What Signs of Autism should I Ask my Pediatrician to Look for During a Well-child Visit?
To identify potential signs of autism during a well-child visit, you should discuss developmental milestones and red flags with your pediatrician. The CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. program provides specific indicators to watch for at different ages:
- 9 months: Look for social smiling and back-and-forth sounds.
- 12 months: Look for babbling and gestures like pointing or waving.
- 16 months: Look for the use of single words.
- 24 months: Look for two-word phrases, as well as an interest in peers and the retention of previously used words.
If you have concerns, you can specifically ask your pediatrician: I have concerns about my child’s development. Can you administer the M-CHAT screening today? The M-CHAT is a validated tool often used during 18- and 24-month visits to help flag concerns. If screening suggests a problem, your pediatrician can refer you to a developmental pediatrician for a diagnostic evaluation or directly to ABA therapy services.
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