Talking to the Pediatrician When You Have Concerns about Autism
Talking to a doctor about your concerns for your child can be tricky. Pediatricians typically spend very little time in the room with you on your usual check-ups, so it can feel rushed and stressful for you and for your child. However, if you are worried about your child’s development, it’s important that you voice your concerns. Sometimes doctors are more concerned with the physical aspects of development, like your child’s height and weight, and may dismiss your concerns or say something like “children develop differently,” or “boys often talk later than girls,” or perhaps even insinuate that you’re overreacting. While it’s true that children develop differently, keep in mind that you are an expert in your child. If something feels wrong to you about your child’s development, you should certainly seek a second opinion from a trained professional.
Do your research:
Take a look at these checklists to think about which milestones your child is meeting and which milestones you’re worried about. Or download this app. If you’re worried about autism specifically, take the M-CHAT using this online form. This will ask you several questions and let you know if you have reason to be concerned. Your pediatrician should be familiar with the M-CHAT, and may even have you complete it at your visit, but it might be helpful to complete this ahead of time.
Take some notes
It can be hard to remember all of the things that you want to share with the doctor when you’re put on the spot. In addition to printing out your M-CHAT results and your developmental checklists, write down your thoughts before the appointment. Make sure to write down your concerns, if anyone else has expressed concerns (such as your child’s teacher), an estimate of the number of words that your child is using, and if there are any unusual behaviors that you’ve noticed.
Take someone with you
If possible, take someone with you to the appointment. Doctors can be intimidating and it’s nice to have someone there to support you.
Ask for a referral
Once you’ve explained your concerns, ask your doctor for a referral to have your child evaluated. They’ll likely write a referral to a developmental pediatrician or a psychologist who can evaluate your child for autism. If you’re not due for a check-up in the near future, some doctors are willing to write a referral over the phone or in response to an email. Also, some insurances don’t require a referral; you can always call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask if a referral from your primary care physician is required prior to seeking out a specialist.
More info
A more detailed description of the process can be downloaded here. If you want to know more about the autism evaluation, check out this blog.
