214 | what autism looks like in toddlers (and why it’s often missed)

About this episode

Dr. Tay discusses the early signs of autism in toddlers and the importance of timely diagnosis and support.

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 one of the biggest misconceptions parents hear is: “they’re too young to diagnose autism.” but research tells us something very different. in this episode, dr. tay breaks down what we actually know about early autism diagnosis, including how autism can present in toddlers, why early signs are often missed or explained away, and what parents should be paying attention to when something feels different. you’ll also learn why the phrase “wait and see” can sometimes do more harm than good and how to think about timing, evaluations, and support through a neurodiversity-affirming lens. in this episode, you’ll hear: why autism can be reliably diagnosed much earlier than many parents are told how to recognize patterns that may point toward autism in toddlers why “wait and see” advice can sometimes delay meaningful support how an early diagnosis can shift understanding, accommodations, and access to services what it looks like to advocate for your child when something feels different timestamps 00:00 what age can autism actually be diagnosed? 07:22 why early diagnosis matters 12:26 “mindful waiting” vs. “wait and see” 20:03 access to supports…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Tay

Topics covered

• autism diagnosis
• toddlers
• early signs of autism
• neurodiversity
• parenting
• advocacy

Keywords

• autism
• toddlers
• early diagnosis
• parenting
• advocacy
• neurodiversity
• support services

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