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If your child had poor eye contact and social delays at 12 months

49 replies

user098765316384950 · 27/01/2021 18:44

...and no hearing issues - what happened next? What assessments did they have and when, and did they turn out to be NT? If they were later diagnosed with ASD, how severe is it? Getting worried about my daughter Sad

OP posts:
user098765316384950 · 27/01/2021 21:54

Anyone? Sad

OP posts:
Witchend · 27/01/2021 22:05

What social delays are you talking about?
I'm not sure at 12 months there are many ways they can be delayed socially.

I'd have a chat to your health visitor (on the phone probably). It's very easy, especially when not seeing many other people to get hung up on something and the more you look for it, the more worried you get-but that's because you're looking out for it, it doesn't necessarily mean there is an issue.

yesbueno · 27/01/2021 22:06

How do you think your baby is socially delayed?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Missingthebridegene · 27/01/2021 22:41

What kinds of things have you noticed? I was concerned about my daughters language development as she didn't make any consonant sounds until 12 months and picked up words over the following eight months really slowly. As soon as she hit around 20 months however her language exploded and she's now really advanced with her speech at 26 months. I really wouldn't worry too much at this age xx

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 27/01/2021 22:46

12 months is still very early to be worrying about this. How is she delayed?
My dd has moderate autism she started showing signs around 18months but I was still told it was way too early to be concerned. By 2 the professions started to take notice. She was diagnosed at 2 and a half.

user098765316384950 · 28/01/2021 05:56

Massive essay alert, sorry Blush

There are quite a few things that concern me. The main one is the poor eye contact and that she doesn't respond to her name, or me talking to her generally. The best way to get her attention is to sing her favourite nursery rhyme, but even then she will quickly look away.

She doesn't seem to understand any instructions at all, I suppose because she won't look at me to receive them. If she's crawling towards something dangerous and I shout "no" it's as though she can't hear me. Her hearing was checked yesterday and is fine.

If I'm really over the top and silly, dance around making faces etc she will think that's hilarious and will watch me for ages. The other good time to get her attention is when she's just woken from a nap. When I walk into the room she'll get very excited, standing in her cot almost hyperventilating with a huge grin on her face Grin I try to leave her in the cot for as long as possible chatting to her and playing "boo" etc which again she finds very funny.

However she never tries to get my attention. She could play independently for an hour without looking for/at me. Not playing with the same thing though, she is extremely curious and always exploring.

There's no back-and-forth babbling. She makes a good range of sounds but never on the same day! And not whilst looking at me. For the last few days all she's said is "ooooo, oooooo, ooooo". Before that it was "mum-mum, mum-mum", and within the next day or two it will change to something else.

She will smile back at us and laugh if we are laughing, but won't copy any other facial expression.

She doesn't point or clap, but has just started waving back if we make a big fuss entering or leaving the room. However, she has also started waving at random other times - unsure whether this is arm flapping or if she is just interested in it because she's just started doing it. She bangs and taps things a lot, but isn't that fairly normal? She loves her rattles etc so maybe that's why she does that, I don't know.

I'd have a chat to your health visitor (on the phone probably). It's very easy, especially when not seeing many other people to get hung up on something and the more you look for it, the more worried you get-but that's because you're looking out for it, it doesn't necessarily mean there is an issue.

This is a really good point @Witchend, I do actually have anxiety and start to get very hung up on these things. Also DD has lived most of her life in our little living room and it's not really normal circumstances is it. On top of that I am a very quiet person and probably should have made more effort to talk to her. She did very well at Christmas when there were 7 people in the room, she just seemed very interested and not at all distressed. Even when I left the room for a bit though, so perhaps that's not a good thing.

I have spoken to the HV, and she said she would video call me next week to discuss what to do if the hearing test was ok (which it was). She is really reassuring usually but seemed quite concerned about this as there are a couple of red flags there.

OP posts:
TreacsPotNoodle · 28/01/2021 06:00

Sounds to me like she's just a very independent little girl! However, you know your child better than anyone else and nobody on here can tell you if anything is wrong or not.
If you're really concerned I'd call health visitor.

voxnihili · 28/01/2021 06:19

She sounds like my DD and I had similar concerns. She seemed to not care if I was in the room or not and didn’t respond to any instructions. Eye contact had also been an issue and I hadn’t been able to get her to laugh like other parents did. She also played on her own from an early age.

She’s now 2.5 with an incredible vocabulary. She follows instructions but will also completely blank me at times - although I think that’s a choice and she doesn’t want to hear what I’m asking her to do! She still plays for ages on her own. She goes to nursery now and happily waves me off in the morning but is pleased when I pick her up. My earlier concerns have all disappeared - she is just a bright, confident and independent little girl.

17bluebirds · 28/01/2021 08:37

This is so difficult.

Normally you would have been out and about, going to baby groups, meeting people etc.
Because you havent been able to do this, you dont have any frames of reference as to what other children do, and she hasnt had the opportunity to socialise and learn from others.

I think we will have many babies who are late to develop due to lockdown. But I do think the will catch up over the next few years.
Certainly talk to the health visitor, but I wouldnt be worrying at this stage. You say she does make eye contact, when she wants to, she makes some sounds, plays and explores. She doesnt do back and forth conversation. How often does she see this happening around her? If you are on your own with her for large amounts of the day, she wont see any adult conversation to copy. Do you have a partner who is around, or are they out at work, or in a different room working from home?

user098765316384950 · 28/01/2021 14:46

Thank you all for replying and reassuring me.

