Do you think my DD is autistic?

[Alltheflowers]

My DD is 19 months old. She sees a pedeatrician for other things but now I wonder if she could also be autistic. The pedeatrician says all children of that age have a few autistic traits and to him she's not obviously autistic. He will assess her when she's nearly 2.

Reasons I'm worried:

• only has a handful of words (around 5, but understands alot more)
• used to say mama and dada and stopped and hasn't for months
• doesn't point to things she wants us to look at although seems to point when reading books
• no imaginary play (pedeatrician says its a bit early for this though?)
• flaps her hands up and down when excited
• isn't walking or standing (hypermobile possibly)
• is happy playing on her own and when I leave the room

Reasons I'm not sure:

• is super bright in some areas and seems almost 'knowing' - looks at things with a knowing little smile on her face
• stacks several cups in order
• is brilliant on my computer and can get into apps I can't
• loves being bounced and 'flown' around the room
• when I say e.g. 'where's daddy', looks and smiles at daddy
• e.g. plays her xylophone and looks to us with a smile for our approval

Would really appreciate any views. I don't really know what this would mean either for her in terms of how it will affect her?

She also lifts her arms when we go to pick her up and if shy about something will turn to me and lift her arms

Thanks for your replies. I've started reading the thread which looks helpful. I forgot to mention tantrums as I thought all toddlers do that. She's recently started having little tantrums when tired or when I don't give her a toy she's after straight away.

Health visitor is ok but didn't have much to say on it, didn't think she was but clearly wasn't actually sure as she tried to get her to wave bye bye when she left, which she doesn't do.

She is the perfect age for M-chat, checklist for autism in toddlers. I'll have a google.

www.waisman.wisc.edu/connections/pdfs/webcast/M-CHAT%20handouts.pdf This is an American expanded version of the original 9 questions.

This is the original British version from NAS website.
www.autism.org.uk/working-with/health/screening-and-diagnosis/checklist-for-autism-in-toddlers-chat.aspx

Thanks :)

Hi Alltheflowers, it is a very difficult time when you are worried, and girls can have subtle presentation. My DD first saw the paed at 2.6 - she said that DD didn't cry out as having ASD, and wanted to review her 6 months later.
A few of things you have said resonate with me; my DD was always happy being on her own. She was always happy to see me when I walked into a room and would put her arms up, but if I wasn't in the room, she wasn't a bit bothered. She loved stacking, and she loved movement activities - at that age no interest in nursery rhymes, singing etc, though she does like these now. However, it is so positive that your DD has good understanding, and there children for whom communication clicks in a bit later than the milestones decree it should.
One other thing- has your DD had a recent hearing test? Definitely worth asking for a referral if not.
All the best to you and your DD

Thank you :). She is having a hearing test and has been referred for speech therapy (just because of her limited words). I can't stop worrying now though, even though I've no clue really what it actually means for her if she is autistic (are there any books i should read so I can feel a bit more informed?).

I took her to a toddler group yesterday and she just seemed different to all the others - she wanted to throw toys and was more interested in bits on the floor than the soft play areas. I got paranoid that all the other mums were judging us and i cried on the way home. I don't know if we should go back. I've read the thread mentioned above and have done the test and both suggest she might be autistic. She also likes putting pen tops back on and taking them off and opening and closing doors. It makes me sad as she has other health issues that have been awful to deal with, I thought we (and she) had had our share of things already :(

Just one other question - she doesn't seem to like her new baby brother very much - either glares at him or is indifferent. I'm thinking that may be autistic behaviour too. Does that mean we may have trouble getting her to play nicely with him as they get older?

My DS2 pretty much ignored DS3 until DS3 was about 3. Now they get on pretty well, in fact DS3 is probably the person DS2 interacts with the most. DS3 is good therapy for DS2, always someone to compete with. They share a bedroom and that's been brilliant for DS2.

As Ellen said above, our dd2 is great therapy for dd1 (ASD, hypermobility and hypotonia). Dd1 is 4.2years and dd2 is 16months. Dd1 is sometimes far too rough, but that's probably the only real problem we've got.