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.

Can I ask if he babbled at all when he stopped using words? And did he ever respond to his name?

at age 1, no one can tell if a child has autism. really, no one.

nothing you have described would concern me.

wait until age 2 before worrying.

Thank you for the information, my little one has no words but babbles loudly as if he does, he follows our point when we have his attention.

My little boy is obsessed with anything with wheels, he loves them - but the health visitor says that’s quite normal as he’s getting a response from touching the wheels… he will play with other things though.

he responds when someone comes into the room and he responds to his name, but I’d say 4/10 times. Depending on what his doing, if he’s just in his highchair he will respond, if on the floor exploring, he won’t. When you say didn’t, is that ever? Or like my little one?

My little boy has glue ears.

i mean, trying to make him clap by holding his hands, or trying to assist him in waving… if I hold his hand when he’s playing he pulls away, but will happily walk holding my hands. Xx

The thing is, and i mean this kindly, he could do everything "right" and still have autism. My dd showed no signs at all at 1yo and still doesn't in lots of ways (sociable, great eye contact etc). It was only when the demands of school became too much for her that we looked back on her quirks and realised there was more to it. But at 1yo, she presented neurotypically. Apart from your general concern about autism, are any of his behaviours in particular becoming problematic for you or him?

Too early to say

He uses words now but between 13 months and around 23 months he just made an ee sound he was either excited or upset, he went straight from that to using words, no babbling. He is 4.5 now, he does sometimes respond when his name is called but also can give the same response to another name being called so I'm not sure if he actually knows what his name is.

Thank you for responding xx

When I look back the obvious signs at a little over 12 months were constantly running around in circles and hand flapping/ stimming suggesting sensory processing differences.

Later at 2-2.5y he started to lose language and communication skills, avoiding eye contact. (Though this returned.)

I would try not to worry too much at this early stage - nothing would have helped us at this point. Focus on being child led and encouraging communication in different ways like baby sign language.

At 12 months my DS could clap and was babbling (had been since 8 months) and was a big imitator. He was waving and pointing at everything by the 13 month mark and speech etc followed.

There were no concerning signs at that age except for his gross motor which was behind (he was crawling but late to pull to stand and didn’t walk until 19 months).

He was also incredibly sociable, he would try and get other people’s attention when we were out and about, so smiley and engaging.

We didn’t think we had family history but actually it’s clearly rife on both sides now that I know more about it!

It’s not uncommon for birth complications to be associated with ASD but equally it’s a neurological condition you’re born with.

Either way your DS is too young to do anything about it, although I don’t think too young for the signs to be there.

I have a 15 month old. He doesn't clap, wave or point. No words yet either. He will make 'mmm' 'eeee' 'aaaa' 'rrrrrr' sounds occasionally or shout when hes excited, but no real babbaling (mamamama, babababa etc)

He makes great eye contact, always looking at me to gauge my reaction to things, responds to his name, brings me toys and books, puts his arms up when he wants me to pick him up. He's been walking since 11 months and is constantly climbing, running and playing. He just wants to be active.

I'm trying not to be worried as I know all children develop differently, but it's hard not to worry.

The main signs for me at 12 months were not pointing and not responding to her name. She was diagnosed at the age of 2. If you’ve got the money, an appointment with a private paediatrician may be helpful to get an idea. You won’t get a diagnosis with one appointment, but it gives an idea of whether there is cause for concern. When I took my child, the doctor noticed more things.

That means nothing.

I took my child to repeatedly to or had her checked by HVs, therapists, nurses and doctors who dismissed me, recommending hearing tests, told me to talk to her more (!), told me late bloomers often exceed the early talkers, told me to give her vitamins, anything but take me seriously.

Many years, a nearly non-verbal autism diagnosis, unspecified but limiting learning difficulties and a lot of heartache later, fuck all the healthcare bods I expressed my concerns to in her first five years, frankly.

Really sorry to hear your experience. Could I ask what she was like at around12/13 months?

He didn't respond at all at 12 months. It's gradually increased though. It might be best to not try to guide his hands, that could frustrate him and put him off doing the gestures.

Thank you. Sorry, it has been a hard day.

She barely listened. Might respond to her name but that was it. It's hard to put into words but she has never seen other people as beings with their own set of thoughts or valuable things to communicate. She still doesn't to this day. She doesn't try to understand most of what is said to her as she simply isn't interested. She sometimes initiates interactions with others but gets upset if they don't say what she predicts or desires. Back then, she would just flat ignore everyone. Hence, three separate hearing tests between the ages of 1 and 6. Her hearing is fine of course.

Her aggressive tempers kicked in early (by 16 months) and she never outgrew that phase. Last night (now she is as tall as me) she called me a cow many times, punched me and pushed me into traffic because I didn't have any snack in my bag. And screamed till we got home. Sigh. But it's the same total rage she was consumed by even as a baby.

She loved repetitive things like pressing the same button to make the same noise, or putting the same ball in the same cup, for hours on end. Again, the activities were replaced with others, but she never outgrew this. It might mean replaying the same ringtone or GIF about 1000 times (given the chance).

She made a lot of babbling noises that more of less stayed that way. She would repeat the same set of sounds over and over and get upset if anyone appears to ask her what she meant. She didn't utter any comprehensible word at all till she was 3, didn't form any sentence in speech or writing till she was 6/7. Didn't call me Mum till she was about 9.

Showed no interested in other babies then and has no friends now.

Even now at 14, with her comprehension improved quite a lot, it is rare to be able to have any sort of conversation or two-way communication (verbal or otherwise) with her. She simply doesn't listen. She isn't interested. I often get the feeling she wouldn't really notice or mind much if I died.

Oh gosh that sounds so hard for you . Sorry it’s been a hard day. Sending hugs xx

Neither of them showed any signs at that age.

Oh I remember your other thread. People have already pointed out your long list is not indicative of autism at this age. Perhaps you need to speak to your GP about how this seems to be overtaking your enjoyment of your child.

I'm seeing so many things about autism at such a young age, it wouldn't even cross my mind yet. Please try to relax, and if you are really concerned take him to see someone.

That sounds so tough GlutesthatSalute, I hope you're ok x

@MummaHud hi. Ho is you LO doing now?

Still doesn’t wave, point or say much- but he’s so so social