Milestones and autism

[Purpleburple123]

My son is just over 11 months and I have some concerns that he's not meeting his milestones for his age. He meets all milestones except communication and we just completed the 10 month checklist which he scored low for communication/social interaction.
He is crawling well (has been for a few months), pulls up on everything, eating well, sleeps well. However he seems to be in his own little world. He babbles and occasionally says mamma/dadda but without context. He's clapping but again just to himself. He doesn't follow any commands or use gestures e.g wave, clap, hand me a toy, follow me pointing at things. He doesn't respond well to his name when playing. He also bangs his head at times when he is frustrated/angry and arch's his back if he doesn't want to be picked up.
My husband is convinced he has autism. We have been referred to the pediatrician by GP today.
Just wondering if anyone with a child with autism picked up early signs or if we are worrying about nothing as it's too early to tell.

Sounds just like my now 2 year old at that age. Obviously I don't know for def that my son doesn't have autism but he seems very normal... I do know that you can drive yourself crazy searching the internet for answers though! X

@surreygirl1987

Sounds just like my now 2 year old at that age. Obviously I don't know for def that my son doesn't have autism but he seems very normal... I do know that you can drive yourself crazy searching the internet for answers though! X

Thanks that's reassuring. I have been searching the internet way too much and it all seems to point in one direction but I know that children all develop differently and at different paces.

I was worried about so many things with my son and the internet always confirmed whatever I was worried about. I'm surprised you got a referral actually but that's good as hopefully will put your mind at ease!

@surreygirl1987

I was worried about so many things with my son and the internet always confirmed whatever I was worried about. I'm surprised you got a referral actually but that's good as hopefully will put your mind at ease!

We're your worries unfounded? Yes we have a very good GP which is helpful.

Oh yes absolutely! As far as I know, anyway. Hes 2 now and is just amazing and just a typical mad toddler. I definitely had postnatal anxiety and was so convinced something was wrong!

@surreygirl1987

Oh yes absolutely! As far as I know, anyway. Hes 2 now and is just amazing and just a typical mad toddler. I definitely had postnatal anxiety and was so convinced something was wrong!

I definitely have the same anxiety. I think it's hard not to with all the information on the internet. Covid has also prevented me from getting out much with him to groups etc so it's really hard to get any comparison. If you don't mind me asking was your son involving you in play e.g handing you a toy or showing you something? I find it's really hard to engage my son when he's playing on the ground as he will only sit still for a few seconds before going off and doing his own thing and doesn't seem to pay attention to anything I show him. He does sit for a while if I read a book to him which is good.

I don't think he 'showed' me anything for ages. I can't remember when he started doing that, and pointing, but I do remember my worry when other babies his age were pointing at dogs and my son was just starting and not really interested. My boy definitely had his own agenda and did what he wanted to do on his own terms (still does). He also likes books. He did the head banging thing for a long long time!!

Postnatal anxiety is a real issue... I only realise how bad mine was now I've got my second and am magically not worrying about every little thing with him!

@surreygirl1987

I don't think he 'showed' me anything for ages. I can't remember when he started doing that, and pointing, but I do remember my worry when other babies his age were pointing at dogs and my son was just starting and not really interested. My boy definitely had his own agenda and did what he wanted to do on his own terms (still does). He also likes books. He did the head banging thing for a long long time!!

Postnatal anxiety is a real issue... I only realise how bad mine was now I've got my second and am magically not worrying about every little thing with him!

Thank you that's reassuring. Yes it's so hard not to worry about every little thing and then google it. My husband is the same which doesn't help! I keep telling him we just have to wait and see and in time if problems arise we can deal with them.

My son is 22 months and will be 23 ... he is not talking at all .., he occasionally says mama ... he use to say papa but stopped now. We have not been able to give him my ch exposure due to COVID ... can that be the reason? He likes doing activities with me like stacking rings and playing with blocks but when I try and teach him some words he just does not want to pay attention... he does not point at things .., he has ok sort of eye contact...should I be worried ? I had spoken to the Speach therapist and they asked to wait until he is 2. Anyone facing similar concerns?

My son is now 28months and not speaking very much either. He does say some words, but I feel like if he's forgetting the words he use to say. He's under a speach therapist, but it's a very slow and frustrating process. He gets very frustrated at times, when we don't know what he's trying to tell us, which leads then to behaviour problems (all mixed with terrible two's) I'm just waiting, as everyone keeps telling me that one day he'll just start talking out of nowhere, and there's nothing to worry about. Until then (cross fingers) I'm just trying to plod along with things I've read and been told by the speach therapist to try with him. I use to think that he was autistic, and the worse thing I did was look it up on the net!! Everything that was listed I was convinced that my son was doing/not doing, until I made my self sick with worry and had to take him to see the hv. Autism and behaviour problems in a 2year old are very similar, and can be to the age of 5-6 apparently, that's why they are unable to diagnose until they are 7. The things he did then that made me think he had autism, he's not doing now, so I do hope it's the speach and the frustration that's creating the behaviour and that he'll grow out of it.

