Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my baby has autism?

87 replies

CanStopWillStop · 27/10/2022 22:09

I've asked DH and DM but they've shut me down pretty quickly, need a second (third,fourth etc) opinion.

DD (11mths) has been reaching milestones as far as I knew, early crawler, early walker, sitting up etc.

However I got my 1 year check survey and was surprised by a few of the questions, namely: does your child respond to your voice/when you call their name.

DD hardly does either. She also doesn't make great eye contact like other babies. I go to play groups, so I see how other babies look me in eye, DD doesn't really do that often. DH and DM don't see other babies, so they don't really get what i mean.

I'm going to the doctors check up next week but I've been doing research an apparently 'answering to name' should be an early milestone (6-8months) and now I'm worried I missed the red flags and feeling pretty shit about it tbh as I know early intervention helps with autism.

Anyones LOs similar to mine? AIBU to think it's probably autism?

OP posts:
BryceQuinlanTheFirst · 27/10/2022 22:26

You might look back on this time and be right that these were early signs, I have that with my son. But support won't be available for a long time yet. We got a diagnosis at just over two and this is very young compared to other little ones I know.

Do the hearing test.

But then all you can do is be there for your baby and if they do have additional needs/challenges, read up on autism, join fb groups - educate yourself but try not to worry it's too soon.

therubbiliser · 27/10/2022 22:25

Hearing

therubbiliser · 27/10/2022 22:25

You are right to have concerns but like others I’m thinking heading at this age.

TheodoreMortlock · 27/10/2022 22:24

I think you're justified in wanting to keep an eye on it, but it is miles too early to know. There are lots of things about my DC which seem obvious in retrospect, but could easily have been just quirks or which she might have grown out of. It could be an early indicator of ASD but it could also be a hearing problem, or it could be auditory processing, or it could be that she is so busy with physical milestones as an early crawler / walker that the others will come later.

At 11 months my child only responded intermittently to her name - looked away from us when picked up - flapped her hands by her eyes a lot - jumped but wouldn't walk - would curl up into a ball at baby groups - didn't babble at all. In hindsight all of these were indicative of her autism but there were other babies with one or some of the same who then developed entirely typically.

My DD was seen early (2.5 years old) and then had early intervention during the assessment process. She wasn't diagnosed until 4.

PonyPatter44 · 27/10/2022 22:22

You can't generally tell much when they're babies. My DD had excellent eye contact, talked early, walked late, hit all her other milestones early... and was STILL diagnosed with autism. My friends son was basically written off as a toddler, hit all his milestones very very late and she was told he could basically never live unsupported. He finished his Masters recently. He is fantastic.

Itisbetter · 27/10/2022 22:20

Hearing an fluctuate too. Can she copy?

Pinkflipflop85 · 27/10/2022 22:16

Hearing test.

Just because she can hear certain sounds, it doesn't mean she can hear all of them. Or distinguish differences between them.

Mummummummumyyyyy · 27/10/2022 22:16

I can imagine this must be a stressful time for you, I would share your concerns with your HV or GP and see what they suggest. I could tell with both of my nephews from being 6 months or so. They were just ‘different’. Things like avoiding eye contact, no ‘to and fro’ babbling/laughing/mirroring etc.

gogohmm · 27/10/2022 22:16

Both my DD's were like your dd, one is autistic, one is not (not even close if you know what I mean) kids develop at different speeds, different orders so try not to worry

vodkaredbullgirl · 27/10/2022 22:13

Another for hearing test.

Original poster
CanStopWillStop · 27/10/2022 22:13

Sorry I should add, DD failed her hearing test right after birth. So we went for a follow up a week later, and they said she can hear fine. She can also hear the faintest of noises, front door going, fridge opening etc but I say DD and... nothing

OP posts:
Merlott · 27/10/2022 22:12

Hearing test