Early signs...

Among the early signs and symptoms that parents and Pediatricians look for to alert them that a child needs further evaluation for autism include:

• not smiling by six months of age
• not babbling, pointing or using other gestures by 12 months
• not using single words by age 16 months
• not using two word phrases by 24 months
• having a regression in development, with any loss of language or social skills

Infants with autism might also avoid eye contact, and as they get older, act as if they are unaware of when people come and go around them, as you can see in this autism screening quiz.

I hope this helps.  I found it here...

http://pediatrics.about.com/od/weeklyquestion/a/04_signs_autism.htm

Of course I took the quiz for my son and it says he has early signs of autism as well and I'm positive he doesn't have it!  He's too social and his vocabulary is way ahead!

My daughter had some of those same symptoms, but the doctors say she has asbergers syndrome. It may be something other than general autism. There are hundreds of things within that spectrum. Just make sure you have him will evauluated before you decide. Because with each one  theres is different treatments and or meds. Good Luck!!

Raechel

I took the autism screening quiz and this is what they said:

Your child does seem to have some of the signs and symptoms that should prompt and evaluation for autism or other communication disorder

I have tried to talk to my mom about it and she says that I am just over reacting about it.

my son has just started usign words he's more into phyiscal things liek climbign and runnign and jumping so hes not doign 2 word sentaces but hes deffitnely talkign hes just late in speech and it says he has signs but he doesnt have anythign else that asked!!

arent soem kids just slow talkers??

Mine does a lot of grunting and yelling. he can say like maybe 10 word  and he only says like have the word. like please is mes. that he isn't even close to putting to words together. His I love you is  I no. He also has a hard time remembering the word that he does know. if I try to teach him a new word and its not said to him manytimes a day everday he will foreget. His doctor said that his word count is very low and at the age of 2 should be able to put 2 words together.

my absolutely gorgeous and special little 5yo boy has autism. it isn't and easy diagnosis to hear. it isn't an easy road to travel once you have to start fighting for services and therapy; etc, but i swear to you, it isn't the end of the world, although you will probably feel like it is. 

early intervention is KEY!!! there are so many different programs, schools, therapies to help you and your son (if autism ends up being the diagnosis) if you have any questions whatsoever PLEASE feel free to contact me.

i'm not only a spectrum mom i'm also president of Embracing Autism NH. we have many many resources i could point you to and can also help you learn how to be your child's advocate. we have no problem doing research and making phone calls to get you any info you need/want.

remember, you don't have to go through this alone.

check out www.embracingautismnh.org

Quoting Mama_de_Aidan:

I took the autism screening quiz and this is what they said:

Your child does seem to have some of the signs and symptoms that should prompt and evaluation for autism or other communication disorder

I have tried to talk to my mom about it and she says that I am just over reacting about it.

I am a preschool teacher for children with autism and children on the spectrum.  I would recommend having your child screened.  A screening doesn't hurt anything and at least you will know either way, and help yourself and your child.  My son is 31 months now.  He was a late talker due to the fact he was sick when he was little.  But he picked up on it very quickly after he turned two, and is starting sentences now.  Your child can actually get into an ei program just because of the speech delay also.  So if you find that is the only problem, early intervention can still help.

It is better to be over reacting and be wrong, then under reacting and being wrong.  And if you are over reacting and right, then you were never over reacting at all.  As a mother always follow your gut instinct, don't worry what anyone else says.  (I listened to a doctor when my son was 4 weeks old, and my son almost died, I ignored my instinct for a week or so, but thankfully, that instinct was strong and I found another doctor).  We are parents and we know when something is wrong.

Some kids just have a speech problem and all of his problems could stem from not being able to talk. There was a little girl at my son's speech therapist office and all of her problem went away when she started talking.