Early Autism Symptoms

[MummaHud]

If your little one has autism what signs did they show on their first birthday?

My boy is yet to say a word, won’t wave or point, loves cars and hates his hands being ‘made’ to do something.

Although, he is very social, smiley, makes great eye contact, responds to his name 50% of the time (doesn’t if he’s busy), follows where we point, follow us around the room, hates being in the room alone, will follow us. Isn’t fussed about textures.

He doesn’t have the want to sit and copy us, he wants to climb the stairs and focus on trying to stand and get away to cause mischief with his sister.

Am I barking up the wrong tree? The health visitors haven’t said much? But I’m pretty worried.

Anyone xxx

How old is he?

Oh sorry, I said you said first birthday! That is young, OP. Does he babble? Met other milestones?

Do you have a family history? It's strongly genetic. Nothing particularly concerning from what you've described apart from the not waving. But my DD was doing all the 'right' things at 1 including talking early and was still diagnosed age 8.

You posted this already, your HV isn't worried.

Thank you for taking the time to reply, no family history on either of our sides. He was premature by 6 weeks and was quite poorly for the first 6 months with weight loss and gastro issues, so a lot of his early life was based on bottle aversion and trying to get food in him, so guilty we never really attempted to wave or show him waving until fairly recently 😓

xx

he babbles a lot, makes good eye contact & is some what social, he just lacks imitation, he has glue ear so I’m not as worried by the verbal copying but the non verbal communication lack is worrying me.

It is far, far too young to tell.

My twins recently turned 1 and they are incredibly different. I have one who has been walking for months, very physical and so interested in moving around, climbing etc and has no interest in staying still and my other one is more verbal but is perfectly happy to stay still, points, waves etc not close to walking yet.

Try and relax a bit. The variety is huge at this age.

If he was six weeks premature then he's really only 10 and a half months. And there may be some delay beyond that because prematurity puts stress on the brain and body before they're ready.

Autism shows around 18 months so perhaps wait until he's a year and six weeks before looking at the milestones for a year, and then 20 months before being concerned.

You have been through so much and he's alive and thriving. My DN has autism, 15 years old soon and doing really well and he's a lovely young man. My DSD was 15 weeks premature. She has significant learning disabilities but she's 32 and a lovely young woman.

Thank you, is your more physical one pointing, waving and clapping? I feel like maybe my sons half the battle is that he doesn’t want to sit still 🙃 he arches his bag until he’s released to climb the stairs

Thank you, I meant to say he was 1 year corrected. He is actually 13.5months old from birth date. Thank you for replying xx

Following as I’m also worried about my baby- same age

And that shows that you're really thinking about his development. He's so lucky you're his mum.

Let's imagine he has got autism. There is a lot more help now than even my DN was born. He's still going to be your wonderful little boy with his own personality. He's still going to be funny or quiet or brainy because his personality is still there.

He will need more help to understand social situations and regulate his emotions but you will support him.

What are your concerns lovely? Xx

Thank you!!! 🫶🏼🫶🏼 do you still think it’s too early to tell? Xx

Waving and clapping but not pointing and it isn't something she will do 'on command', she only does it if she actually wants to do it! 😂

We are nowhere near a clap 😓 he will just stare at me, or smile & laugh, like I’m some sort of clown!

I meant wave!

My other girl isn't clapping yet either. She also just stares me down like I'm crazy. 😂

She’s behind in all areas. Doesn’t wave,
clap or point. She can cruise but still not stand unsupported. She does babble a lot and will repeat sounds. She does respond to her name. Eye contact is not the best but she will make eye contact if I play with her.

Kindly op but he's only just one. He sounds like he's completely on track. I'm not even seeing one thing that's worrying. For perspective I've got a 2& a half year old who doesn't talk yet and had major sensory issues especially around food. Am waiting for hearing test but I'm not concentrating on looking for autism even though the HV said it's a possibility. Honestly enjoy your little boy before he grows up and you realise you missed out on so much joy because you were looking for something that isn't there

I have an autistic DS. He wasn’t doing those things by his third birthday, and was completely non verbal. Please try not to worry. Your little one is so very young and they all hit their milestones at different points. Even my NT DCs were ‘late’ in different areas.

Psychologist here. Have you had your one year check up? Does he have siblings?
The reason you can’t diagnose ASD in under 3’s (and even the 3-6 year old assessment isn’t 100% reliable) is because little ones can appear to have autistic traits but it’s just normal development.
Do listen to your gut. Document and video the things that concern you. Chances are, it’s absolutely nothing.
But for now, the best thing to do is carry on as normal and when he starts nursery mention it to the staff. If anything, you can take it from there.

My baby turned 1 last week (she was also 6 weeks premature) and you could be describing her almost exactly. Obviously I don’t know if she has any issues yet but she seems very similar to other babies her age or slightly younger. She does occasionally wave but only if she feels like it 😂.
She is probably developmentally more similar to a 10-11 month old but that’s totally fine because she was premature and she is developing (if you’re using the ‘Wonder Weeks’ app then I’d ignore it, some of the milestones seem completely unrealistic for a lot of babies- it really worried me with my older son and he is a totally healthy, happy and developmentally above average 3 year old with no signs of autism or developmental delay).

Your health visitor and GP have seen hundreds of babies, if they’re not concerned then I wouldn’t be either (that’s not to say that there’s definitely not an issue, but there’s clearly nothing that they think is worrying at this stage).

My autistic child didn't follow our point until 4, he wasn't very social. He did say words but then regressed at 13 months and went silent. At 12 months he had repetitive behaviours, he would walk up and down the room and would repeatedly press the same button on a toy. Didn't respond to his name, didn't respond at all if someone came in to the room or tried to interact with him. I'm not sure what you mean by making him do things with his hands, I can't recall trying to make a child do something with their hands.
It sounds more like expressive language delay with your DC but he is still very young so I doubt any services would be provided at this point as some children do just hit milestones later.