I didn't realize that it won't be the evaluation. I thought it would be. Well, we shall see.

I don't think there is anything to worry about, just a precaution mostly.

Keep us posted!!!!

(hugs)

[ajjhmf]

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I'm sure it's really stressful.

Here's a question though. Does your somehave problems with ear infections? I ask, because sometimes, even if they aren't infected, they reatin fluid which makes it hard for them to hear. Thus delaying their language acquistion. This happened to my friend's son. We go to the same pediatrician and before jumping to autism, she wanted to rule out all medical possibilities first. Turns out poor T couldn't hear. He got tubes and has experienced a language explosion. He went from 3 words at 18mos to speking in short sentences at 21 mos.

Anyway, it's a thought. I beleive in ruling out all possible possibilites before jumping to teh worst.

Jenny

[McNally720]

What a stressor!

My nephew was a late talker--just a few words at 18months (also a late walker)...and now, at 2.5 he is talking in complete sentences and climbing on the swing set.

The range of "normal" is sooooo wide, try not to lose any sleep over it!

[Ima2B]

The rate of ASD (autism spectrum disorders) is quite high. I don't have the American rates but in Canada it is 1 in 160 kids. They are also working on educating doctors more so they can diagnos early. I work in the field as an Autism consultant.

The best thing to do is have him screend and then you can either rule it out or begin an EI program. Good luck.

[roselee]

Also agree with the possibility of chronic ear infections. My brother was a late talker and "low and behold" he had chronic ear infections. I have seen that a lot while working in schools with kids receiving speech therapy. Perhaps you have already looked into that??

Another poster said that the range of normal is SOO wide, especially for boys who don't really care as much as girls about being verbal (generalization). My undergrad was speech and hearing sciences so I was very narrowed on what the "norm" was...so, when my child was a late talker, I completely freaked...yes, I was right in that he had an expressive language delay and he now has a slight articulation problem.
But really, he may have been just fine without it. I still believe its better to get services when you can because it can't hurt.

I will never forget an when an older-wise grandma type woman (8 children - many more grandchildren) told me that I am a complete stressor. She told me to forget my degrees and let my kid be himself and have fun...that was actually good advice for me. Doesn't mean I completely didn't stress but looking back, I didn't have to get a few gray hairs over it.

[momraine]

I owuld agree what other parents said. There is such a wide ranger of normal. If you are concerned by all means have him evaluated. I do think more doctors are briging it up early so you can watch for signs because they can start helping the kids sooner if they know early.