Is it a speech delay or autism? [Learn the KEY differences and how autism is diagnosed]

In this video you will learn 3 key differences between speech delay and autism. One of the most common questions I hear from parents is about the difference between a speech delay and autism, and how to know if their child qualifies for a diagnosis of autism.
In this video I will teach you 3 key differences between a speech delay (or language delay) and autism. Plus, I will talk about how to schedule an evaluation to either diagnose or rule out speech delay and autism. By the end of this video you’ll be equipped with information and resources to help you support your child’s development.
TIMESTAMPS
0:32 Criteria for speech or language delay diagnosis
1:07 Criteria for autism diagnosis
2:45 Developing skills in order versus out of order
3:30 Incorrect diagnosis?
4:50 Evaluations to qualify for either a speech/language delay or autism
6:33 A reminder for parents
MENTIONED LINKS:
🧩 Autism Characteristics Checklist - www.toddlertalk.com/autism-ch...
🔗 Toddler Talk Blog - Learn more about autism evaluations - toddlertalk.com/blog/criteria...
🔗 Toddler Talk Blog - Learn more about speech and language evaluations - toddlertalk.com/blog/speech-a...
🧑‍⚕️ CDC Early Intervention Website - Get connected with programs that offer toddler evaluations in your state - www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/p...
🧩 Autism Speaks - Trustworth resource for learning about autism - www.autismspeaks.org/
🔗 CDC Website with links for parents wanting to learn more about autism - www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/lin...
MY FREE ONLINE RESOURCES
🚦 Getting Started - 3 ways to impact your child’s milestones at home - NEW FREE mini-course! - courses.toddlertalk.com/offer...
🚀 Free Lesson - Get Started With The #1 At Home Speech Strategy - ** Now available on our blog! toddlertalk.com/blog/focused-...
🧩 Autism Characteristics Checklist - www.toddlertalk.com/autism-ch...
🎙 Toddler Pronunciation Guide (available at end of blog post) - www.toddlertalk.com/blog/my-t...
TODDLER TALK COURSES
💬 The Toddler Talk Language Program - Practical & effective strategies for growing language at home, created by speech therapists and moms - ⭐️ FREE ⭐️ - toddlertalk.com/toddler-talk-...
🎤 The Toddler Talk Pronunciation Course - The Toddler Talk Pronunciation Course - Coming FALL 2022
BE MY FRIEND:
💌 Sign up to my weekly email newsletter - www.toddlertalk.com/newsletter
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📸 Instagram - / toddler_talk_
▶️ KZbin - / @toddlertalk
👍 Facebook - / toddlertalkslp
WHO AM I:
I'm Stephanie, a speech language pathologist in San Diego, California. I earned my Master’s Degree from Columbia University in New York City. I make videos about strategies and activities you can use at home to grow your toddler’s language skills. I also share ideas and tips on my Instagram / toddler_talk_ along with my sister Jessica and my nephew B! Plus I write a weekly email newsletter that contains some quick ideas for practicing speech at home + links to other resources I like (www.toddlertalk.com/newsletter).
🌍 My website - www.toddlertalk.com/
✍️ My blog - www.toddlertalk.com/blog
GET IN TOUCH:
If you’d like to talk, I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment on this video to get the quickest response. But if your question is very long, feel free to email me at [e-mail]. I try my best to reply to things as quickly as possible, but there sadly aren't enough hours in the day to respond to everyone 😭
Please note:
The content offered on ToddlerTalk.com and all Toddler Talk social media channels is for informational purposes only. Toddler Talk is not engaged in rendering professional advice, whether medical or otherwise, to individual users or their children or families.

[@MinHong-jl7jc]

One of the best videos I watched regarding this topic! Thank you for very informative video!

[@toddlertalk]

Glad it was helpful!

[@theesunnlightt2268]

Thanks! Very clear and to the point!

[@toddlertalk]

Glad it was helpful!

[@allenalongi9603]

You have just given me some hope. Thank you very much.

[@toddlertalk]

Thank you for the message. I am always hopeful that my videos are helpful for families.

[@uyen-phuongnguyen8757]

Your video is very informative. Thank you.

[@toddlertalk]

Glad it was helpful!

