Community› The Bump Month Clubs› August 2012 Moms
August 2012 Moms
New Discussion

Don't worry about delays and autism right now!

JillwithaniJillwithani member
in August 2012 Moms

Pretty please.

It's easy to look at a list or a screening and automatically think your child falls under 13 different categories or a doctor thinks your kid should be running a 5K and that worries you. Unless your LO is not rolling over, sitting with support, making "baby talk" and acknowledging objects then we're doing alright here.

These lists (like the ASQ) are meant for parents and professionals to just keep an eye on stuff, not diagnose. They give expectations of what will be next and if you don't see these things after a while then MAYBE some intervention is needed.

I cannot tell you how many kids I've worked with with proactive parents (like all of us) where a referral is made bc someone has scared the bejesus out of them and the kid is surpassing all developmental skills within weeks. Every child develops at their own pace and many excel in many areas before they excel in others.

Do not worry about autism. Yes, 1 in 150 are diagnosed but I've personally seen about 25% of those as wrong diagnoses because the child didn't fit into any other "categories". 18 months is the earliest I've seen it diagnosed and that was an EXTREME case with lack of oxygen and birth and microcephely. Our kids may be flapping their arms or spinning now but it's because they're exploring how their bodies work.

 Many doctors have good relationships with early interventionist and therapists and they may be quick to make referrals but the vast majority of the time it's nothing to worry about.

xoxo,

your resident developmental specialist.

Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
Report Reply to Post

Re: Don't worry about delays and autism right now!

  • Jnmac83Jnmac83 member
    Yes
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • smile50208smile50208 member
    Thank you!  I have been ignoring those posts since I didn't want to get myself all worked up.  It is good to read a post like this.
     Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • CheerileeCheerilee member

    Very well said! 

    imageJillwithani:

    Do not worry about autism. Yes, 1 in 150 are diagnosed but I've personally seen about 25% of those as wrong diagnoses because the child didn't fit into any other "categories". 18 months is the earliest I've seen it diagnosed and that was an EXTREME case with lack of oxygen and birth and microcephely. Our kids may be flapping their arms or spinning now but it's because they're exploring how their bodies work.

    DSS received an early diagnosis BUT he is/was on the severe end of the spectrum for communication.  He also was VERY delayed in all of his physical milestones AND his mother was more concerned about her figure than having a healthy baby so he was born with skin hanging off bone.  Looking at pictures, I wonder if he also had low oxygen because he was pretty blue.  

    I want to echo jill that I also believe that kids are wrongly diagnosed sometimes.  Autism seems to be a blanket diagnosis for some doctors when they can't figure things out.  I've also known MANY parents who push for an autism diagnosis so they have an "excuse" for some of the behaviors their child is displaying. 

    image

    "To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue...gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness."
    Report Reply
  • klmcguireklmcguire member

    Very well said! I have not been reading those posts because I am too scared of what I will read!

    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"