Expert: James Michael Roan - 9/12/2006

Question
My daughter is 2 1/2 and still has no verbal communication. The only words she can say are mum, dad, siblings names aswell as a few food words. The reason I am concerned is that she has began to freak out if her teddies are not sitting properly at bed time. Also when she eats her food cannot touch sauce or gravy on her plate. She does not follow verbal command and has tantrums for no reason. She is also began to wake at night which is strange as she would always sleep 12 hours plus a night. She cannot play with other children for long as it always ends in disaster.
Is this worth seeing my GP about.
Thank you for your time,

Shelley Stewart

Answer
Hi Shelly;

Yes, your daughter is old enough to make a diagnosis. I do not have enough information to comment quite yet on whether or not your daughter may have autism. In autism, we are most concerned about social awareness, social development, and social interactions. I suggest you download off the internet the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) http://www.firstsigns.org/downloads/m-chat.PDF It was normed on 1,293 children in the UK and provides a risk estimate for autism. Also download the scoring instructions at http://www.firstsigns.org/downloads/m-chat_scoring.PDF If there is any risk noted then do two things:

1. If you live in the U.S., make a special education referral to the school district in which your daughter lives. They are responsible for the assessment of children 0-21 years of age, and if they qualify for special education, responsible for education and related therapies.

2. In addition to the special education referral, take the M-CHAT results to your daughter's pediatrician and ask for a referral to a multidisciplinary team expert in this area. Again, if you live in the U.S., you can go to the autism unit at a university near you, or a Children's Hospital.

It's absolutely essential to get the right diagnosis and appropriate services going right away. You are more than welcomed to discuss the results of the M-CHAT with me first if you choose.

Kind Regards,
James