[@yasminhussein9021]

😂​

[@sidramohsin2448]

Thanks Alot ❤

[@toddlertalk]

You're welcome 😊

[@uyen-phuongnguyen8757]

Very informative video. Thank you.

[@toddlertalk]

You are welcome! I'm glad it was helpful!

[@DrewB439]

This may sound off-topic, but know of a mother that has neglected her autistic children, and now they are so behind and look sad. Should I contact child services? Need help

[@toddlertalk]

Hi. This is a serious allegation. Since I don't know of the specific circumstances, I would direct you to Child Protective Services or your local authorities, where you can explain the situation in more detail and find the next steps. Here's the information for San Diego County where I live - you can search for similar in your area - www.sdcda.org/helping/mandated-reporting#:~:text=Immediately%2C%20or%20as%20soon%20as,2191%20and%20local%20law%20enforcement.&text=Or%2C%20you%20can%20receive%20a,to%20the%20Child%20Abuse%20Hotline. Here's also a quoted text for "What to Report" in the State of California - What to Report The California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting ACT (CANRA) can be found in California Penal Code Sections 11164 - 11174.3. The following is a partial description of the statute. Mandated reporters should become familiar with the detailed requirements as they are set forth in CANRA. Under the law, when the victim is a child (a person under the age of 18) and the perpetrator is any person (including a child), the following types of abuse must be reported by all legally mandated reporters: Page 3 Rev. 6/2012Issues and Answers for Mandated Reporters Document Physical abuse (PC 11165.6) is defined as physical injury inflicted by other than accidental means on a child, or intentionally injuring a child. Child sexual abuse (PC 11165.1) includes sexual assault or sexual exploitation of anyone under the age of 18. Sexual assault includes sex acts with children, intentional masturbation in the presence of children, and child molestation. Sexual exploitation includes preparing, selling, or distributing pornographic materials involving children; performances involving obscene sexual conduct; and child prostitution. Willful cruelty or unjustified punishment (PC 11165.3) includes inflicting or permitting unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or the endangerment of the child’s person or health. “Mental suffering” in and of itself is not required to be reported; however, it may be reported. Penal Code11166.05 states: “Any mandated reporter who has knowledge of or who reasonably suspects that mental suffering has been inflicted upon a child or that his or her emotional well-being is endangered in any other way may report the known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect to an agency specified in Section11165.9”. (The specified agencies include any police department, sheriff’s department, county probation department, if designated by the county to receive mandated reports, or the county welfare department.) Unlawful corporal punishment or injury (PC 11165.4), willfully inflicted, resulting in a traumatic condition. Neglect (PC11165.2) of a child, whether “severe” or “general,” must also be reported if the perpetrator is a person responsible for the child’s welfare. It includes both acts and omissions that harm or threaten to harm the child’s health or welfare. General neglect means the failure of a caregiver of a child to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision, where no physical injury to the child has occurred. Severe neglect means the intentional failure of a caregiver to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care where injury has occurred or is likely to occur. Severe neglect also includes those situations of neglect where any person having the care or custody of a child willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation such that his or her person or health is endangered. Any of the above types of abuse or neglect occurring in out-of-home care must also be reported (PC 11165.5). (For a discussion of newborns with a positive toxicology screen, or for information on child abuse in relation to domestic violence, see the “Frequently Asked Questions” section.)

[@DrewB439]

@@toddlertalk There has been several other individuals that have noticed the issue. A few other mothers had tried to help and give advice but the woman goes manic and pushes everyone away. Thank you for all the information

[@user-wn5zj8gb7w]

I have a same problem with my baby plz help me

[@toddlertalk]

Hi, I am happy to share a couple helpful resources with you. Here are 3 ways I recommend supporting speech or language delay at home - 3 ways - toddlertalk.com/blog/speech-delay-in-toddlers Common questions (& answers) parents ask about autism - toddlertalk.com/blog/top-autism-parent-questions

[@eranthinaotunna4045]

Some ADHd kids also may have speech delay. ?

[@toddlertalk]

Yes, it's possible to have either ADHD, or a speech delay, or both. But as a speech therapist we will only diagnose a speech delay and developmental specialists (psychologists, etc.) would diagnose ADHD.

