The Follow-Up: Understanding Autism Characteristics

The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

As a pediatrician, I know how stressful it can feel when you’re filling out those developmental questionnaires at your child’s checkup. You check a few “no” boxes, and suddenly you’re spiraling! What does this mean? Should I be worried?

In this episode, I sit down with an autism specialist to talk through what some of those screening questions actually mean and how they’re meant to be interpreted. We look at common items from the M-CHAT like pointing, pretend play, and responding to their name and unpack why these aren’t simple yes-or-no milestones.

We talk about what’s typical, what might be worth keeping an eye on, and how to bring up your concerns in a productive way with your child’s doctor. Most importantly, we discuss why one missed skill doesn’t equal a diagnosis, and how to focus on the whole picture of your child’s development.

We discuss:

• Why the M-CHAT can sometimes create more confusion than clarity

• What “joint attention” looks like in real life (and why it matters)

• Why pretend play is about creativity, not just copying

• What finger posturing means—and why it’s often a self-soothing behavior

• When to worry about your child not responding to their name

• How delayed babbling fits into speech and language development

• How to ask your child’s clinician the right follow-up questions when you’re worried

Want more? Listen to the original, full episode.

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