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I have a 20 month old child in my care that I suspect may have the beginning signs of autism. I have brought up some of my concerns with his parents about how he has been behaving, but they almost seem to be in denial. The child does not eat with his fingers, he doesn't hold his own bottle, he doesn't play either. He will not engage with the other children, and he cries hysterically if we try to play with him. He also only has 4 words that he sometimes uses, and doesn't wave goodbye or mimic behaviors. The parents have blown off my concerns. I haven't specifically said that I suspect its autism, but I have told them about all of his strange behaviors. I am at a loss about what to do. I don't know if it's my place to keep telling them that I am concerned when they don't take my concerns seriously. Any advise?
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I seriously, seriously hope that this is not a legitimate post.
A 20 month old not self-feeding, still on bottle (and not holding on his own), not mimicking, etc, is more than beginning warning signs of a delay--it's screaming signs of a delay.
I'm not sure if reporting this to CPS on grounds of medical neglect is the best course, maybe others will weigh in, but it's certainly an option. I would get firmer with his parents and tell them that these are SERIOUS red flags at his age, and they need to bring these concerns up to his ped ASAP.Hee hee! Look, I have a signature! -
You cannot make a parent see what they don't want to see. It's hard for a parent to see that their little one is not perfect in every way..Comment
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New this month: A budding artist
Your toddler may surprise you now by drawing vertical and horizontal lines, and maybe even a circle, although scribbling still carries the day. These drawings may seem simple to you, but they're a sign that many aspects of your child's development are on track. Drawing with a crayon involves fine motor skills such as grasping and holding, as well as hand-eye coordination and imagination. If you can't recognize any straight lines in your toddler's scribbles or your child doesn't seem interested in drawing, it's too early to worry. It probably just means that your child is more focused on developing gross motor skills right now, such as walking, running, climbing stairs, and pushing and pulling toys and boxes.
What you can do
Set up your toddler with big sheets of thick paper taped to the table (paper that slides can be frustrating). Most toddlers work best with thick, sturdy crayons or washable pens. If your toddler isn't interested in sitting down to draw at the table, offer some alternatives: chunky sidewalk chalk to use outdoors, paper pinned to an easel instead of a flat surface, or soap crayons to use in the tub.
Other developments: Exploring body parts, taste-testing, hidden surprises
Your toddler is curious about everything right now, and that includes allthe parts of her body. Remember when, as a baby, she discovered her hands and feet and couldn't stop playing with them? Well, something similar may be happening now with her genitals. If you catch your child exploring her private parts, don't panic. This is a normal stage in every child's development. At this age, the best response might be to ignore it. If you're in public and embarrassed by the behavior, try distracting your child with another activity and explaining that some things are done only at home. If you need an analogy, explain that touching yourself is something most people like to do alone, like taking a shower or going to the bathroom. For more advice on dealing with genital touching, see our article.
You may also notice that mealtime is more complicated than it used to be. Your toddler now considers flavor, texture, and even color when putting every morsel into her mouth. Continue to offer new foods often, but don't force her to taste things. Eat the food yourself without making a big deal about it — eventually she'll be curious enough to give it a try.
Even though your toddler can probably chew fairly well, it's still a good idea to offer bite-sized bits of food, especially meat, chicken, fish, and vegetables to prevent choking. Your 20-month-old has the fine-motor skills to handle a spoon or fork, but don't be surprised if she doesn't always want to use her utensils. She knows there's more "hit" and less "miss" if she feeds herself using her hands.
Your toddler is also intrigued by toys such as jack-in-the-boxes, nesting blocks, or shape-fitters — anything that contains a hidden surprise. Her interest will extend to everyday events with a surprising twist, too. Expect to catch her peering down the bathtub drain to see where the water goes, looking in your purse for your car keys, or checking the trash can after you've thrown something away.Comment
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There are so many factors that contribute to what your toddler can and can not do at this point. Some children are simple more physically developed while others are more developed in the language area. Of course there are those toddlers who seem to just do and know it all! This guide will help you to determine which toddler milestones that you should be looking for in your toddler and which ones you can look forward to in the coming months.
Toddler Milestones: Month 19
o Creates phrases or short sentences rather than using one word phrases
o Can use a fork or spoon (most toddlers will use a fork first)
o Imitate adult actions such as cooking or driving
o Stack and sort blocks and toys
Toddler Milestones: Month 20
o Use around 50 words to express themselves
o Use simple sentences such as "There you go" or "Come on Momma!"
o Can undress and possibly dress himself
o Will learn new words rapidly
o Play ball but probably won't be able to catch
o Interested in opening cabinet and outside doors
Toddler Milestones: Month 21
o Name body parts such as hair, elbow and nose
o Walk up and down stairs (always help your toddler on the stairs!)
o Recognize and name people or pets in pictures or in their presence
o Forming more and more sentences to express wants and needs
o Is becoming aware of the potty and is able to control their bladder in some instances.
If your child isn't meeting these toddler milestones on time, remember that his development isn't on set schedule. This is simply a guide that represents what an average toddler of this age can do. You might see these developmental milestones happen more quickly or slowly in your own children. If you are concerned about your toddler's development, contact your pediatrician.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1874735Comment
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I had a 2 year old in my care who I also suspected of a developmental delay. Not Autism but definately some issues. Not playing with others, ZERO words and odd social behavior. I mentioned to the mom that I strongly encourage her to take him to get a language assessment done (it's free here in my province). Usually the SLP's will refer to the proper people when they suspect a mental delay, as I don't have the authority to diagnose. I always refer parents to an SLP if I suspect a delay. Anyway long story short, she argued with me about it, was in TOTAL denial. Eventually I had to term the kid. I couldn't work with a child who wasn't getting any help and with a parent who didn't respect my opinion.
I have also printed off developmental screens for parents to take a look at, but usually the kids are doing well. I wouldn't hesitate to print one off, fill it out and suggest they go see their DR. or refer them to an SLP (Speech language pathologist)
Best of luck
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Autism
I am a mom with two kids with autism, so hopefully I can provide a little perspective. My oldest showed signs the day we brought him home from the hospital and I was asking for screenings at his 6-month checkup. Was given a tentative diagnosis at 12 months and official one at 18 months. Even so I saw it coming, it still felt like getting hit by a truck when the doctors said it to my husband and I. I can't even explain it. The only thing that had kept me asking questions and pushing for answers was to think of it as though it were cancer. If a doctor told me my child had a "little growth" and we could just wait and see what happened, or we could do a biopsy...well, of course I'd want it checked. Same thing with my son's symptoms...and the truth is that early diagnosis can make a world of difference. My son would be SEVERELY affected had he not had the benefit of intensive therapy very, very early.
My suggestion would be to print up a basic screening test and give the parents the results, as well as keeping a log for a week or two of things you find to be "off." I would present it not as saying you suspect autism, but that you are seeing things that are not typical in your experience. If at all possible, give them resources to call (if you are familiar with what is available in your area) and suggest that their pediatrician conduct a screening. I would be very gentle with them and let them know that it could be a little thing that a visit or two with an occupational therapist could clear up (this probably won't be the case, but you want to get them in the door). Another approach would be to ask what kind of difficulties they are having with the child at home, then letting them know which of these are typical and which are not. Tell them that there is a lot of help available for behavioral issues and focus on that instead of a specific diagnosis. Usually if you have a child with autism, there are going to be a lot of difficulties at home and the parents might be feeling overwhelmed. Knowing they could get some help with sleeping, eating, or aggression issues might make them focus on the positive of checking with a doctor, rather than their fear of a diagnosis.
Hope this helpsComment
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