Autism worries

[Lolly2803]

Hi, I am concerned bout one of my twins. They are 18 months old next week. Born 7 weeks prematurely. She met all milestones at 1 year check but isn't yet saying any words other than Mumma or Dada. She does make eye contact but not always and doesn't always answer to her name. She will look if I point at something but isn't pointing at things herself. She also isn't that bothered by other children. She is very affectionate and will say Muma to me and puts her hands up to be picked up and will come if I put my arms out and say cuddle. And she will reach for things she wants. She's making lots of sounds and has amazing fine motor skills and can build a tower etc. She'll bring me books she likes to read etc and then gestures for me to sit and read them to her but I'm just worried.
Her twin (boy) isn't pointing either or saying any words other than muma or Dada but does make eye contact, makes a lot of sounds and noise and tries to say words. He looks when I point and answers to his name. I'm not so worried about him really and he's interested in other children and affectionate.
Should I be concerned? I've decided to put them in nursery for two mornings a week from Jan to see if that helps. What do you think? I don't know if I'm worrying over nothing.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I know tonnes of people will tell you that Nursery “brings them on” but in our case, that simply didn’t happen. What it does do though is give you a break to recharge

If you are worried about speech, any HCP should tell you to do the Talking Point Assessment

If you are worried about ASD, has anyone suggested doing the m-chat?

[Lolly2803]

Yes I did do that and it did say there was a risk as I think anything over 2 is a risk. I also am not sure if she's too young?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Do you mean too young for the M-Chat? How did she do on the progress tracker on Talking Point?

[Lolly2803]

No too young for any kind of diagnosis anyway? I did the talking point and it said there were some things she wasn't doing. But I'm aware of that. Just not sure. Wasn't sure whether to wait till 18 months corrected age which would also mean say 2 months nursery and then see what she's like?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

If you have concerns, I’d bring them up with your Paed or GP, I think the Paed is best placed tobsay if it’s too early

Did you do the Talking Point and M-chat on her DT? Where his results similar?

How’s her understanding too? My DD was a late talker but the HCPs weren’t too bothered as she coukd understand simple instructions.

[Lolly2803]

Yer my sons score was better than hers. He always has eye contact and always responds to his name. He doesn't point and isn't talking but is constantly babbling and I think he's just a bit later.
Saying that my DD babbles too argh I don't know it's such a tricky one!! My DD understands things like close the door and go and sit in your chair etc. And if I hold my arms out and say cuddle she'll run over and cuddle me. I don't know who my paed is! I think I'll go to the GP when they reach corrected age. Would nursery mention anything do you think?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I think it’s very unlikely that Nursery would mention anything, especially with a girl as ASD presents differently. There are literally hundreds of threads in the archive where ASD has been thought of until much later.

My DD’s friend has been through Nursery and Primary and it’s only now she’s in High School that someone has mentioned getting her assessed.

[Lolly2803]

How does it present differently in girls? I didn't know that.

[AladdinMum]

Girls tend to be more naturally social than boys and are able to compensate for social deficits much better than boys (by mimicking social interactions very convincingly but really not understanding why they are doing it), even at very early ages.

Not pointing (specially to share interests) by 18M is getting a bit late but hopefully they will start in the next month or so as they have great positives. As they can't point, they score at least a 2 in the MCHAT - how much do they actually score?

[Lolly2803]

Ah I see what you mean. Yer I think it's a bit late so I was taking their prematurity into account to see. They turn 18 months this week but in 7 weeks time corrected age. My DD it just said a risk didn't give a number...Yer it's so difficult as they don't point but if they want something they will reach for it or whine and reach for it and then look at me to get it. My DD will bring me books that she wants me to read and she climbs and sits on my lap while I do it. She's so affectionate too. I've noticed the eye contact has really improved and she does answer to her name half the time I'd say. Just depends what she's doing. She does babble too. The pretend play thing she doesn't do. I mean she plays with her kitchen and she'll put all her eggs in the box and build towers and do puzzles and play musical instruments etc. She's also not that sociable as I said and isn't bothered by other children although she does look at her twin. So hard isn't it!!

[AladdinMum]

Ah yes, the 7 weeks makes a big difference and he should be compared developmentally with the goals of a 16M old. That means that they are not late in pointing, and with the great strengths they already have some of these gestures should start appearing very soon, for now it is not concerning but worth monitoring.

[Lolly2803]

I shall keep an eye out. I have noticed a big difference in her in the last 2 weeks even. She used to totally ignore my DH and now she is totally fine! I shall keep an eye out x

[Lolly2803]

Hi all! Just wanted to update. There's been a continued change in DD in the past couple of weeks. She's making much more eye contact with strangers and laughing when I do. She has also been initiating games like peekaboo with me and continues to bring books over to me to read. She's more affectionate with DH and will go to him for cuddles now off her own back and is even more affectionate with me than before although this has never been an issue. She responds to her name more though still not always. She will point to some things in books now and again but that's it so not saying i am not concerned but I'm less concerned. What do you ladies think? Am I right to be less concerned? x

[surreygirl1987]

Sounds like great progress to me! Children do.all develop at different rates.

[Lolly2803]

I am still keeping an eye as the pointing is still not really happening and no words other than Mama and Dada yet. She also doesn't always answer to her name but as I said she's definitely getting better rather than worse. I shall keep an eye out! xxx