Autism Clinic


Is it Autism?

Are you concerned about your baby or toddler’s development? Are you wondering if it could be Autism? Some early indicators of Autism include:

    • No babbling or talking in a back-and-forth manner with you
    • Not participating in or getting excited about games of peek-a-boo, patty cake, or nursery rhymes
    • Unusual sensitivity to touch, light, sound, texture, or smell
    • Not smiling or laughing in return when smiled at
    • Lack of responding or inconsistent responding to hearing his/her own name
    • Unusual or limited eye contact, or avoidance of eye contact
    • Strange fascination or interest in looking at certain objects, lights, or shiny surfaces
    • Unusual or repetitive behaviors with hands, fingers, or the whole body (rocking, spinning, falling, etc.)
    • Not pointing to show interest or excitement, or not following your point and sharing your interest and excitement (about a dog, the moon, bubbles, etc.)
    • Any loss of previously learned language or social skills in toddlers

While it may feel overwhelming or anxiety-provoking to discuss your concerns with a professional, research shows that a parent’s instinct that something isn’t quite right about their child’s development is often correct. The wait-and-see approach means that valuable time is lost, when your child’s brain is most receptive to effective early intervention. For a brief, but scientifically validated tool for screening for Autism symptoms, click here to complete the M-CHAT-R/F (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up; Robins, Fein, & Barton, 2009). Please contact us to review your results in a confidential consultation to discuss how we can help you and your child. Although arriving at an Autism diagnosis is frightening, the sooner the better! Most children experience tremendous gains through research-based early intervention.


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