Expert: James Michael Roan - 9/30/2005

Question
My son is 17 months old and does not have a very well developed vocabulary. The charts on ask.com indicate that he should have a vocabulary of 8 to 10 words by 15 months.  My son however only says about 4 words audibly and regularly. So in essence my question is should I be worried about him being autistic or is he just a little behind in his speech? Thank you for your time,
                A concerned parent.


Answer
Hi Elizabeth;

I need a little more information. Download the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) and complete and score it. It only takes a few minutes. It's free, widely available, and a fairly good screener for autism. What you are really looking for at this age is a lack of social interest in parents and others. If your only concerns, as a mother, are speech I recommend you refer him to the special education department in the school district in which you live and make a referral for the Birth to Three Program. In the U.S. it is the school district's responsibility to assess and serve children suspected of having a disability from 0-21 years of age.

Email me back if you have future questions.

Kind Regards,
James