Signs of Autism in 2 Year Old Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Which behavior is the clearest example of social-emotional reciprocity in a 2-year-old?
Exchanging smiles, sounds, or actions with a caregiver during back-and-forth play
Recognizing a familiar cartoon character
Sitting near another child while each plays separately
Stacking blocks alone for several minutes
2. A toddler has a positive result on an autism screening tool. What does that result mean?
The child has received a formal autism diagnosis
The child will necessarily need lifelong intensive support
The result is meaningless unless every listed sign is present
Follow-up questions or a professional evaluation may be appropriate
3. A toddler previously used several words but has stopped using them. What should a caregiver know?
Loss of previously acquired skills should prompt a timely professional evaluation
Regression is expected whenever a child is learning two languages
Loss of words proves autism without the need for assessment
The caregiver should wait until age four if motor development seems typical
4. A 2-year-old inconsistently responds to their name, especially when not facing the speaker. What is the most accurate interpretation?
It establishes that the child is autistic
It can only be caused by hearing loss
It is always ordinary toddler inattention and needs no discussion
It warrants considering both hearing and social-communication development
5. A child occasionally lines up toy cars but also uses them flexibly in pretend play and readily shares enjoyment. What is the best conclusion?
Lining up objects always confirms autism
Flexible play rules out every developmental difference
The toys should be removed to prevent repetitive behavior
One behavior alone is not diagnostic; its frequency, intensity, context, and place within a broader pattern matter
6. A caregiver points toward an airplane and looks at a 2-year-old to share the moment. Which response would most directly raise a question about joint attention?
The child asks to use a familiar cup during snack time
The child watches new people cautiously before approaching
The child rarely follows the point or looks back toward the caregiver to share interest
The child sees the airplane but cannot name its color
7. Why might a professional ask how a child communicates and behaves in several settings?
The setting with the most difficult behavior automatically determines a diagnosis
Developmental traits can vary by context, so assessment considers history and patterns across situations
Comparing settings identifies which caregiver caused the behavior
Observations from several settings eliminate the need to assess hearing
8. Which observation could reflect sensory reactivity sometimes associated with autism?
Disliking one unfamiliar vegetable at dinner
Wanting to wear a favorite shirt several days in a row
Showing intense distress at ordinary household sounds that others barely notice
Becoming tired after a busy afternoon
9. While waiting to discuss developmental concerns with a professional, which approach is most supportive?
Withhold favorite activities until the child uses spoken words
Repeatedly test the child’s skills throughout the day
Join the child’s play, respond to communication attempts, model simple language, and note specific observations
Physically direct the child’s face toward the speaker whenever eye contact stops
10. When does the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend routine autism-specific screening for young children, in addition to screening whenever concerns arise?
Only after age three, when language is fully developed
At 6 months and 12 months
Only after the child enters school
At 18 months and 24 months
11. Which two broad areas are central to the clinical definition of autism?
Delayed speech combined with unusually high activity
Social communication and interaction differences combined with restricted or repetitive patterns
Motor coordination difficulties combined with disrupted sleep
Hearing differences combined with selective eating
12. Which language observation at around 24 months is most appropriate to raise with a pediatrician?
The child mispronounces some longer words
The child is not using spontaneous, meaningful two-word combinations such as “more milk”
The child sometimes combines a gesture with a spoken word
The child repeats a newly learned word several times
13. A parent is concerned about a 2-year-old’s communication and social development. What is the most appropriate next step?
Use an online quiz as a substitute for professional assessment
Wait until the child starts school because development cannot be assessed earlier
Discuss the observations with the child’s pediatrician and ask about developmental screening and a hearing check
Practice sustained eye contact until the concern disappears
14. Which example most clearly illustrates a possible restricted or repetitive pattern?
Repeatedly spinning a toy’s wheels and becoming very distressed when the action is interrupted
Becoming briefly upset when another child takes a toy
Asking for a favorite story before bedtime
Wanting a caregiver nearby in an unfamiliar place
15. A 2-year-old sometimes makes direct eye contact with family members. How should that fact be interpreted?
It does not rule out autism; professionals consider a broad pattern of communication and behavior
It rules out autism because autistic children never make eye contact
It proves that any language delay is caused by hearing loss
It means developmental screening should be postponed
16. What can an autism screening questionnaire appropriately do?
Confirm autism without any additional assessment
Identify children who may benefit from further evaluation
Rule out autism whenever the score is below a cutoff
Determine which treatment a child will need