Alex Said:

3 y/o with speech-language delay?

We Answered:

In my state (WI) a child who is 3 or over gets speech services for free through the public school system. My daughter was diagnosed with a speech delay when she was 2 and received free speech therapy through the Birth to 3 Program in our county at that time. When she turned 3, she started going to speech therapy at the local school. By the time she entered kindergarten she was at the same speech level as her peers and no longer required speech therapy.

Brad Said:

More confused than ever about autism or language disorder...Help???

We Answered:

I don't think it's autism either. Kids with autism would pick up on the difference between apple and banana right away. Autism is more of a social skill problem than an actual speech disorder. When kids with autism go to speech therapy, it's actually for "language" to work on pragmatics (aka, social skills). I would look for different signs for autism like inablity to make friends, not responding to social cues (aka, getting too close to someone physically, or moving too far away as a person can't hear), overstimulated by noisy, overcrowded places, crossing of the legs or rocking back and forth for a comfort to their senses.

I do agree it's more of a speech/language issue. But who knows, once he starts kindergarten will be when the signs and symptoms will really show since he will be around his peers and "strangers" more often.

Justin Said:

at what age do children generally get diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder?

We Answered:

A good website is www.autism.com

I've been there several times. My younger brother was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 4. But since my family is of a different culture then the US, we handle matters such as a diagnosis very differently. We are too committed with our own work that spending time & intervening was never an option. With the symptoms that you described, it seems as if he has a likely chance of having autism - but you never know. There are many differnet types of autism, all of which has various characteristic, but all dealing with speech and social issue. For example, is your child making any friends or having social issues? Even children with the least severe autism has trouble socially. My brother is now 16 and hasn't improved much. We still treat him like a 3 year old. He has seen many doctors with his disorder periodically providing medications and whatnot. However, I say if he is diagnosed with autism, intervene early. Spend time, do whatever you can to improve his speech and social skills. Because I was too young to understand and my parents were way into their occupation, I regret not spending time and talking to him to improve his social and speech skills when he was younger.

I don't think I answered your question, sorry. But one website is autism.com Thanks.