Worried about 19 month old development

[Lisamp83]

Hi

I’m a first time mum and worry and overthink everything so excuse me if I’m just being and over thinker. My little boy has just turned 19months he’s been getting on well, well I thought he was however he talking hasn’t developed any more since he was 14 months old, we had a few words out of him a couple of months ago now we seem to have gone backwards and only get mom mom and dadda, which he doesn’t say to get our attention he just says it. He’s always been quite quiet and shy, my concerns are not only his speech but he doesn’t dance to any music wether it be his toys, on the tv or on the radio. Instead of pointing to what he wants he grabs me by the hand and takes me to it, when sounds come on that he doesn’t like he makes a funny noise, anything with wheels on he flips on its side and just spins the wheel not playing with the toy in a normal way and in the last week he’s started this new thing where he rubs in thumb and index finger together. I could be totally way off mark here but when you look up these things it points to autism. I’m not saying that’s what he has I just wanted someone else’s opinion on what they think or if they have had the same with their child. I am going to try and get in and see the health visitor in the next few weeks.

Apart from this he is a happy boy, he’s walking and running, he sleeps great and eats well.

Any advice appreciated

Thanks

Lisa x

Have you heard of m-chat? It might be worth doing and seeing what the ASD risk is.

If the risk is high, I’d post on the SN Chat Board. There’s some lovely, and very experienced MNers in there who shoukd be able to help you with what to say to the GP, how to get a diagnosis and how to make that diagnosis work for your DS

Hi no I’ve not heard of mchat I’ll take a look at that thankyou xx

Let us know how you get on

I think you have valid concerns from your description, you list a few classic red flags for autism (speech regression, hand leading, stimming behaviour, inappropriate use of toys), however, there could be other things going on. It is all a question of how excessive it is; all infants will spin wheels, all infants will spin in circles, all infants will tip-top, all infants will explore their hands, all infants will hand flap, etc - yet all these are also autism markers. A better way to look at it is to look not at what he is doing but what he is not doing. Autism is a deficit in communication and social interaction, and at this age communication doesn't mean words but gestures in order to communicate, so things like pointing, seeking praise/attention, eye contact, showing/giving, reaching, joint attention, social referencing, etc.

I agree with JiltedJohnsJulie - take the m-chat, it's a quick 20 question questionnaire that will highlight the areas you should be looking at. If he scores more than 2 he should be referred to a developmental paediatrician.

Does he point to share objects of interest? like a plane in the sky?

Thank you for your reply, he comes out a 6 on the test which is medium risk. He does look at us when he’s done something and thinks it’s good and he starts clapping, he reaches up to us when he wants picking up although with a funny noise and if he wants something that’s on the table he will reach for it. He brings his books to us and when we are reading those he points to stuff in his books but doesn’t point to things that are further away ie a plane or a car. X

He isn’t consistent with all the things he does do though. If he likes something say he is watching on tv he finds funny when he laughs he often looks at us.

It’s so confusing all the information I tried calling my health visitor today but they are not back in until next week due to Christmas holidays x

With a score of 6 I do think he is at risk, but it does not mean it will definitely turn out to be autism. It is very positive that he seeks praise and claps, certainly very positive. Pointing seems to be emerging but he really needs to get going with pointing to request/share as it's getting on the late side. Giving you books is positive but he is only doing it to meet his needs, i.e. he wants you to read him the book so he gives it to you. It would be very positive if he gave you something just for the sole purpose of sharing it with you, like an interesting leaf or (any other object or toy) that he finds around him and not only to meet his needs or to ask for help.

He doesn’t share with us but he will pick up the dog toys and go and take them to the dog as he knows there his. Does that count?

Instead of speaking to the HV I’d see the GP tomorrow and ask for a referral for assessment.

It’s also worth asking for a referral for an eye test. Our DD didn’t point to things further away, it turned out that she just couldn’t see them