Is 3 years old to young to be tested for Autism?

Autism - Does your child have Autism?
Craig, Alaska
December 6, 2007 9:16pm CST
I am not sure if he has this. but his docter thinks he may so He asked me if I wanted to get him tested. I told him no but now I wonder should I get him tested. Don't ask me why I said no. Can anyone give me advice?
5 people like this
10 responses
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
7 Dec 07
Did you ask your son's doctor why he thinks you son has autism? 3 years old is not too young to get a child tested for autism. I've heard of people testing their kids that were less than a year old. By the time my autistic son was 3 years old my husband and I wanted to get him tested, but his doctor didn't think he was autistic and wouldn't give us the referral we needed to get him tested. Not only did the doctor think he wasn't autistic, but other people thought he wasn't either, including my family members and even strangers. Eventually my husband and I did get our oldest son tested, but he was almost 7 years old by this time. Do you know anyone with autism? Are you familiar with the signs? If your son's doctor thinks your son has it, maybe it is because he knows what to look for (unlike my son's doctor). If this is the case, the sooner you get your son tested, the better. Early prevention can help one with autism (or at least this is what I've heard). Here is a link to help better understand autism: http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_whatis_characteristics Good luck!
• Craig, Alaska
7 Dec 07
Thanks for the great website. My son has very few of those. But I told the doctor I think he's just a toddler. He don't have tantrums. He just says no alot but he don't scream all the time. He just likes saying no. theres other factors. If you ever heard of a cure for this? I know a little about it but maybe I'll talk to his doctor and see why he thinks my son should be tested.
4 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
14 Dec 07
No, there is no cure as far as I know.
2 people like this
• Canada
16 Jan 08
Autism isn't curable from what I have learned. Although from what I have learned, they can go into remission if they are treated early enough. There is a window between the ages of 2 and 6 that is the best time to treat them to do this. So if you think your son has any signs of autism please get him tested....even if you don't believe it....I never thought my 11 year old son had autism, but am now having him tested for a form of autism called aspergers.
@jimbelle (485)
• Philippines
17 Dec 07
My friend's son had his test between 2 to 3 years old. He has to be tested this soon so intervention can be started the earliest possible time. I have here a link which gives you a checklist for screening for Autism in toddlers (CHAT)- www.depts.washington.edu/dataproj/chat.html Hope it will help you is assessing your child.
• Craig, Alaska
17 Dec 07
That was a interesting website. thanks for posting it. I am not sure my son as autism when I read over those questions. People in the past thought he may beause of one of other facts is He is afraid of swings. when he was 1 years old he loved being on the swing thats for babies you know the ones you find at the city parks. He loved it, but then starting at 2 he started to be scared of the swings. He's 3 now and still is scared. He just loves slides.
2 people like this
@jimbelle (485)
• Philippines
19 Dec 07
I still believe that it would be better if your son be tested. It will be an advantage if he is tested early so you will know the real score. If he has some delays in speech perhaps go for it. Good luck.
2 people like this
• United States
23 Dec 07
I was tested when I was five for Autism. I am Autistic (highly functioning). I am now 39. * I believe that the tests have improved for this. The earlier you find conditions in children, the better the chances for a positive outcome, and yes, there are positive outcomes for Autism. One is typing on MyLot right here. * There are other conditions that can mimic Autism too, like Asburger syndrome. (I probably didn't spell that right and the spell checker isn't helping.) Like Autism, having it found early can lead to a good outcome. * These kids are very often very bright. Some startlingly so. They can lead good lives. There are lots of great programs that can bring their little intellects and creativities out to the surface.
