Chapter 1: How I First Learned My Son Might Be Autistic

We realized we needed to have our son evaluated for autism when persistent developmental concerns—most notably his failure to respond to his name and to follow pointing—were identified by his pediatrician and later corroborated by his camp counselor. I recount the chronology from the postpartum period, detailing my deliberate selection of empathetic clinicians and the pivotal two-year well-child visit during which a screening questionnaire raised initial concerns. I describe how observations at summer camp, including an episode in which he neglected to orient to his name yet responded to an unfamiliar name, crystallized our apprehensions and prompted us to pursue formal testing. Throughout this chapter I convey the emotional tenor of that time—my vigilance as a mother, the resonance of prior pregnancy losses, and the professionals’ measured communication about developmental milestones. We then decided, together, to initiate the recommended evaluations, and I will detail the testing process in the subsequent chapter. My purpose in sharing this account is to provide clarity, to normalize the deliberate steps toward diagnosis, and to inform other parents about the signs that compelled us to seek assessment.CONNECT WITH LAILA ALIEH:Instagram: @lailaaliehEmail: Laila@lailaalieh.comSign up for my monthly newsletterLaila is an autism mom sharing her family’s journey while learning how to better support her son and advocate for him—and helping other parents feel empowered to do the same. Through her story, she hopes to bring awareness, connection, and encouragement to families navigating autism.To learn more about Laila or inquire about working with her, visit www.LailaAlieh.com.I recount my personal path from pregnancy through early parenthood and the moment we first confronted concerns about our sons development. I describe the emotional backdrop of loss and hope that framed my choices. I explain how I sought multiple doctors until I found one whose care and bedside manner aligned with my needs. I explain the routine checkups and the developmental questionnaire that first raised questions about possible autism. I describe the specific signs noted by the clinician: limited pointing and a lack of consistent response to his name. I speak plainly about how those observations unsettled me and how they prompted closer attention. I then relate how a summer camp counselor independently confirmed similar concerns. I describe a direct demonstration in which my son did not respond when his name was called but did turn when I used a different, familiar voice. I reflect on the clarity that followed: he responded to a familiar tone rather than to his name as a verbal cue. I state that safety became a primary worry, and that this insight led us to pursue the recommended testing. I close by noting that I will discuss the testing process in a subsequent episode and that I aim to equip other parents with clear examples of early signs and steps to take.Takeaways:I first heard possible signs from our pediatrician when she noted he did not point and did not respond to his name.We later heard the same concern from a summer camp counselor who observed safety risks when he ran off and did not answer his name.I noticed he responded to my voice but did not respond when others called his name, which worried me.We decided to get him formally tested after discussing these repeated signs with our doctor and each other.I learned the value of a doctor with good bedside manner who explained developmental stages clearly and guided our next steps.