212 | is this autism? 6 questions parents search (and what actually matters)
EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kidsShow Notes
about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 if you’ve ever found yourself googling late at night… “is this autism?” and somehow ended up more confused than when you started — you’re not alone. there’s a lot of information out there. and many time it doesn’t help you actually make sense of what you’re seeing in your child. in this episode, dr. tay breaks down the most common questions parents are searching and why those questions often lead to more confusion instead of clarity. you’ll learn how to move beyond one-off traits and start understanding the patterns that actually matter when it comes to autism so you can feel more confident in what you’re noticing and how to advocate for your child. in this episode, you’ll hear: why googling “is this autism?” often leads to more confusion (not clarity) the difference between a developmental delay vs. autism and when to look deeper how to think through “is this autism or something else?” (like ADHD, anxiety, or sensory differences) why no single trait can confirm or rule out autism how autism is identified through patterns, not isolated behaviors what to consider when your child seems “fine at school” but struggles at home how masking and environment can impact what others see (or don’t see) why “wait and see” advice can sometimes delay needed support how to trust your instincts, even when others aren’t concerned how to better articulate what you’re seeing so providers actually listen
timestamps 00:00 introduction to common parental questions about autism 05:30 is this autism or just a delay? 08:02 is this autism or something else? 11:54 can my child be autistic and still do x, y, and z? 19:29 they’re fine at school, but not at home — could it still be autism? 23:04 doctors say to wait and see — should i? 27:24 am I overreacting or just anxious? resources from today's episode ⚡️ autism traits guide — a $7 resource to help you understand diagnostic criteria, recognize patterns, and advocate with clarity
keep learning from dr. tay ⚡️join EVOLVE the membership and submit your questions for dr. tay to answer ⚡️learn more about dr. tay’s whole family approach + clinical services ⚡️ follow on >> instagram → @the.dr.tay tiktok → @the.dr.tay
More from EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kids
about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode wraps up our three-part series on autistic burnout. dr. tay is joined by amanda diekman, author of The Parent's Handbook for Kids in Burnout, to talk about what burnout recovery can actually look like over time and why healing is rarely linear. amanda breaks down the phases of burnout, how support needs change across each phase, what “deep rest” can look like for kids, and why parents may need to continually recalibrate between accommodation, capacity-building, safety, and trust.
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about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode kicks off a three-part series on autistic burnout. dr. tay shares what she sees clinically when autistic kids are in burnout, why it can be so confusing for parents, and why traditional approaches to depression, behavior, or school refusal may not fully capture what is happening. this is a primer episode to help you understand what autistic burnout can look like, what makes it different, and why recovery often requires time, nervous system repair, reduced demands, and support for the whole family.
about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 if your child is melting down, resisting, avoiding, running, crashing, or seeming impossible to support, sensory may be part of the story. in this episode, dr. tay welcomes laura petix, occupational therapist and author of The Sensory Code, back to the podcast to talk about sensory regulation, sensory profiles, meltdowns, and how parents can start building sensory support into daily life in a way that actually fits their child.
about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode is for the moms who feel like some weeks they can do it all… and other weeks everything feels harder. dr. tay shares a vulnerable, real-time reflection from the depths of her luteal phase and explains why cycle tracking can be such a powerful tool for understanding mood, energy, capacity, productivity, and parenting. because your hormonal health is not separate from your autism parenting journey. your body, your nervous system, your capacity, and your regulation are all part of the ecosystem your child is living in. you’ll hear about: why the luteal phase can impact mood, energy, and capacity how cycle tracking can help reduce shame and increase self-understanding the connection between hormones, mental health, and neurodivergence why parenting often requires so much “output” energy how to adjust expectations, support, and routines around your cycle why your capacity matters in the whole-family support picture