Autism and Development: Clear Answers for Worried Parents
These articles walk through what autism and developmental differences can look like at different ages, because a missed milestone at 18 months raises different questions than new social struggles at age 10. You'll learn what the early signs actually look like, how to tell typical variation from something worth checking, and what steps to take if you're worried.
Milestones are a range. Losing a skill is a different question.
Every child develops on their own curve, but some markers matter at specific ages. By 12 months, most babies babble, point, and respond to their name. By 18 months, most use several words. By age 2, most combine two words and engage in pretend play. Missing these isn't proof of a problem, but losing skills your child once had, at any age, always warrants prompt evaluation.
Signs that deserve more than watchful waiting include no words by 16 months, no two-word phrases by age 2, limited eye contact or pointing in toddlers, and regression in language or social skills at any age. Pediatricians screen for autism at the 18- and 24-month visits; when screening raises concerns, or when a delay comes with other neurological signs, unusual movements, low muscle tone, possible seizures, a neurologist's evaluation adds a medical layer that behavioral screening alone can't provide.
Dr. Sedgh completed residency in both pediatrics and neurology and evaluates development from infancy through age 18. Earlier evaluation opens more doors for support, so if your gut says something is off, that instinct is worth acting on. You can request an in-person evaluation.
What I actually do for autism and development.
Late versus lost
A skill that has not arrived yet is not the same as a skill that went away.
One area or several
Speech alone, movement alone, or several areas together lead to different plans.
Screening is not the exam
A checklist can raise the question. The neurology visit is a history and an exam.
Age in months
For infants and toddlers, months matter more than a school grade or a round number.
How a booking with me actually goes.
Map the age
What your child does now, what same-age peers do, and what your pediatrician already checked.
Look for loss of skill
Words, social interest, or motor skills that disappeared are called out specifically.
Name the next step
Watch and recheck, or a neurological evaluation, or a therapist. The reason is explained in plain language.
Things people ask before they book.
What should I track before the visit?
The visit centers on your child's developmental history, milestones reached, lost, or skipped, plus observation and an age-appropriate neurological exam. Dr. Sedgh looks for medical contributors to delay, such as seizures or motor issues, alongside the developmental picture. He'll be straightforward about what can be concluded now and what needs time or further assessment.
Are therapy prices listed?
Costs depend on your insurance and on the scope of the evaluation. We don't publish fixed prices on patient pages, but the practice can talk through fees with you when you request a visit.
Will one visit answer this?
A first evaluation fits in one visit, but developmental questions are rarely answered in a single snapshot, tracking progress over time is often part of the plan. If your child has lost skills they previously had, say so when you request the visit, since regression warrants timely attention.
Is a late talker always a neurology problem?
No. Many children are late in one area and catch up. The reasons to ask a neurologist include several areas moving slowly, any loss of a skill, or a pediatrician who wants a neurological exam.
Is this an autism diagnosis?
No. This page is not a screening result. Autism evaluation and a pediatric neurology visit can overlap, and they are not the same thing. Dr. Sedgh will say if a different evaluation is the right next step.