• United States
26 Dec 07
Autism brains are different. Each one is wired just a little differently then the next. There is still one thing that frustrates me when dealing with the non-autistic world and it's manners that drives me NUTS. * What the average person accepts as instinct is a learned behavior for an autistic. It is learned by rote. That is a very large list of rote learned behavior, and tiny mistakes are very frustrating. * For example, try to imagine having to memorize a book of behavior in a culture you don't know. Everyone else takes knowing that culture for granted, and think you do too. There are however, pitfalls. * Places where you can say things and do things with out offending others and other places where such actions are strict no-no's! Telling a boss's wife just how a dress accents her bumper at a company party is just not a wonderfully tactful idea. The eyes on the other hand can be complemented in perfect safety, if your another female.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Dec 07
Can you give us any insight into what our kids are facing/going thru, since you are high functioning autistic? I would be so thrilled to just find a way to comfort my daughter when she is totally overwhelmed by illness or something else, and hurting herself over it. Did you ever have episodes like that?
3 people like this
@micamyx (916)
• Philippines
7 Dec 07
My brother was tested when he was 3 years old
3 people like this
• Craig, Alaska
7 Dec 07
thanks for comiting. The reason I made this question was my son has 2 doctors. the first docter knows him since 1 years. the other doctor just met him this month. The first docter saw him back in August before me moved out of that town. She said he shouldn't be tested until he's 5 years old, that he's to young to be tested. My son turned 3 in May. Now this new doctor he's seeing says he would like to test him for it.
3 people like this
@micamyx (916)
• Philippines
7 Dec 07
When he was 2, we suspected that he might have a hearing defect and delayed in speech because he wasn't reacting that much but he loves tv commercials and cartoons. The doctor said that he doesn't have any hearing defect. A week after we read some signs and symptoms of autism in the newspaper and 9/15 symptoms was present in my brother. It was difficult for the family because my grandpa is an ob-gyne, dean and my mom is a chief nurse but we have to accept everything. Whatever the outcome is, you must accept it with all your heart.
3 people like this
@wiccania (3360)
• United States
7 Dec 07
It's never too early. My son was 4 years old before he was tested. I think that if we knew he was Autistic sooner, we might have fewer issues with him. We'd have been able to get him into physical, speach and occupational therapy sooner and it might have made a big difference when it came to getting him started in school. He's 5 1/2 now and tonight he told me (verbally) that he was hungry for the first time ever.
2 people like this
• Craig, Alaska
7 Dec 07
I am not sure if my son has autism, but I do know he's develpment stages is behind. he's just this year finally say 3 word sentences or less and only I can understand him. He still uses his sign language I taught him since he was 1 1/2 years old. So I was told when he goes to school he'll need a speech therapy, but I haven't put him in school this year because of his low immune system that he's had since he was 1 years old. I guess I am afraid he'll miss alot of school because of getting sick alot. Thats what happend in daycare. I lost 2 jobs because I had to take my son to the hospital and be their for a week when I used to work. Now I am his care taker who don't get paid for that. I get paid thru state help. I hate that cause they barely give me enough for us to live on. SO i got 2 jobs. mylot.com and Prepaid Legal I am trying to get money from these hoping that are income will eventually go up. I go on here 2 to 3 times a day, trying.
3 people like this
• Craig, Alaska
9 Dec 07
Thanks for the information. I'll check out the site.
2 people like this
@wiccania (3360)
• United States
7 Dec 07
I understand your dilemma. I'm a single mom, and because I can only work while my son is in school (monday through thursday 9-2) no one wants to hire me. I do get SSI from Social Security for him, which has saved our butts more times than I can count. There are many levels of Autism (that's why they call it the Autism Spectrum). My son is high functioning but non-verbal. He's actually physically ahead of his age group. He's got incredible balance and dexterity and absolutely no fear (which is frightening sometimes). But he doesn't speak except for gibberish most of the time. There are a few words he uses, but not in context. That's why last night was so amazing. I recommend paid blogging to help with your income. Set up a blog. A free one will work. If you go that route, use blogger. Write a post every day or every couple of days. Write about anything you want. After it's been active for 90 days, go to www.payperpost.com and sign up. It's one of the easiest paid blogging sites to use AND has more available opportunities. The current max at ppp is 3 posts per blog per day. If you can get 3 $5 opps every day, you're looking at $450 a month. I try to average $10 a day, but the past couple of days I've been so busy I haven't done it.
