This is a follow up post to a previous post I had written about my boy. He is now 16.5 months. For months and months I have been going back and forward between is he isin't he autistic. I must say it has been the toughest few months of my life. I am at the stage now where I have realized that he is definately on the spectrum. We are awaiting a follow up appointment with the paediatrician in 2 months and he will be referred for a multidisciplinary assessment for diagnosis at this stage. In a way it is a relief to not be desperately clutching at every thing he does to try and prove to myself that he couldin't possibly be autistic. I feel like my view has changed a bit and I am now starting to see and appreciate his strengths rather than his areas of weakness which is refreshing in a way. I'm not sure what i am after here - maybe some guidance as to how things may pan out for him? Severity? Will he ever be independent and be able to have a REAL conversation with me? Will he be happy?will he have friends? The unknown is killing me. I know noone can tell me for sure. I know that. But I am after any thoughts/guidance/experience with your own children. What were they like at a similar age and how have they progressed? I posted in my previous post about how he went silent for a few weeks after turning 12 months. His babbling/vocal output never returned to the same level after this period. His eye contact has stayed dramatically reduced but depending on the time of the day and what we are doing he can have fantastic eye contact. He can spontaneousely use around 10 animal sounds and says a few sounds like broombroom when playing with cars. He understands most of what we say and can follow instructions such as go and get your shoes, sit down, pull your pants up, take your socks off etc etc without gestures. He is very passive and quiet, he has never had a tantrum lasting more than 10 seconds or so. He nods his head yes or shakes his head no to questions. He is very good at pointing to things he wants and will become very LOUD with his babbling when wanting something but in terms of pointing to share something with me this is very minimal. It DOES happen, but very rarely. He has quite limited play ideas and appears to get quite fixated on certain toys and doing the same action over and over again (something I would have previously shown him) ie put the little person in the tractor - attach the trailer and drive it off. He has very limited play ideas on his own and gets fixated on for example driving the train through the tunnel over and over and over again for 20 minutes or so. He has started obsessively picking up sticks when we are outside wherever we are and has started to line up his toys (this is very recent) maybe 4 cars in a line and then move on to something else. It is definately not part of a game for example. He is TRYING to say a few words however.... he uses the same sound for multiple words (eg) ba is for bus, ball, bubbles, bath, ha is for hat, hot, help etc. He has also started saying da for duck. He uses about 10 makaton signs consistently. He really seems to understand what is going on throughout the day like this morning I said shall we go out to the supermarket and he nodded and went and got me two pairs of shoes and put them at my feet and I said where's mummy's jacket and he went and pointed to it. I know he has so many positive skills I really do. I am just struggling with some aspects like when we get home now he really does not react with happiness or excitement at all. When I get him up from his cot he looks straight ahead or randomly points at the light or something on the ground. He used to show happiness and excitement when I would go into him in the morning or after nap time. I don't understand why this has changed. Is he less happy or is it just his outward expression of this? I feel so confused. I know he loves me. I do - but this has been quite a tough one to adjust to. He is quite good at imitating actions and sounds and loves joining in with all sorts of games peekaboo row row your boat patty cake etc although it can be tough to keep his engagement but he does enjoy them. I am so sorry for this long ramble. Any thoughts/advice/insight at all?