@Omtm

My son is now 28months and not speaking very much either. He does say some words, but I feel like if he's forgetting the words he use to say. He's under a speach therapist, but it's a very slow and frustrating process. He gets very frustrated at times, when we don't know what he's trying to tell us, which leads then to behaviour problems (all mixed with terrible two's) I'm just waiting, as everyone keeps telling me that one day he'll just start talking out of nowhere, and there's nothing to worry about. Until then (cross fingers) I'm just trying to plod along with things I've read and been told by the speach therapist to try with him. I use to think that he was autistic, and the worse thing I did was look it up on the net!! Everything that was listed I was convinced that my son was doing/not doing, until I made my self sick with worry and had to take him to see the hv. Autism and behaviour problems in a 2year old are very similar, and can be to the age of 5-6 apparently, that's why they are unable to diagnose until they are 7. The things he did then that made me think he had autism, he's not doing now, so I do hope it's the speach and the frustration that's creating the behaviour and that he'll grow out of it.

Thank you this is so reassuring to read. My husband and his father had speech problems growing up. My father in law didn't speak till he was 5! Both are fine with no autism and had speech therapy to help. I'm really hoping my son is just delayed in his milestones. It's so hard to tell when they are so young. I worry about the lack of gestures and having no interest in involving me in play. I'm hoping that will change as time goes on.

@Omtm

My son is now 28months and not speaking very much either. He does say some words, but I feel like if he's forgetting the words he use to say. He's under a speach therapist, but it's a very slow and frustrating process. He gets very frustrated at times, when we don't know what he's trying to tell us, which leads then to behaviour problems (all mixed with terrible two's) I'm just waiting, as everyone keeps telling me that one day he'll just start talking out of nowhere, and there's nothing to worry about. Until then (cross fingers) I'm just trying to plod along with things I've read and been told by the speach therapist to try with him. I use to think that he was autistic, and the worse thing I did was look it up on the net!! Everything that was listed I was convinced that my son was doing/not doing, until I made my self sick with worry and had to take him to see the hv. Autism and behaviour problems in a 2year old are very similar, and can be to the age of 5-6 apparently, that's why they are unable to diagnose until they are 7. The things he did then that made me think he had autism, he's not doing now, so I do hope it's the speach and the frustration that's creating the behaviour and that he'll grow out of it.

If you don't mind me asking what things did he do before that made you think he had autism and has now grown out of?

My DS was similar at this age, his attention was on his things if that makes sense, no particular speech, no pointing. I used to compare him to friends children most of who were girls and they were much more verbal and interactive.

The baby sensory class leader told me babies tend to be more physical or verbal/social.. from her observations. Some do both together but one usually comes before the other.

DS is now 3, and he's fab.. a little standback and likes to watch before he joins in, but other than that all the communication skills got there.

There are some great bloggers around who post ideas for play. Also, reading about play schemas helped me understand DS as he wouldn't sit to play.. but I think he is in the transporting play schemas which means he likes to move things from one place to another.

I found DS liked treasure baskets.. any old thing from around the house to explore. And setting up a play idea spread apart in the room was good if that makes sense.

Bloggers..
Play.hooray
Becky's treasure baskets

Hope that helps, try not to worry and go with how he presents.

Oh also, over exaggerating certain speech or pointing can help as they learn from what we do. Try naming things in one words so it is simpler. He's very young still to be too concerned just yet about his communication.

@Purpleburple123 - at 11M everything you describe that he can/cannot do is age appropriate and within normal bands, he might be slightly behind but they tend to catch very fast at this age - things should become clearer from 12M onwards.

@Omtm - I am concerned by the misconceptions you have about child development. Going from not talking at all to all of a sudden talking in sentences does not happen, it would be highly unusual - typical language development is a slow and steady process full of important milestones that starts from the day they are born. Autism is a social communication disorder, not a behavioural disorder, and children are routinely and very commonly diagnosed between 2-3 years of age. In the vast majority of cases a 2YR old child with autism would behave very different to a child without autism - social communication tends to be impaired which leads to delays in pointing to show interests (like a plane in the sky), weak social referencing, weak communicative eye contact, lack of imaginative play, etc.

Hi, I've only just joined mumsnet and reading up on other peoples experiences. How are all your children doing now? Has your ds started any forms of communication now OP? My ds is 10 months and everything you wrote about your ds is so similar to mines right now. Mine is also hitting himself and shaking flapping too without any understanding of anything really. Just trying to find ways to help him interact but seems impossible atm

@Purpleburple123 How is your son doing now? How was his eye contact at 11 months?

Hi @Purpleburple123 @Dolly1992 hey how are your little ones now?