Possible Autism in my almost 2 year old

Hey ladies,
Ive been talking to SO about my concerns for Kiefer for months now. He keeps brushing it off saying "well Aidan (our oldest) was a fast learner" or "maybe hes just a late bloomer" etc etc.
Well my 20 month old just doesnt seem right. I have no other way to put it, he just seems off.
So with my concerns I researched it a bit and even took on some Autistic kids in my InHome day care, wanting to broaden my expertise and get a closer hands on feel to what things would be like in the life of a mother with Autistic children.
After watching these children my fears lessened, I told myself, 'Kiefer is nothing like those kids, he's got t just be a late bloomer!" So I put it off a little longer.

Well, he's 20 months old:
He does not talk AT ALL, he does babble like crazy while playing by himself
He does not respond to his name
He doesnt heed to simple commands
He shows no interest in his surroundings
He rarely sits still unless he's found something HE wants to do
He does make eye contact
He is very happy and lovey
He does not point
he doesnt know body parts
He doesnt follow my hand when I point to an object
he doesnt play with others, he prefers to sit alone and do his own thing
He will spend hours taking all the toys out of a toy box and then putting them back in one by one.
He never throws tantrums
He understands "no" "kiss me" and "sit down to eat"
He does not wave good bye or shake his head "no"

The list goes on and on. hes not doing things at the age of 20 months old that my oldest WAS doing at the age of 12 months.

Today I took him to the doctor. We spent 4 hours evaluating and talking about my concerns for him, she tested his attention levels and everything in several ways. She says she is very concerned and that something just isnt right with his development and she brought up the ideas of autism with me. She's referred me to a specialist who will come to my home for evaluations. Im so terrified and sad and confused and I dont know what else but a wave of emotions are piling up inside of me. Hes an amazing baby, is it possible it could be something else? Could he still be a late bloomer? I mean, I see the signs, but some of his traits arent austistic-like and he doesnt have some pretty common autism traits either... Have any of you ever been through this and have it turn out to be something ther than Autism, something less drastic? Its not the end of the world, i know this. Its just so sad and I cant help but blame myself and I feel horrible. I love him so much and I cant imagine him growing up being seen as "different" having trouble holding on to friends, if he ever makes them, dificulty understanding his surroundings, and possibly needing assistance for his entire life! I know nothing I did could have prevented this, i know its a chromosonal/brain deffect, I know for some its expanded by the MMR vaccine but Kiefer never got his, for this very reason!!

I know the possiblility of it being something other than autism is huge, it could be anything! its just that the doctor threw that out there that im concerned

I havent told SO yet, he's out of town. I dont even know how to tell him what was discussed cause he blamed himself a few weeks back thinking its from a fight we had when i was 15weeks pregnant. So now, both parents, blame themselves...

Just remember: whether it is autism or it isn't...he's still your child. It changes nothing, except what you do going forward. It doesn't change who he is. The link between autism and vaccines isn't proven, and the study that made the initial link was proven to be a bad study. There are plenty of very high-functioning individuals with autism, many of which you would never even guess had it. It is not a death sentence. It is not even a life sentence.

That said, he does sound like he might be on the spectrum, but you mentioned a lot of things he IS doing that my nephew, who will 11 soon, did not do at that age. My nephew is diagnosed autistic, and has been receiving intervention since preschool years. He does not go to a special school, though he does have some therapy, and he does have friends.

He sounds like my cousin who has aspergers.

He is fine other than being a little socially awkward now, at 21. He has a girlfriend, his small group of friends, and has a 4.0 at Limestone college...VERY smart. He just didnt speak, but to babble until he was 5. He loved taking his toys, remotes, etc a part and liked setting fires for a while.

He doesnt understand sarcasm at all, and gets really fixated on one thing. It comes in phases.

I hope you get the answers you are looking for.

It's not his hearing? One of my folks at work has been labled one thing or another his whole life and it turned out he couldn't really hear.

Quoting Autumn Whisper:" Just remember: whether it is autism or it isn't...he's still your child. It changes nothing, except what ... [snip!] ... since preschool years. He does not go to a special school, though he does have some therapy, and he does have friends."

Is he functioning well? Does he function better now that hes older? The 2 autistic children I took on for a while in my day care were pretty extreme cases and Im almost positive that if Kiefer is on the spectrum he wont be that severe. Im thinking it may be more along the lines of Asburgers (sp?) which would make sense cause SO has a cousin with it.

