#1 Red Flags & Checklist: How will I know?
"What to do While You Wait" with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker
What you can do while you are waiting for the world of doctor’s appointments, consultations, and program possibilities to open up to you…
#1 What to do While You Wait… Red Flags & Checklist
#2 What to do While You Wait… Safety & Support
#3 What to do While You Wait… Prioritize Wants & Needs
#4 What to do While You Wait… Look into Programs
< My Thoughts > "While You Wait..."
Parents often must wait days, weeks, and even months for assessments or doctor appointments. During this stressful time, it's good to feel that you are actively helping your child. This can become an important time of clarifying what bothers you the most about your child's behavior, development, or other concerns. Video tape what you are seeing and how your child acts throughout the day/night. 'Seeing is believing' for someone new to your child.
Prioritize your child's 'needs' and your 'wants'. Try new things... like teaching your child age appropriate 'developmental skills' that are non-invasive. See what works and what doesn't. Eventually, you will have to choose from available programs, therapies, and services that will be offered. Some are quite expensive, so understand your child well enough to figure out what will probably work and what absolutely won't. You can only know this by trying some things on your own. In this 'page' I give you some ideas on where to start to discover who your child is 'behind' the autism.
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# 1 WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU WAIT… RED FLAGS & CHECKLIST with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker
HOW DO I KNOW IF IT'S AUTISM? A parent asked me where to find a list of 'red flags' & a ‘checklist’? Well, here they are –
Sources for Images retrieved online -
Early Childhood Development Red Flags from -www.pininterest.com/TheBigAWord/signs-of-Autism
What are the Symptoms? from - www.dealwithautism.com
Clinical Presentation of Autistic Patients (Table 1) from - www.uspharma.com
Asperger syndrome from - www.slideshare.net
"What to do While You Wait" with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker
What you can do while you are waiting for the world of doctor’s appointments, consultations, and program possibilities to open up to you…
#1 What to do While You Wait… Red Flags & Checklist
#2 What to do While You Wait… Safety & Support
#3 What to do While You Wait… Prioritize Wants & Needs
#4 What to do While You Wait… Look into Programs
< My Thoughts > "While You Wait..."
Parents often must wait days, weeks, and even months for assessments or doctor appointments. During this stressful time, it's good to feel that you are actively helping your child. This can become an important time of clarifying what bothers you the most about your child's behavior, development, or other concerns. Video tape what you are seeing and how your child acts throughout the day/night. 'Seeing is believing' for someone new to your child.
Prioritize your child's 'needs' and your 'wants'. Try new things... like teaching your child age appropriate 'developmental skills' that are non-invasive. See what works and what doesn't. Eventually, you will have to choose from available programs, therapies, and services that will be offered. Some are quite expensive, so understand your child well enough to figure out what will probably work and what absolutely won't. You can only know this by trying some things on your own. In this 'page' I give you some ideas on where to start to discover who your child is 'behind' the autism.
=====================
# 1 WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU WAIT… RED FLAGS & CHECKLIST with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker
HOW DO I KNOW IF IT'S AUTISM? A parent asked me where to find a list of 'red flags' & a ‘checklist’? Well, here they are –
Sources for Images retrieved online -
Early Childhood Development Red Flags from -www.pininterest.com/TheBigAWord/signs-of-Autism
What are the Symptoms? from - www.dealwithautism.com
Clinical Presentation of Autistic Patients (Table 1) from - www.uspharma.com
Asperger syndrome from - www.slideshare.net
=====================
Parent Concerns Informal Checklist (Modified by Sara Luker), from Developmental Milestone checklist from CDC.
See the original version on the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) website under – Learn the Signs. Act Early; on www.cdc.gov/ActEarly They give you the developmental milestones that your baby should be meeting and also tell you things that you can do to 'help your baby's development'. This will also highlight concerns that you can discuss with your baby's doctor.
