Autism-What else might it be?

[angelais23]

My little girl was born two weeks early, she did not breath until about the 4 min. mark.  They said everything was fine.  By 18 months, she didn't recognize her name, didn't point, new around 10 words, no pretend play, didn't call me or my husband mama or dada.  Hired private speach pathologist, we see her 1/wk (b/c of 10-14 month waiting list)  still waiting to see a ped. dr.  Mia is now 21 months.  She knows prob. 40 words, in the last two weeks, can count and recognize 1-10, can say 75% of the alphabet and recognize those letters.  Won't stalk blocks, turns them and says the numb. and letters.  Didn't learn to walk until 18 months. still is unsteady, she used to eat everything!  started pablum at 3 months, ate everything by 12 months, can barely get her to eat at all now...we have appt. booked with O.T. in three weeks.  For now I can give her mashed squash, after a few bites, I add finely chopped chicken and other veggies, with Sesame Street on I can slip in the the mixed dinner otherwise she has total melt down.  Is this Autism?  Could it be anything else??  Was so excited about the letters and numbers but then figured it might just be another symptom.  She doesn't like many people, but she will look you in the eye and smile.  I figured it might be PDD-NOS but not sure...Aside from the letters and numbers, she is delayed in speech, gross and fine motor, social and play.  Estimated at 14 month level (assesment from infant development services) Any info. or opinion would be truly appreciated.
Thanks, Angela

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

There is no indication that she displays autism, though a pervasive developmental disorder is possible. She is awfully young to be focusing on numbers and letters of the alphabet, and it sounds like you are too anxious about her cognitive development. I hope you are not putting too much pressure on her about these things. Try to enjoy her progress and appreciate how she is doing.

[TinaCs42]

I also thought you might be interested in my niece Emily.  Duke University has been following her through the gifted children program.  She has an "Off the Chart IQ."  She was also reading at age 1.  She is now 8-years-old, as of April.  She is fixated on being a pediatric cardiologist and also a paleontologist.  She is teaching a college paleontology class, next semester at I believe the University of Kansas, with one of the professors on stand by.  No doctor has stumped her yet.  She can tell you the genus of almost every discovered dinosaur.  She has a photographic memory.  She knows all of the capitals of every country in the world.  She has a strong knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.  She is into biochemistry.  You can check her out at 1Dinogirl on Youtube.  Enjoy!  Grandma

[TinaCs42]

My 2 1/2-year-old grandson is extremely intelligent.  He can read at about 1st grade level.  Cognitively, he has a verbal comprehension of about a 10-year-old.  He can follow straight-forward commands if you can maintain focus (up to 5 in a row.)  He has about a 600 to 1000 word vocabulary.  He can jump over things using 2 feet.  He's beginning to write with a pen and color inside the lines.  He understands more than any child I've seen at his age.

However, he absolutely refuses to make eye-contact.  He aligns his toys in long rows.  He is obsessed with having the doors in the house closed.  He spins in circles for hours while rolling his eyes in the back of his head to make himself dizzy.  He repeats himself over and over and over again.  He hates to be hugged or held unless you are leaving and then, he has to hug and kiss you over and over.  He is potty trained, but refuses to let anyone go into the bathroom with him.  If you try to deviate from any of his daily routines, he has a melt down and will rock himself and scream for an hour.  He has a melt down if you won't allow him to brush his teeth when he wants to (not necessarily a bad thing.)  He'll sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star over and over until he's finished, then say, "good enough."  He is fixated on anything that moves, like water and small moving objects.  Everything is like a puzzle to him, re: very inquisitive.   He is obsessed with plugs and electrical objects...outlets, lamps, remotes, anything with buttons.  When he talks, he echos everything you say, like a little parrot.  I don't know if this is for his comprehension because he can understand you.  I cannot figure out why he must do this all the time.  Sometimes, he'll tell you a story using 10 words in a sentence, but he speaks so fast, he abbreviates all of the words and you cannot understand him.  He will do role playing and imaginative play if you don't make eye contact with him.  When you make eye-contact with him, he crouches and starts crying "NO."  He used to bang his head over and over, but has stopped doing that finally.  He is also fixated on taking care of his 1 1/2 year old little sister.  He is VERY independent minded.  He wants to do everything himself and we just observe his world.  

      I realize that some of these things are typical 2 1/2 year old behavior, but to what degree?  It's troubling because we have ASD and OCD in the family.  For the first year of his life, he couldn't hear out of his left ear, but that has since resolved.  I realize also that it may have affected his speech, but I'm more concerned about his ritualistic behavior and lack of affection for people.  Could it be that he's just a type A personality and will warm up eventually?  Or, do you think I have something to be concerned with?  Your input would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks  Grandma