@17bluebirds you're right, she's just not been exposed to social situations. She hasn't even been in a shop!! DH does work from home, very much squirrelled away in his office and we don't see much of him other than at weekends. I did think to myself, how is she supposed to know this stuff if she's never really witnessed it Confused
You're probably right that lockdown etc might affect the development of lots of babies. It would make an interesting study. I really hope that is the case with DD. I will hold onto that for now.

OP posts:
Joanne9090 · 04/03/2021 22:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BlackeyedSusan · 04/03/2021 23:54

Yes there are red flags for autism. The no pointing, not responding to name, not wavingat the right time, poor eye contact.

She may be delayed socially but is quite likely to learn at some point.

Yes it's a bit shit for her, but it isn't a disaster with the right support. Better diagnosed early.

FatherNeilHannon · 05/03/2021 00:13

No they aren't Blackeyedsusan. 12 months is really early for pointing.

x2boys · 05/03/2021 01:19

12 months is very early ,my severely autistic non verbal ten year old showed no signs at 12 months and it really only became more apparent in his following year when you say no hearing issues has she been tested recently? ( Difficult I know under the Pandemic) or just the test at birth ,also what about her sight ?

CaffeineInfusion · 05/03/2021 02:30

It's been a tough year. Lockdown hasn't helped, but it's a good time to get your knee pads on and get down to her level, see the world from her angle, and play with her. The hope is that she will learn to copy you and interact well. If not, by the time she's old enough to be properly assessed, you'll know you've more than done your best.

MonsterMash2210 · 05/03/2021 06:35

My daughter is a similar age and sounds the same. HV has done one year check and has told me that she is socially delayed but given the pandemic they fully expected this.

She is going to follow up in a few months time but really at the moment there is very little that can be done (within the rules) until restrictions ease/ things open up.

TupilaLilium · 05/03/2021 06:50

It is too soon to know anything.

It is brilliant that you have noticed. You have found some things she loves, so include those in games that involve eye contact, joint attention, and babble imitation. I would introduce some baby sign language - 12 months is a great age to start and it can fast-forward communication a bit.

The Early Start Denver model will have some good videos. They tend to be from the USA or Australia - so they are over the top only for cultural reasons. You can take the ideas and do them your way. Keep playing, keep talking. It is an amazing time infant development - and much too soon to start properly worrying.

Joanne9090 · 05/03/2021 10:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dazedandconfused28 · 05/03/2021 14:25

I've experienced very similar with my little boy - although he's now 2years, 4 months.

He is under a speech therapist & portage now. But your little girl is still so small, try not to worry too much just yet - some of the techniques our SLT uses might be useful. Maybe try modelling pointing to her - when she wants something, take her hand & point to it, or if you are talking about something interesting etc.

We also took the advice of the HV to 'bathe our son in language' - we describe everything as we are out walking or just playing.

We also say the name of anything we are giving him repeatedly before he gets it. Ie 'Milk, Milk? Milk...etc etc. We say it in an exaggerated questioning tone, so he hears the word & hopefully he should respond with the word himself to indicate he wants it. Even if he makes eye contact, that is enough that we give him what he wants.

CaffeineInfusion · 06/03/2021 23:40

@joanne9090

I can honestly say, the day after my son's autism diagnosis, I didn't love him any less than the day before.

I felt the same when my second child was diagnosed too.

Enjoy being with your little one. Worrying will steal your joy. He is who he is. Talk to your Dr if you have concerns, but to be honest, I got the most advice from parent support groups. There were quite a few local to me: look online. 👍

doctorhamster · 07/03/2021 00:05

There is no such thing as mild autism @Joanne9090

Every autistic child is unique, just as every neurotypical child is unique. Children at both ends of the spectrum can struggle with eye contact, as can neurotypical children who are shy/introverted.

I fucking hate these threads. Why would you not be able to enjoy a child who is autistic? Confused

Joanne9090 · 07/03/2021 00:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Xmasbaby11 · 07/03/2021 00:19

My dd is 9 now and has ASD. Her eye contact was a problem from about 2 and her lack of attention - she didn't engage with anything for long. Also never looked when I pointed .. still doesn't! However her speech was always quite advanced and it was only at 6 she was diagnosed.

I think 12 months is v young and she will develop a lot in coming months so try to just enjoy her and not worry.

Joanne9090 · 07/03/2021 00:29

Thank you very much. Im definately going to take this on board. Thanks for your reply! Xxx

TitleOfYourSexTape · 07/03/2021 00:39

I'd agree with blackeyedsusan there are a few flags there. But 12 months is young - it could go any way. You'll know more by 18 months. Trust your instinct, even if it's hard and horrible and sinks your heart. The earlier you know the better, you can get early intervention which will really help.

12 months is not too young to see signs - I had a gut feeling with ds at this age, with things like not pointing, not responding too much to his name, and repetitive playing like spinning things and banging, and just not sharing reciprocal interest in things like you'd expect. He was diagnosed at 3 1/2 but I knew at a year old (everyone told me I was crazy).

Good luck OP, hopefully it'll be fine.