Psych eval

To make a long story short, my daughter turned 2 in February. She just qualified for speech in November and has been getting speech for 6 months. She also is getting a spec Ed session to work on focusing better. Her eye contact is inconsistent with her teachers as well as responding to her name. For us, I'd say her eye contact is fair but doesn't always answer to her name. Her speech is coming along and we are beginning to hear a lot more sounds and words. But they want to do a psych eval because the speech is progressing slowly and the inconsistencies with eye contact and response to name. Shes never in her own world, is very social with adults and kids, doesn't stim, diesnt have repetitive behavior, points, smiles, has age appropriate play skills, and her receptive language is great. I'm in the teaching field and am aware now that autism is now overdiagnosed and I do understand that there is no one criteria that fits that description. I guess my fear is that she will be misdiagnosed. Just curious if any of your children fit this description and if so, we're they diagnosed. (My niece is autistic so I've always been a bit heightened in certain things to look for.) any suggestions are appreciated.

Re: Psych eval

There are very specific criteria for autism, inconsistent eye contact and slow aquisition of speech is just a small piece. A psych eval will offer way more info then just autism/ADHD screenings. It will give an overall picture of her cognitive function, memory etc... Delays in these areas can also affect development of other skills. In addition to a psych eval I would also take her to a good pediatric ENT and have her hearing checked along with a good pediatric opthomologist (We use Long Island Pediatric Opthomology and Strabismis in Plainview/Port Jeff).

Psych eval

I agree with the above poster. DD was diagnosed at 2.5 and at that point she had great eye contact, never stimmed and played appropriately. She did not speak meaningfully until almost 5. Now at 8 is she out of the self contained classroom, has no academic supports but her social skills are a major deficit, which we are working most on right now. Just by meeting DD you would never ever think she was autistic but that is only because she does not fit the "classic" symptoms. All children with autism present differently, especially girls, but my advice is not to focus on the diagnosis but to focus on the therapies she may need to make her successful as she gets older. While DD's services decreased dramatically over the years she still needs a ton. I personally will never get rid of her autism diagnosis even though the school sometimes pushes that because the amount of services you are entitled to are extensive through schools as well as private insurance.