Expert: James Michael Roan - 2/26/2006

Question
My daughter is 21 months and although she has learned about 8 or so words, she doesnt use them at all anymore. She would say one for a while then move onto another but now she says hardly anything. She doesnt interact well with kids at her playgroup, like wont sit down to do activities and stuff. She also doesnt bring things to me or pack things away or point out things. She whines alot, kind of a whingey cry, which is getting quite frustrating. She also flaps her hands quite alot. Though if we kneel down and open our arms and say "Hug Me" she will smile and run into our arms.I dont feel as though she is in her own little world as she notices and cry's the minute i go outside, and when she hurts herself she does cry and walk over to us to be picked up. If we hide and call her she will normally come looking for us and laugh when we jump out, although i have noticed she is almost totally ignorant to her name, although i am quite certain she is not deaf.  She used to say things like "ta" when we gave her a biscuit or a drink or something, now does not. I would not say she is reserved, as she laughs at us alot when we chase her and things of that nature. Since suspecting this i have hardly been able to sleep or eat. She is waiting to see the assessment team but i was hoping someone could please help me. Does it sound as though she has something wrong with her? Or could the hand flapping just be an excitement thing and her other problems be just slow development?  

Answer
Hi Linda;

The behaviors you cited are not strong indicators of autism, although I would not rule out that possibility yet. I'm most concerned about her not readily responding to her name.

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 18,000 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 take the M-CHAT to the assessment team.

Please keep in mind that is also possible to show these same behaviors due to other developmental delay other than autism such as a communication delay.

Please write me with the results after you administer and score the M-CHAT. Remember, the M-CHAT is only a basic "screener" and does not substitute for a thorough evaluation by a team experienced in developmental delay including autism spectrum disorders.

Kind Regards,
James