I am still not quite sure what more information you are looking for, but here is more information that I can give you and see if that makes any difference.

One of the main issues in autism usually is an inability for children to interact normally with other people. This includes things such as not making eye contact. Not liking physical touch. Not being affectionate - not wanting hugs or kisses.
Making the diagnosis of autism would depend on if your daughter exhibits certain criteria that are listed in a book called the DSM-IV-TR.
These criteria include things such as:
Impairment in social interaction (if you would like I can provide specifically some examples of this)
Impairments in communication (if you would like I can provide specifically some examples of this)
Restricted, repetitive patterns that include interests, hobbies, activities, actions.(if you would like I can provide specifically some examples of this)
Delays in certain activities beginning before three years old.

While this is the criteria to be used to diagnose autism, there is an entire spectrum of autism disorders which I can give you more information about if you want it.


In regards XXXXX XXXXX daughter's disability to communicate verbally at this time, there are a number of things that can be done. Sometimes using sign language can break the barrier to speech (depending on the cause). There are also many new inventions such as smartboards, ipad apps etc. that allow the child to communicate and may even break the barrier as well.

You mention also that your daughter has failure to thrive and some physical disabilities (specifically she is not walking yet). While autism is a physical or chemical problem, the symptoms you mention are more of a physical disorder and a neurological cause must be ruled out. For example, were there any problem at the time of her birth? Might she have had a lack of oxygen at any point? Has any doctor ever mentioned that she might have a condition called cerebral palsy (CP)?

The next question is because of the mixture of symptoms you mentioned it sounds like seeing a developmental pediatrician in addition to your regular pediatrician would be a good idea. A developmental pediatrician can figure out what is going on better, can offer the proper tests (including some blood tests for things such as checking her thyroid, gluten sensitivity, urinary tract infection or other sensitivities or allergies. The doctor may also order some imaging studies which can check if there are physical abnormalities in her brain. If there is some type of brain damage whether it is from lack of oxygen, a stroke when she was too young for it to be noticed - this could have happened from a blood clot or from bleeding into the brain etc.). If there was some type of brain damage to the left side of the brain then it could have affected the right side of her body as well as the speech center in the brain.

Changes in her diet (although my guess would be that her pediatrician already discussed this with you) may increase her growth. It is also important to know if she is growing on a curve - which would indicate that she is just naturally small, or if her growth is stunted for some reason. There are also blood tests and x-rays which can test for the reason for that to be occurring.

I can't think of what more information you might be looking for, but if you tell me exactly all of your daughter's symptoms, medical problems, medications, allergies, daily living activities, history of her birth, how many are in the family before and/or after her, what therapy she is already receiving, what therapy has been helpful to her and what has not been etc. then I can try to give you more information.

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