Does my 20 month old daughter have autism?

My daughter is fascinated with lights, when we turn the lights on at night she walks about staring at them. If we go anywhere that has lights she keeps looking at them and doesn't pay attention where she is walking. We got her toys that has flashing lights and changes colour, she puts her face right on the lights and stares at them. We have also noticed that she is repetitive with her play time. She would turn her toys upside down and keeps spinning the wheels and stuff that spins. She also goes to all the cupboards and open and shuts them constantly. She has started to flap her arms sometimes and sometimes walks on her tip toes. I feel at times she just ignores me when I speak to her, most of the time she doesn't listen to me.

I'm just a bit worried as autism runs in both our families. On my side I have 4 nephews that have ADHD and one nephew is severely autistic. I myself have borderline personality disorder. On my partners side she has 2 brothers with ADHD and a sister with autism. We told the health visitor about our concerns and she just brushed it of and said that is expected behaviour in kids that age, this is our first child but do all kids act like this? She said it is to early to be diagnosed with autism, I think she said 3 years and upwards? she did say if my child is still showing symptoms at her 2 year assessment she will act on it.

So am I being over the top? Is my child acting normal?

Cheers 

Parents
  • As far as I know professionals prefer to diagnose children early these days - even before the age of 2. The earlier the better. Apparently the earlier they are diagnosed, the better the 'treatment' (as far as possible obviously).

    I'd look into getting a professional diagnosis.

Reply
  • As far as I know professionals prefer to diagnose children early these days - even before the age of 2. The earlier the better. Apparently the earlier they are diagnosed, the better the 'treatment' (as far as possible obviously).

    I'd look into getting a professional diagnosis.

Children
No Data