Talking to Your Pediatrician About Autism

Bringing your concerns about your child's development to the attention of your pediatrician can be difficult for many parents. It can be even more difficult to be persistent if your pediatrician tells you not to worry, or doesn't take your concerns seriously. Here are some tips to help you make your concerns clear to your pediatrician, and steps to take if you're not satisfied with his or her response to your concerns.

Be prepared with a list of concerns.
Before your visit with your pediatrician, sit down with a checklist of developmental milestones that are appropriate for your child's age. Go through the list and check off the ones that concern you.

Be specific.
It will be far easier for your doctor to grasp the situation if you say, "She doesn't turn her head to look at me when I call her name" than if you say, "I think there's something wrong with her hearing". Try to be as specific as you can about all of your concerns. Remember that your doctor only sees your child for about 15 minutes during a very busy day. Your observations and reports are a major factor in shaping his opinion.

Avoid comparisons with other children.
When you say 'My neighbor's one year old is doing this, but my child isn't yet', your doctor may go into 'soothing' mode. Rather than address your concern, he may address what he sees as 'nervous mother syndrome'. Stick to descriptions of your child's behavior without referencing other children.

Insist on a routine developmental screening.
Routine developmental screenings only take a few minutes - and your doctor may actually be doing one without you being aware of it. You may have filled out a questionnaire about your child's behavior that asks questions like 'Does your child smile at you?' and 'Is your child using 2-word sentences?' or your doctor or nurse may ask those questions. If you're not sure that your doctor has done one, ask. If he hasn't, ask him to do so.

Be persistent.
If your doctor doesn't seem to take your concerns seriously, or refuses to perform a simple developmental screening, ask him to explain why. Don't be afraid to ask for a referral to another doctor, or to schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss your concerns specifically.

Ask questions.
Part of your doctor's job is to make sure that you understand any diagnoses or the results of any tests. If you don't understand a term that was used, ask your doctor to define it or give you examples. If he gives you the results of a test, ask him what they mean if you're not sure.

If your doctor refuses to refer your child…
Know your rights. In many states, you don't need a doctor's referral to have your child evaluated for Early Intervention needs. In Massachusetts, for instance, any parent can contact their local school department or health department to ask for an Early Intervention screening. You'll find contacts and information about Early Intervention at the (http://www.nectas.unc.edu/) National Early Childhood Technical Assistance web site.

Keep in mind that you are the person who knows your child best, and who is with him or her more than anyone else in the world. If you have concerns, it's far better to bring them up and have them addressed appropriately than to wonder - or worse, put off a diagnosis and waste precious time that could make a world of difference to your child.

At the same time, the American Autism Society cautions that autism is a broad diagnosis that encompasses an almost infinite combination of symptoms, abilities and levels of abilities. Every child diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder is an individual with individual needs. This is echoed by many other specialists and experts in the field of autism who believe that each child with autism must have an individualized treatment plan that addresses their particular needs.