Does my 20th month girl twirling her fingers all the time indicate autism? my sil nurse thinks so and casually mentioned it

Need more info: Odd movements are one more "criteria". But socialization deficits are much more important in diagnosis: poor eye-contact, no seeking attention (stretch arms/cuddle), disregard of others, no interactive play, poor emotional reciprocity, poor imaginative play, speech atypicalities, "self-centeredness", poor capacity for empathy. Consult a behavioral pediatrician or child psychiatrist.

More data needed: Repetitive motions can be a sign of of autism but is not considered one of the first signs for presentation. Such as: no big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter, no back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by nine months or thereafter, no babbling by 12 months, no back-and-forth gestures ie pointing, showing, reaching, or waving.

That could be a : Stereotypical movement, which can occur in isolation or as part of autism symptoms.If her pediatrician doesn't do developmental surveillance with standardized screening tests at all well-child checks & autism-specific screening at 18 & 24 mos., you can find the ages & stages questionnaires & the m-chat on wwwfirstsigns.Org to screen for delays/deviations in social communication & reciprocity.

Wait a Minute!: Dr bernal's answer is a good one. Keep in mind that the autism spectrum encompasses a variety of symtoms that vary from patient to patient.Having 1 behavior does not a diagnosis make.Thus for your daughter more details would be needed. Your pediatrician would tend to have more experience with this than the nurse.