Expert: Celtica - 6/29/2007

Question
I could really use some advice. My daughter is 20 months old. At her 18 month check up, I filled out the M Chat test. The pediatrician told me there was nothing to worry about. She set us up with Early Intervention for a speech evaulation since my daughter only babbles. I have looked up that test and scoring here at home on the internet because she it didn't seem right that I answered no on alot of questions and she failed 17 of 23 questions. Why didn't they refer us to someone? My daughter had a hearing test done in May after having tubes put in for persistant ear infections and her hearing is good. She had tubes put in March 1st and they thought that was one reason she was not talking, but no improvement since then. She says mamamama, dadadada, bebebebe, but she does not refer to anything specific when she does babble, she just babbles at anything. She does not call me mamamama, she recently said mom but has stopped saying that as well. When she was 9 months old, she was waving bye bye but hasn't done it since. She was late to walk at 17 months, not really late but later than we expected, she never held her own bottle until she was 13 months old, she was late to crawl, really she has been behind on alot of stuff. She will not stack blocks, she has screaming fits all the time, she does not point at all, she could care less of where we are, she will not play telephone or anything else, she prefers to play alone but she does like being around other kids. She just throws her toys, loves to play with cords, she throws clothes everywhere, we had to take the handles off her dresser and then she still gets the drawer open, so we had to put a gate around it or I have to put the clothes back 10 times a day. She does not listen at all to discipline, she does not respond to her name except maybe 1 in 10 times, she will stare outside, walk on her tip toes occasionaly while staring at the ceiling, she used to flap her arms alot. There are times she bumps into things because she isn't watching where she is going, she is always hitting her head or falling. My daughter hates to be cuddled, she fights against you when you try to hold her, she will not kiss or hug at all. She thinks it is funny when she pokes you in the eye, she is obsessed with eyes. She tries to step on our 8 week old daughter to get higher in the air, it is like she is a stepping stone or something. She is very restless and hyper, she rarely sits still, at the doctor she runs all over, she loves to be chased but hates peek a boo, won't sit still in a stroller or cart, she won't play pat a cake. She spits everywhere when she drinks, she thinks it is funny and then will try to lick it off the floor. She won't hold a cup without throwing it or just dumping it out, she won't hold a spoon, she still eats with her fingers. She hates rough textured meats, can't get her to eat them. She used to clap but stopped 6-8 months ago. She basically ignores you when you talk to her. She won't let me read to her, she just flips the pages. I am getting really concerned. I think I should take her somewhere to be checked for autism or something but alot of people tell me that if there was something to worry about, the doctor would have said something. We live in the rural part of the state so I wonder if these doctors are not as up to date on things... I am going back to my hometown in July for a couple weeks, I am thinking about setting her up with a doctor visit while I am there since that is near Omaha, NE where the best doctors and hospitals are in this state. I either want to be assured she is just a late bloomer or get her started on a program that can help her the most. I know early intervention is the best thing for someone who is developmentally disabled.I just want to make sure she has the best care. What do you think? Anything would be appreciated.

Jill

Answer
Hi Jill,

as I am an autistic adult and not a health care professional I don't know much about typical early development in a child, and if your child's development may still be within normal parameters. Having said that, what you write sound alot like autism to me. Getting a second oppinion is always a wise decision if you're unsure if your doctor's diagnosis is right. Most GPs may have never seen an autistic child, and wouldn't probably recognize one if they saw one. So, if you're worried, take your daughter to a specialist and have her tested for autism. The earlier she gets diagnosed the better (if she *is* autistic, that is).
Good luck, you can always ask again,
c.