3 people like this
• United States
9 Dec 07
No 3 years old is not too old. As you may know early detection and intervention the best thing you can do. At the same time you may get an incorrect diagnosis that early. Sometimes the charecter traits do not show up until their higher learning logic centers begin to develope 4-5 yrs. My advise to you would be to first pray that he does not have it and at the same time find some activities to work with your son on. Do not go by the standard milestones expected from the average child. Find where he has not developed, I.e. manual dexterity, counting, social intereaction. etc. Then simply begin GENTLY pushing him in those areas. If he is autistic this will benefit him a GREAT deal. If he is not this will still benefit him. If you see that he is not progressing or digressing in areas he already learned, then push to get him tested. ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS...YOU ARE HIS PARENT. THE DOCTOR IS NOT! You will notice things about him that the doctors will never see. Bring these concerns to the doctor. Don't be afraid to push for testing if you continue to see issues come up. You have rights as a parent. Ihope this helped. Also remember there are people like us out here ready and willing to listen and support you as you go through things. That is what we are here for. God Bless
2 people like this
• Craig, Alaska
9 Dec 07
thanks for the advice. I have a some problems in the past with doctors. I also keep in mind I am the mom and I have the final say.
2 people like this
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
18 Dec 07
well i havent experienced that yet on my kids, but in my opinion maybe you should let your child be tested as what had been suggested by the doctor..since i think the sooner you know the better you can find some ways or adjust your family to it..
• Canada
29 Dec 07
My son is 4 1/2 now and he was diagnosed at two years five months...Go now!! Act quickly because early diagnosis is crucial! Honestly the wait lists are so long and you must get a jump on this now for his optimal success! My son was diagnosed as severely autistic with developmental dalay and if I had not known this he would be literally killing me by now with diapering and dressing and everything else!! I would be so beat up by him...Instead he listens, attends, and is responding well to therapies...He works so hard and is actually talking and beginning to dress himself... Please, get him looked at now! From one Mom to another in love, ~Heavens~
• Canada
29 Dec 07
I just want to add that they can diagnose as early as eighteen months
• United States
23 Dec 07
Hey, it sounds like you are getting some really dated advice from your child's doctors! My daughter is almost 9 years old. When she was a baby, the generally accepted belief was that autism developed somewhere around age three -- between 18 months and 3 years of age. Altho my daughter had some symptoms earlier, the doctors said children developed at different speeds and they didn't want her labeled incorrectly, so they recommended not testing for autism until the child is THREE. That was 8 years ago, and I have seen that age of diagnosis come down lower and lower recently. I can't imagine your doctor saying not to test til 5. At the time my daughter turned three, we were way ahead of others, supposedly, because she was already being followed by a pediatric neurologist and within a month of turning three, she was diagnosed and moved from early intervention to a special autism pre-school program. Now, all these years later, I can only say, from my own experience, that three is way too late. It takes so long to get in to see a developmental pediatrician, so long to find doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, etc. And the best learning time is from birth to five. The sooner you know, the sooner your child can get all the help possible and the sooner you can learn all there is for you to learn about this disorder. My daughter was diagnosed based on only having said about 2 words by age 3, and those not consistently, constantly lining up objects, toys, even people when possible, into rows and groups, very little babbling, very little smiling/laughing/reacting to people. She did not start to have bad tantrums, self injurious behavior, or many of the other common symptoms until she was a good bit older. If your doctor didn't give you any reason for suggesting your child be tested, I would talk to him right away to find out what he is thinking and noticing. But if a medical professional even hints that your child might have autism, I'd go ahead and get the child tested by someone well qualified (not all doctors, or even specialists, are). It cannot hurt at all if a child is tested and turns out not to be autistic, but it is really hurtful if the child is autistic and no one is aware of it. The delay in getting proper treatment is costly. Good luck!! I know it is scary and upsetting to think about your child having autism, but it is better to know!
• United States
8 Nov 08
3 is not to young. My son was 3 1/2 when we got the diagnosis for him from the developmental pediatrican at the Intermediate's Autism Clinic.