Expert: James Michael Roan - 12/29/2005

Question
My son was born six weeks premature. He is now two years old. He barley speaks. Does not use hand gestures either to get his point across. He likes to play by himeself. Even though he has a twin brother. Sometimes when you look at him it looks like he is zoning out and he loves to watch things spin around. Are these signs of autism?  

Answer
Hi Carrie;

Your son's speech delay could easily be caused by premature birth. The "zoning" could be caused by many things including seizures. In autism, we are most concerned about social awareness, social development, and social interactions. I suggest you download off the internet the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT). It was normed on 18,000 children in the UK and provides a risk estimate for autism. It is just a screener and not a diagnostic instrument.  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 son 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 CHAT to your child'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. Make sure he is screened for siezures by your pediatrician.

It's absolutely essential to get the right diagnosis and appropriate services going right away.

Kind Regards,
James