No pointing at 16 months? Red flag for ASD?

[LavenderBlue95]

Good Afternoon,

My DS has just turned 16 months old. He had his 12-14 month review a month ago and was classed as a bit behind on communication because he can't point.

I'm aware that it's not normally delayed until 18m+ but I'm really worried as I know it can be a red flag for ASD. He claps and waves bye bye, he says quite a few words and babbles. He has started to kind of poke images in a book. Always brings me toys and books, and other than sometimes flapping his hands and "happy stamping" his feet, he doesn't have any repetitive behaviours.

Did anybody's child point later than this? Is this something I should be mentioning to my GP? My HV isn't supportive at all.

Thanks for reading :)

Mum of 5 here. I have older 2 kids with ASD. In my experience the review thing is only a guide, I really wouldn't get to caught up on it. One of my children who isn't autistic didn't even walk until 20 months. 16 months is still very little. They don't start being worried about signs until they get to 2-3 in my experience

I don't think you need to get worries until 18m. Mine wasn't pointing at 16m but was at 16.5m after a bit of persuasion (which you are not supposed to do but hey it worked).

It’s not delayed until 18 months. How is his receptive language? Does he respond to his name? Can he follow one step directions?

My son is 22 months, rarely points and doesn't talk but answers to his name, uses eye contact for communication and has various ways of communication. I got caught up on the pointing but obviously it's just not his thing. He smiles and looks at me when he sees something interesting! Not all kids are the same I've learnt.

He responds to his name most the time (unless he is engrossed in a toy), I think his receptive language is okay. He has little farm animals and if I say “where’s the horsey” he says “neigh” and goes and gets the horse. And other toys

@LavenderBlue95 My DD didn’t point for shared attention until she was past 18m. She could point in response to my questions and to show her needs but it’s the shared interest one that’s the clincher I think. 16m is still within the limits but I would keep an eye as it proved one of the earliest signs for my DD. She otherwise babbled on time, had lots of vocab and understood what I was saying but as she got older other signs became clearer - the repetitive behaviours, lack of interest in other kids etc. She has just been diagnosed as autistic at 3.5y (referred around a year ago).

Unfortunately your GP probably won’t take you seriously until you have more evidence once DS is around 2, but it’s worth pushing. I’ve found being proactive is key, as is having a supportive nursery.

Pointing is a common way of shared attention, and it's true I can be a marker for ASD however there are other ways children display joint attention for example when you are playing with her and something happens will she look up to you to see if you also saw what just occurred? For example if you are doing water play and you make something splash will she look at you to see if you also saw it?

What happened to your baby.? Mine turned 17m today and not pointing.