How can i tell if my 3 yr old is autistic?

Question

How can i tell if my 3 yr old is autistic?

Answer 1

Every person with autism is an individual, and like all individuals, has a unique personality and combination of characteristics. Some individuals mildly affected may exhibit only slight delays in language and greater challenges with social interactions. They may have difficulty initiating and/or maintaining a conversation. Their communication is often described as talking at others instead of to them. (For example, monologue on a favorite subject that continues despite attempts by others to interject comments).

People with autism also process and respond to information in unique ways. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present. Persons with autism may also exhibit some of the following traits:

Insistence on sameness; resistance to change

Difficulty in expressing needs, using gestures or pointing instead of words

Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language

Laughing (and/or crying) for no apparent reason showing distress for reasons not apparent to others

Preference to being alone; aloof manner

Tantrums

Difficulty in mixing with others

Not wanting to cuddle or be cuddled

Little or no eye contact

Unresponsive to normal teaching methods

Sustained odd play

Spinning objects

Obsessive attachment to objects

Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain

No real fears of danger

Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity

Uneven gross/fine motor skills

Non responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf, although hearing tests in normal range.

For most of us, the integration of our senses helps us to understand what we are experiencing. For example, our sense of touch, smell and taste work together in the experience of eating a ripe peach: the feel of the peach's skin, its sweet smell, and the juices running down your face. For children with autism, sensory integration problems are common, which may throw their senses off they may be over or under active. The fuzz on the peach may actually be experienced as painful and the smell may make the child gag. Some children with autism are particularly sensitive to sound, finding even the most ordinary daily noises painful.

Their website also has the criteria for being diagnosed with autism, asperger's, etc.

Answer 2

You need to seek the advice of a developmental pediatrician, pediatric neurologist, neurodevelopmental doctor.  If there are clinics in your area that specialize in autism they are the best.

Don't rely on the judgement of your regular pediatrician-in my experience-they are notoriously wrong when it comes to developmental issues-often telling a parent of a 2 year old thatis not talking that the child is fine....

Answer 3

DON"T SELF DIAGNOSE!  If you notice some of the "typical" symptoms, bring it up to your practitioner.  If we self diagnose, we will all have cancer or tumors, etc

Answer 4

Have a doctor do some testing. The sooner you catch it and start addressing it the better the results will be. Good luck!

Answer 5

Take up the issue with your doctor. Most pediatricians will listen to parents who hjave concerns.  If your doctor doesn't seem to listen, get a referral to a child psychologist.  I wish I did. It took about a year of my family doctor saying "we'll wait and see" and "he is just a little behind. It's normal," bfore we decided to go to a specialist.  Understand too, if your child is autistic, then your child may qualify for SSI (depending on assets and income) and medicaid. Don't think you earn too much either. I thought I earned too much, and my son got full benefits.

If he is diagnosed autistic, here are some things you should do:

1. Learn about IDEA (the law that governs special education) and the ADA (Americans with diabilities act)

2. Utilize all the services of the Autism Society in your area or communicate with them via the internet/email.

3.  Learn about the IEP process.

4. Get into some sort of therapy, ie. support groups (MOPS, parents of disabled children groups, etc.), family or personal therapist.  This can be a very hard time.  Some people have to go through a type of mourning, so they can accept their situation.

5.  Be vigilant and assertive. If, through your own personal research, you see a service your child needs, get a doctor or two behind you and demand (yes, demand) that your child be evaluated and given the service.  Schools and district tend to make a plan for your child and expect you to follow it without question. Usually its something that is the bare minimum.  

6. Do not be intimidated. They might have the degrees, but you are the "pro" of your child. No degree can trump personal knowledge.

Good luck. Many of us are available if you need more help.

Answer 6

Without knowing why you think your 3 year old may be autistic it is hard to tell. As autism is a spectrum of disorders every one who has this condition is different. They do however all share the triad of impairments, these are difficulties with social interaction, a limited imagination and a lack of social communication. If you are at all worried the only thing you can do is take your child to your doctor and tell him what you think. For a proper diagnosis you need a thorough and full assessment by a clinical psychologist which would take quite a while as a full history must be taken and they will want to know if your child is developing the same as other children. You know your own child better than anyone else so if you are at all worried go and get professional help. Good luck.

Answer 7

Symptoms of autism are usually noticed first by parents and other caregivers sometime during the child's first 3 years. Although autism is present at birth (congenital), signs of the disorder can be difficult to identify or diagnose during infancy. Parents often become concerned when their toddler does not like to be held; does not seem interested in playing certain games, such as peekaboo; and does not begin to talk. They also may be confused about their child's hearing abilities. It often seems that a child with autism does not hear, yet at other times, he or she may appear to hear a distant background noise. (webmd)

Answer 8

talk to your doctor and get a referral to a specialist.

Answer 9

Take your child to a psychologist who is trained in working with autistic children and have testing done.  You can't know if you don't have a professional evaluate him.