ASD or not? So confused.

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Hello,

My son is 2.8 years old. He has a moderate expressive speech/language delay; can speak in 2-3 word phrases...able to tell us what he wants, etc. but he still struggles to speak conversationally for sure. He also has some sensory stuff going on: has always walked on toes, does not like to swing, can't jump, doesn't want to try bike or scooter, looks down at his feet when he runs. He also does some visual stimming with objects-will rub them under his nose and look at them or sometimes just rubs them under his nose without looking....seems to follow horizontal lines if that makes sense. He LOVES the movement on the highway (always asks to get on it), I think because he feels secure moving fast in his carseat, buckled in. The OT doesn't think his sensory issues are major. He seems to have average to above average cognitive ability according to his evaluations. Understands pretty much everything, can answer most questions appropriately, great joint attention, great eye contact. Socially, he loves being around his family and people he knows but not overly into kids his age. He will repeat a word or phrase several times to get us to notice something. He is going through a phase of being obsessed with "airport towers." Every long object is an airport tower. Developmental pediatrician said not ASD, neurologist said not classic Autism but could be Asperger's, but too early to tell. Does great at his preschool at our church, and at his speech and OT therapies. They don't have behavioral problems with him at all, he is very easy going there. We have a harder time with him at home; most seems like typical two year old stuff but he is intense, manipulative and definitely acts different for us than others.

I feel like the "real" experts are on this website and I'm just curious about what y'all think. Autism, Aspergers? Is it really too early to tell either way? I don't care either way, but I just want to do my best to help and support him through life.

Thank you!

It sounds like possible Aspergers (which will soon be referred to as "mild ASD"), but is likely too soon to tell. You'll have to watch his social, communication, and motor development over the next couple of years.

He sounds a lot like my son at 32 months. Understood everything, was able to communicate well enough to get his needs met, but only spoke 2-3 word phrases. His preschool teacher was concerned that he didn't seem interested in the other children, but an Early Intervention psychologist who tested him with the ADOS said he did not have autism and was just "strong willed". At home there were no obvious stims nor did he seem to have many sensory issues (these increased as he got older). He didn't really play with his toys, but was very active, climbing and exploring everything. Six months of speech therapy seemed to take care of the expressive language delay, but he was never very talkative. He was interested in anything mechanical, liked to push the garage door button, and asked us to open the toilet tank every time so he could watch it fill. It didn't really become clear that he wasn't developing socially until he was about 4 or 4.5, and it took us until he was 5 to find the right professional to diagnose him with Aspergers and then ADHD.

What you can do at this point is to get him speech and OT with therapists who also work a lot with autistic kids. In 6 months to a year, look for speech therapy with a "paired peer", and then a social communication therapy group of 3-4 kids.

The "great joint attention, great eye contact" really has me (for what it's worth) ruling out asd. Sounds gifted to me. Sometimes very intelligent kids come across a little strange and that may be what is happening here.

My DS had great joint attention and great eye contact at that age. He really didn't start to avoid eye contact until about age 4, and then mainly with strangers, people he doesn't like, or when he is in trouble.

Thanks all. Helpful information. I'm just don't know what to think at this point, it's overwhelming at times.

That uncertain time when you do not know (but worry because you suspect it, and cannot just relax and enjoy things like other parents) is the worst. The thing is your child is who he is regardless of label. If he is already getting help for the concerns you currently have (ST and OT) then the best thing to to do is try not worry. (Yeah, right, I know.) The label is mostly shorthand, so you best know what to do, and so others at school etc. know how to handle him, and so that you can get the help you need. If your son is already getting help, then you are where you need to be. As long as you stay aware as needs change, the label is of little consequence.

Very true! I need to keep this in mind. Thank you so much.