[@adisanshumayu3]

My son is 26 months old and says Mumma, Papa, No, Give, Take, pick up, Red, Apple, Ball, Bat. No other words only these. So what is he?? Can he be called late talker??

[@toddlertalk]

Hi, thanks for reaching out :) Without meeting your son, I can't classify him as a "late talker," there's a little more that goes into making that determination than just the number of words a child is saying. I always have to defer to your pediatrician or a speech therapist in your area. However, I can say that I listen for a 2-year-old to be saying many words, more than 50. I am going to link some strategies I use to help toddlers learn to say new words. I hope you'll find them helpful to add to the words your little one is already saying! toddlertalk.com/blog/focused-stimulation toddlertalk.com/blog/repeating-words-speech-therapy toddlertalk.com/blog/speech-delay-in-toddlers

[@finnedfuture9839]

Can a toddler be a late talker if they were born early?

[@toddlertalk]

Yes, a child can be a late talker whether or not they were born early. If your child was born early, I recommend comparing their skills to their chronological age and adjusted age for the number of weeks they were born early. In general we want to look at the skills for their adjusted age until they are about 2 years old, but it can be a good idea to keep an eye on both. It really just depends on the individual child and how early they were born. And as a rule of thumb I suggest parents start practicing at home around 18 months if they are concerned, just because I find it can be easier (and comforting if your a parent who wants to feel like they're "doing something" like me) to get started before we'd expect a burst in language development, so you can support them through that!

[@finnedfuture9839]

@toddlertalk so since my son was born 3 weeks early, I should be looking at milestones for 17 months instead of 18 months right?

[@adisanshumayu3]

​@@finnedfuture9839 yes

[@Bosimalindiwe]

Your herbs has work wonders in my family. Thanks for the help Dr Oyalo for saving my son from autism spectrum with your herbs. Your herbs is the best

[@lilbirdlackey7630]

No one is an expert,because every 5yrs or more their is new information

[@toddlertalk]

That's true, there's always new information! We speech therapists are required to do continuing education so we can stay up to date with the latest information and strategies.

[@lilyflower91]

They're an expert in their field until their field advances and then they catch up again. If you go by that logic, there is no such thing as an expert in everything 🤡

[@lilbirdlackey7630]

What if parents are not having constant conversation with the children but always provide the things they might want

[@toddlertalk]

Hi! I think it's always a balance of "strategies" when helping young children learn to communicate. You can definitely narrate what's happening, while also waiting for children to express their wants/needs. And it's also important to have quiet time, this gives children an opportunity to be the ones to start a conversation (and it also gives everyone a break!). Hope that was helpful :)

[@jaweriahanifjaweriahanif8660]

My son two year old but he no say any word.

[@toddlertalk]

Hi, I am happy to share some resources with you. First, I think it would be supportive to talk to a speech therapist in your area if available. They can provide individual recommendations and support for your child - here's a helpful link - toddlertalk.com/blog/how-to-find-a-pediatric-speech-therapist-near-me For toddlers who aren't talking, I think it's important to focus on building up their skills from where they're at, rather than focusing on talking right away. Because toddlers learn to talk through imitation (or copying adults and other kids), it is beneficial to work on imitation in play until your child is copying things you do. Then move on to copying gestures and sounds. And eventually, you'll work on words. Here are a few resources for you - 1. Copying actions in play - toddlertalk.com/blog/imitation-skills-speech-therapy 2. Using gestures to communicate - toddlertalk.com/blog/communicating-with-gestures 3. Copying sounds - toddlertalk.com/blog/imitating-sounds-speech-therapy 4. Copying words - toddlertalk.com/blog/repeating-words-speech-therapy

[@netb1166]

You have to get him tested asap..talk with the pediatrician for a referral...they are tested by their age..and sometimes it can be a waiting list.. My daughter has been on the waiting list for 8months just to get her son tested..we should be getting a call sometime soon because we just been pulled off the waiting list.

[@CME_876]

is he talking now

[@user-uk4yb2of9q]

Ok​@@CME_876

[@winnykerubo254]

But boys love cars.if you introduce toy cars without other toys they are likely to stick to theirs cars.