How old was your LO when they were diagnosed with Autism?

[Lolaunscripted]

My son will be 3 in december and I always knew he was a special needs baby, I was actually thinking SPD when he was 16 months old. He pedi referred us to a state program that offers speech/developmental therapies and he's been in it since he was 20 months. Almost a year later (they ruled out all other possibilities) and the psychologist that evaluated him ran the MCHAT/CARS test and he scored a 44 (anything under 30 is considered normal) so he has Autism. I'm wondering though, did it take anyone this long to find out? Or longer? Or did you find out sooner? Also what do I do now? He'll be leaving the program when he turns 3, as that's the cut off age.... So we're persuing a school/ school enviroment. Is there anything else I should be doing? Any help/advice is greatly appreciated.

[CreziaMommyTo2]

DS was 15 months old.. i knew at 6 months old... this was 5 years ago.  now they are diagnosing children as young as 6 months old..

so i feel my DS was diagnosed a lot later than he should have been.

but being a first time mom at the time, and everyone saying 6 months is too young for a diagnosis i listened like an ass...

it took 1 month for a diagnosis at 15 months old... i called when he was 14 months old and by 15 months it was official..

[Lolaunscripted]

Yeah, that's how I feel. I listened to everyone around me (except for my mom and sister who kept telling me to have it checked out) and he's my oldest so I was a new mom. He was in speech therapy before the diagnosis though. I don't know what I should be doing for him, or what all I can do.

Quoting CreziaMommyTo2:

DS was 15 months old.. i knew at 6 months old... this was 5 years ago.  now they are diagnosing children as young as 6 months old..

so i feel my DS was diagnosed a lot later than he should have been.

but being a first time mom at the time, and everyone saying 6 months is too young for a diagnosis i listened like an ass...

it took 1 month for a diagnosis at 15 months old... i called when he was 14 months old and by 15 months it was official..

[4almostgrown]

I am not a parent of an autistic child but my very close relative is. She and I went through the initial diagnosis together. It was tough. He is almost 10 and is enrolled in regular education classes with assisitance from an autistic specialist at his elementary school. I think it is important to seek out your local resources for treatment and education for austic children. You may want to start with social services and go from there. I hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

almost 3

[momof2little1s]

My DD was 22 months. But I knew for at least 6 months before that. I was so frustrated that I lost time by not getting the diagnosis sooner. But, I learned it does not do any good. You just need to focus on the now and be proud of yourself for getting the diagnosis now so he can get what he needs.

Therapy is amazing and has made such a difference in my life.

Good luck Hun!

[SandyLaxner]

DS was 2.  But he had started speech therapy already at 15mos for speech delay.

[LClark1973]

I was really late, he was almost three when he started having issues. It took six months  until he started school, and getting therapy.  

[Lolaunscripted]

That's kinda how ours went. By the time he was 18 months he was in speech therapy but didn't get a diagnosis until just recently. They evaluated every other possibilty before doing anything psychological. I just wish we had done sooner.

Quoting SandyLaxner:

DS was 2.  But he had started speech therapy already at 15mos for speech delay.