Possible red flags for ASD at 12 months?

[Whitefluffyclouds]

I posted on here when my DS was nearly 7 months, concerned that he was showing early signs of ASD. There were some really helpful responses, so here I am, 5 months on, still with concerns. At nearly 12 months, the main concerns are:

• No pointing or waving (well, he has waved at me once I think - last Thursday - but hasn't done it since)
• Sort of claps but not on demand or imitatively (just sort of randomly)
• Does not give me things/show me things of interest
• Does not 'dance' to music
• Doesn't throw a ball, or roll a ball to me
• Doesn't reach out to be picked up
• No separation anxiety, no distress if DH or I leave the room, no particular excitement if we return (I think it's this that worries me the most - I have tried to reassure myself that it's because we've never left him to cry, he's securely attached etc. but I don't think I really believe that)

On the positive side, his physical development is now fine (we had concerns about that as well at 7 months) - he is crawling and cruising round furniture and has just started standing on his own.

He is very responsive to his name (will whip his head round if you call him) and he looks round and smile at us as he plays (eg. if he picks up a rattle and shakes it, he will be pleased and and look at us and smile).

He babbles away but has no words yet (I know that's not necessarily to be expected yet).

He will reach up and touch his head if you say 'Where's your head' (but then he also makes the same gesture if you say 'Where's your tummy/where's your nose'. But looks at us in a pleased sort of way when he does it, as if to say 'aren't I clever'. He also enjoys anticipatory games eg. if I start to say 'tickle, tickle' and make a tickling gesture, he knows what's coming and starts laughing.

I guess I'm just posting again to see whether people think this is within normal range for a 12 month old?

We saw the community development paed at 7 months and she wasn't concerned. We are being seen again by her in a few weeks as I asked for a follow up. I'd really like to take steps toward getting some kind of early intervention programme in place (it seems they do this in the US from 14 months - I know we'd have to do it privately here) but I guess it's still too young and I don't really know how to go about it. I do obviously play with him a lot, and we are doing signing, I have got the More than Words book as well (all recommendations on my last thread, thank you!). Sorry this is so long and thanks if you have read this far!

Sorry - one other area of concern I forgot to mention was that he doesn't really play peekaboo.

I'm no expert on ASD but everything you've said sounds perfectly normal to me - my DS couldn't/wouldn't do most of the things in your list at that age either.

Perhaps if your DS isn't doing all those things in 6 months or so you might want to think again but at nearly 12 months I really don't think you have anything to worry about

Does he make eye contact?

What you've described seem perfectly normal to me.

I work with two three years old who have yet to be assessed but show definite signs of ASD. They don't respond to their names, they don't make eye contact, they don't mimic other people, (etc etc....).

Sounds like your DS is much more responsive than my charges which I hope reassures you a little but obviously if you have concerns continue to share them with paed.

My DS2 is 12 months and has been waving / clapping / pointing / showing us things for a good few months. My DS1 did absolutely none of this at his first birthday. I can't remember when he started exactly, but older than 12 months (and before 18 months - he was doing fine at this check). DS1 was definitely on the "late" side with gestures and interaction, but he's fine - actually he's very engaged and able now, at almost 4 (I worried too, though, he seemed "behind" compared to the other antenatal babies - and if DS2 had come first I am sure that I would have worried even more).

You will have read / heard this hundreds of times, but they really are all different, and nothing you've listed, with hindsight, would cause me much concern at 12 months. It sounds as if his receptive language is pretty good - even pointing to the wrong body part when asked shows that he gets the gist of what you are asking him to do.

I have my own little theory that first babies are more likely to be slow with these things because they just don't have the need to fine tune communication - they've already got your attention. Is he your first? (Sorry I don't mean to be patronising, it's just something that I am starting to notice myself).

Thanks for your replies. He does make good eye contact if we're at home. For some reason he doesn't really if he's in the pushchair; also today, we were at a playgroup and I noticed that he hardly looked at me at all, he was too busy crawling around and trying out the toys.

He is my first baby and certainly has my full attention so there may be something in what you say SundayNightFever!

The turning to look at you when he's pleased about the rattle -shared attention our paed called it - is rarely seen in children with ASD. The lack of it is one of the reasons my DC was diagnosed with ASD. My other child (21 mo, who definitely does not have ASD) didn't do any of the things you mention either, by 12 mo but they all appeared in the following months.

I have 3 ds's 16, 14 and nearly 6. I couldn't tell you what each one did at each age and they were just all so very different and developed at such different rates. Ds1 has ADHD and many ASD traits however he is academic, musical, doing really well at school and no bother at home. I think what I'm trying to say is don't let your concerns/worries spoil your enjoyment of his early years because all too soon he will be 16. If there are problems they will come to light and you can deal with them but, for now, I would enjoy every moment because they grow up so quickly.