Child’s Name _______________ Date of Birth _________ Parent’s Name ____________________
My Child:
Responds to name
Yes Sometimes No
Says 10 (or more) words
Yes Sometimes No
Learns new words, weekly
Yes Sometimes No
Repeats new words heard
Yes Sometimes No
**Repeats a new or familiar word over & over, constantly
Yes Sometimes No
Says 50 (or more) words
Yes Sometimes No
Puts 2 words together, independently
Yes Sometimes No
Gets my attention with words
Yes Sometimes No
Rejects something by saying “No”
Yes Sometimes No
Asks questions by changing voice to indicate s/he is asking a question
Yes Sometimes No
Takes turns in a conversation (engages in a back-and-forth)
Yes Sometimes No
Asks for help with words
Yes Sometimes No
Says understandable 3-4 word sentences
Yes Sometimes No
Is easily understood by other family members
Yes Sometimes No
Is easily understood by familiar adults
Yes Sometimes No
Is easily understood by unfamiliar adults
Yes Sometimes No
Follows one-step directions
Yes Sometimes No
Follows two-step directions
Yes Sometimes No
Listens to story being read in short picture book
Yes Sometimes No
Names the pictures in the book (interaction with reader)
Yes Sometimes No
Answers “Yes” or “No” questions
Yes Sometimes No
Answers “wh” questions (who, when, where, what, why, how)
Yes Sometimes No
Uses pronouns correctly (I, me, we… instead of using person’s name)
Yes Sometimes No
Knows some songs or nursery rhymes
Yes Sometimes No
Participates in pretend play (plays mommy/daddy, teacher, doctor)
Yes Sometimes No
**Very active, always in motion (hyperactive)
Yes Sometimes No
**Acts without fear of consequences (impulsive)
Yes Sometimes No
Points to objects s/he sees or wants
Yes Sometimes No
**Unusual reaction to the way things sound, smell, feel, taste or look
Yes Sometimes No
**Throws tantrums (goal oriented, wants something that’s been denied, needs audience to be watching, trying to get control of others)
Yes Sometimes No
**Has meltdowns (doesn’t know what’s wrong, may be ‘sensory’ or other ‘overload’ or overwhelmed by what is happening, emotions out of control)
Yes Sometimes No
**Lines up toys or other objects, obsessively engages in self-stimulatory behavior
Yes Sometimes No
**Plays with the same toys the same way every time
Yes Some-times No
**Needs to follow a routine or ritual (bedtime, getting dressed)
Yes Sometimes No
**Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles (or watches spinning things for a long period of time) Add something?________________
Yes Sometimes No
**Only eats certain foods
Yes Sometimes No
**Has difficulty feeding oneself
Yes Sometimes No
Can use pincher fingers to pick-up food
Yes Sometimes No
Uses utensils to eat
Yes Some-times No
**Seems clumsy or uncoordinated
Yes Sometimes No
Can play on age-appropriate playground equipment
Yes Sometimes No
Plays well with siblings & same-age children
Yes Sometimes No
< My Thoughts > If the starred (**) questions have a 'Yes' answer & there are a large number of 'No' answers... that may indicate autism-like tendencies. This is only an "INFORMAL" Checklist, to be used ONLY as a guide to inform parental concerns.
Milestone checklist from CDC (Modified by Sara Luker) Actual list can be retrieved on – CDC Learn the Signs.Act Early. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html
===========
Note: Next in the What to do While You Wait is - #2 Diagnosis, Denial, and Doctors. Enjoy!
Parent Concerns Informal Checklist (Modified by Sara Luker), from Developmental Milestone checklist from CDC.
See the original version on the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) website under – Learn the Signs. Act Early; on www.cdc.gov/ActEarly They give you the developmental milestones that your baby should be meeting and also tell you things that you can do to 'help your baby's development'. This will also highlight concerns that you can discuss with your baby's doctor.
