Is My Child Autistic?

“Is my child autistic?”

If you are asking this question, you are likely experiencing a mix of emotions: anxiety, fear, curiosity, frustration. You are longing for an answer to your child’s struggles or behaviors. One place to start is with a self-evaluation of your child and his or her unique behaviors or potential symptoms. We do offer an Autism Screening Quiz that can help you take this first step in identifying behaviors in your child that are indicative of Autism.

The most common signs of Autism relate to the following:

• Communication: Your child may have difficulty communicating with you and your family, or his or her peers, or may be entirely nonverbal.
• Repetitive Behaviors: Your child may have obsessive tendencies when it comes to routines or keeping to a set schedule for his or her actions. Or perhaps your child will repeat saying the same word, or performing the same action, over and over.
• Social Behaviors: Your child may struggle with touch, such as holding someone’s hand or being hugged, as well as struggle to engage in conversation. He or she may disengage from peers in a social setting.

Observing these behaviors does not immediately equate a diagnosis, rather it suggests that your child should have an evaluation by a developmental pediatrician, a psychologist or a team of professionals at a specialty autism clinic such as Rainbow Babies. As you navigate a possible Autism diagnosis, remember that there are many caring, compassionate individuals, including the therapists at Peak Potential Therapy, who want the very best for your child. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact Peak Potential Therapy.