Possible Obstacles/Challenges

First or only child   

Adults may begin to wonder if a child has autism through comparison of one child or adolescent to other children the same age as their child. Educators, therapists, and physicians have sort of an “advantage” at making these comparisons because they usually see many children and adolescents. This gives them multiple opportunities to see typical development.

In contrast, parents who have one child or a first child may not see many other children of the same age. They have fewer opportunities to make comparisons. In that situation it is easier not to recognize when a child’s functioning is very different from others - when they are struggling socially or have communication challenges that most of their peers do not.