Child’s Name _______________ Date of Birth _________ Parent’s Name ____________________
My Child:
Responds to name
Yes Sometimes No
Says 10 (or more) words
Yes Sometimes No
Learns new words, weekly
Yes Sometimes No
Repeats new words heard
Yes Sometimes No
**Repeats a new or familiar word over & over, constantly
Yes Sometimes No
Says 50 (or more) words
Yes Sometimes No
Puts 2 words together, independently
Yes Sometimes No
Gets my attention with words
Yes Sometimes No
Rejects something by saying “No”
Yes Sometimes No
Asks questions by changing voice to indicate s/he is asking a question
Yes Sometimes No
Takes turns in a conversation (engages in a back-and-forth)
Yes Sometimes No
Asks for help with words
Yes Sometimes No
Says understandable 3-4 word sentences
Yes Sometimes No
Is easily understood by other family members
Yes Sometimes No
Is easily understood by familiar adults
Yes Sometimes No
Is easily understood by unfamiliar adults
Yes Sometimes No
Follows one-step directions
Yes Sometimes No
Follows two-step directions
Yes Sometimes No
Listens to story being read in short picture book
Yes Sometimes No
Names the pictures in the book (interaction with reader)
Yes Sometimes No
Answers “Yes” or “No” questions
Yes Sometimes No
Answers “wh” questions (who, when, where, what, why, how)
Yes Sometimes No
Uses pronouns correctly (I, me, we… instead of using person’s name)
Yes Sometimes No
Knows some songs or nursery rhymes
Yes Sometimes No
Participates in pretend play (plays mommy/daddy, teacher, doctor)
Yes Sometimes No
**Very active, always in motion (hyperactive)
Yes Sometimes No
**Acts without fear of consequences (impulsive)
Yes Sometimes No
Points to objects s/he sees or wants
Yes Sometimes No
**Unusual reaction to the way things sound, smell, feel, taste or look
Yes Sometimes No
**Throws tantrums (goal oriented, wants something that’s been denied, needs audience to be watching, trying to get control of others)
Yes Sometimes No
**Has meltdowns (doesn’t know what’s wrong, may be ‘sensory’ or other ‘overload’ or overwhelmed by what is happening, emotions out of control)
Yes Sometimes No
**Lines up toys or other objects, obsessively engages in self-stimulatory behavior
Yes Sometimes No
**Plays with the same toys the same way every time
Yes Some-times No
**Needs to follow a routine or ritual (bedtime, getting dressed)
Yes Sometimes No
**Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles (or watches spinning things for a long period of time) Add something?________________
Yes Sometimes No
**Only eats certain foods
Yes Sometimes No
**Has difficulty feeding oneself
Yes Sometimes No
Can use pincher fingers to pick-up food
Yes Sometimes No
Uses utensils to eat
Yes Some-times No
**Seems clumsy or uncoordinated
Yes Sometimes No
Can play on age-appropriate playground equipment
Yes Sometimes No
Plays well with siblings & same-age children
Yes Sometimes No
< My Thoughts > If the starred (**) questions have a 'Yes' answer & there are a large number of 'No' answers... that may indicate autism-like tendencies. This is only an "INFORMAL" Checklist, to be used ONLY as a guide to inform parental concerns.
Milestone checklist from CDC (Modified by Sara Luker) Actual list can be retrieved on – CDC Learn the Signs.Act Early. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html
===========
Note: Next in the What to do While You Wait is - #2 Diagnosis, Denial, and Doctors. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Just to let you know that I, Sara Luker, have put forth my best efforts to create the extended book reviews presented here on this website. I have permission from the authors to publish these Extended Book Reviews. This is just a sharing of stories of those who have gone on before you. Please, understand also that all health matters ALWAYS require professional medical decisions, diagnosis, and treatment by highly qualified and licensed individuals.
Recently, I have added “What to Do While You Wait” to the website. This collection of information is for educational purposes only. My hope is that you will not feel alone when dealing with the mysteries of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Know that I, Sara Luker, receive neither financial rewards nor other interests derived from this website. This has been created purely for the readers sharing information and for your enjoyment.
Regards,
Sara Luker
Recently, I have added “What to Do While You Wait” to the website. This collection of information is for educational purposes only. My hope is that you will not feel alone when dealing with the mysteries of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Know that I, Sara Luker, receive neither financial rewards nor other interests derived from this website. This has been created purely for the readers sharing information and for your enjoyment.
Regards,
Sara Luker