Im worried this new baby will have it too. Its just that my biggest dreams are for my children to have the life I never had. Go to school, get into a great college, Meet the right guy or girl and have a beautiful wedding and a beautiful family, and a wonderful life. I feel like everything Ive read about autistic children growing into autistic adults they rarely experience those things.

Did they make sure to check his hearing and eye sight. I am sorry I can not give any advice I have no exprience. He sounds just like this baby my exs mom used to watch to a tee. doctors never could tell the parents what was wrong with him though.. but don't give up hope I'm sure he is a very bright child with an awesome personality   there is hope, so just go with what god gives you and stay strong and move forward that's all we can do as humans   goodluck and I will be praying for you and your family.

Quoting Katie Jepson:" It's not his hearing? One of my folks at work has been labled one thing or another his whole life and it turned out he couldn't really hear."

Ive thought of that too but he hears ok. he can hear Mickey Mouse Clubhouse from 2 rooms over at its lowest setting and come running in like hes gonna miss it! My MIL suggested that maybe he can only hear certain tones correctly, I cant hear Bass tones very well but I dont ever do anything about it and I can hear high pitch dog whistles that no one else can hear.... so maybe he has my tine issues but that doesnt explain not pointing or following where im pointing with his eyes or following objects with his eyes.

Quoting BoogerBear's Momma:" He sounds like my cousin who has aspergers. He is fine other than being a little socially awkward now, ... [snip!] ... sarcasm at all, and gets really fixated on one thing. It comes in phases. I hope you get the answers you are looking for. "

Ive read that a lot about aspergers. its still on the spectrum but way different that just straight Autism. It makes me wonder how many of those "strange kids" in middle school or high school might have had it?   I dunno, im so worried. Ive felt like such a bad mom for not having my son on the right track and for him being behind and now it may be something I had absolutely no control over.

Quoting Alexis's Mommy 2 Be:" Did they make sure to check his hearing and eye sight. I am sorry I can not give any advice I have no ... [snip!] ... you and stay strong and move forward that's all we can do as humans   goodluck and I will be praying for you and your family."

They cant really do the hearing test til after the age of 2 or when they can respond to easy commands. my almost 4 year old had trouble today following the directions for the hearing exam and he has deveoped just fine, like I said he was a quick learner as a baby. Seeing as how Kiefer doesnt respond to anything the tests wouldnt do any good even if that werent the issue.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Momma Kylee +2.5:</b>" Is he functioning well? Does he function better now that hes older? The 2 autistic children I took on ... [snip!] ... I feel like everything Ive read about autistic children growing into autistic adults they rarely experience those things. "</blockquote>



The odds are that your next baby will be fine.

My nephew is night and day different. The therapy and intervention has done him a world of good. He can converse. It is not altogether "normal" for an eleven year old boy, but it is not too far off, either. I imagine he will live on his own someday. Only time will tell. There is a marked difference in his relations just in a year. Who knows where he will be in five, six, seven years.

And I can honestly say, he was not doing at 2 what your son is doing. He would not make eye contact. He did not babble. He mostly screamed.

Quoting Autumn Whisper:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Momma Kylee +2.5:</b>" Is he functioning well? Does he function ... [snip!] ... say, he was not doing at 2 what your son is doing. He would not make eye contact. He did not babble. He mostly screamed."

Thank you. This reassures me even just a little bit. Im glad hes doing better, I always have so much heart for people who go through things like this. We are so fortunate and so many take that for granted

<blockquote><b>Quoting Momma Kylee +2.5:</b>" Thank you. This reassures me even just a little bit. Im glad hes doing better, I always have so much ... [snip!] ... I always have so much heart for people who go through things like this. We are so fortunate and so many take that for granted"</blockquote>


Just remember: you are his advocate. Love him, believe in him, and help him...there is no telling what he can do.

This goes for any child.

He sounds like he has a slight case of it, doesn't seem too bad. With work... He could be like any other kid his age.. Maybe just a little slower in school. This is EXACTLY how my little cousin is. Only he is 5, his mother never got him help, never worked with him. So nothing has improved.. He'll be in special classes in school.  

there is a broad range of autism...aspergers etc.//

therapy is the best thing and the earlier the better
just take one day at a time!

Thanks ladies. Apparently Im supposed to be waiting for a call from the speech and hearing therapists to schedule an appointment. My pediatricians office states that if I dont hear from anyone by tuesday that they'll try again. I dot understand why they dont want me to make the calls. I would stay on it until an appointment gets made but I guess my pedis office has to work through my state assisted covereage and find the right places that will take him. Its just a waiting game and its killing me.