Signs of Autism in a Toddler

Photo by Yu Jinyang

It can all be so confusing. You go to the pediatrician and fill out several questionnaires at your child’s 18-month well child check. Your pediatrician says that your child is not quite meeting milestones but you can wait and see if they catch up. Many children do catch up and the “wait and see” method works well for them.

However, young children with autism often fall further behind. They learn and process the world differently than their same age peers and therefore they often need intervention to support their development. Learning developmental skills is important in supporting their ability to happily engage in the world.

If your child is late to use gestures, has had a regression, has speech/language delays, inconsistently responds to their name, is not pointing, does not babble much or use words to get their needs met, does not try to engage you in their play, etc., they may have autism. Autism is a way of thinking, communicating, and processing the word that is different from the mainstream. Oftentimes they need different approaches to support their development. This may include speech or occupational therapy, assistive technology, etc.

Here is a video that illustrates some differences that might indicate autism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRRF4NZB3WQ.

So what can you do? If you are seeing signs of autism, have your child evaluated. You may be eligible for many services that you are not even aware of. We can to meet with your family and evaluate your child. You can also have them evaluated by the Education Service District. If you have developmental concerns, please call for a consultation and talk to your child’s pediatrician.