Autism? I don't know but I worry all the time

[DaddyCool]

DS is 21 months. still very young I know but I worry constantly that he may be autistic. he has some of the symptoms i guess but some of his other characteristics would imply otherwise:

1. isn't talking at all yet!
2. obsessed with and spins wheels on toys, points at car tyres and squeals.
3. spins round and round
4. very loud
5. watches the telly really close
6. not fussed with me or dw when we come home at the end of the day.

but he also...

1. is very clingy and hates when you put him down or even leave the room. he also reaches out to us with open arms wanting to be picked up.
2. points at things he wants
3. has a good sense of humour when it comes to pee-bo or silly sounds
4. doesn't seem to line things up and though he spins wheels on cars he also play with them properly as well.

I don't know i just worry and though everyone says it's ok he's not talking yet I just don't buy it. everyone else's kids seem to be talking by this age. At least a few words even!

I haven't time to read all the posts here but I have read all of yours DC, and nothing you describe would not have fitted my (perfectly normal) ds1, except my son never hit anyone, but that is normal too. He may be clingy because he is used to your dw's individual attention and she doesn't take him to playgroup etc. All I would say about that is get him into a play group (if only for one morning a week) as soon as he is old enough as it will help his social development and maybe make him less dependent on you.

As for lining things up, for ages, ds2's favourite game was to line up cars - maybe 30 or more in a line and slowly move them about the floor. He is also perfectly normal.

Daddycool, I think what's really come out from this post is that children are so, so, so different, whether autistic or NT! I think the fact he comes to get you when he drops something in the bath sounds GOOD as does the pointing. VERY GOOD. Wouldn't worry about the attacking another child- blimey, that sounds pretty the norm for a child approaching 2. It's difficult for me to say because my DD is severely autistic so whole different scenario (at 21 months didn't turn to her name, had no receptive language, no playskills, didn't point etc etc). But I think Jimjams' point about everything ending in tears is a good one. And it sounds like that ISN'T the case. What's your gut feeling when he's with other kids the same age? I used to feel sick inside, even when DD was just one. She was different.

Hi I'm new here. My son is 3 and has Autism. I had the same worries as you when he as that age as he wasn't talking (and still isn't)

My son never pointed though, he still doesn't really, only at his favourite picture book.

How is his understanding? DS2 just didn't react to anything we said to him, apart from basic commands (e.g. shoes, coat, milk, dinner) If I were to take him out and ask him to look at the cat/dog/car he just wouldn't react at all. There was no interaction with him at all.

I also knew from a very early age that he was "different"

If you are still worried I would see you HV. Mine was very good, and I had a diagnosis within a few months of expressing my concern to her.

Hi Vix

I have 2 boys age 8 and 11 with AS (the 11 yr old also takes meds for ADHD)
I also have a very likely AS 5 yr old

hope you get as much from these threads that i do!!!

thanks for all your posts. they give me piece of mind and have certainly made me feel better.

Socci - he gets very upset if you take something out of his hand. he's certainly not a passive little boy.

it seems the pointing (which started very early) is the main thing here. it seems to indicate that I shouldn't worry. Also, my dw isn't worried at all and she spends all day with him. she would be really p**sed off if she saw this thread actually. she thinks i worry far too much.

thank you.