What is the milestone about pointing at things for toddler?

[BlueberryPancake]

I have a very lively and gorgeous DS who is 1 year old, and is not pointing at things. He is very determined and will do everything to 'get to' what he wants, he was crawling at 6 months old and today tried to get out of the bath by himself (!!!), but he doesn't point. I remember reading something about it here, that it is supposed to be an important developmental stage, but I can't remember why and at what age. Anybody knows?

Starlight- no HV have always been good ime at this sort of thing. A HV should know about the CHAT test.

I've written a but about this scroll down past the gluten free/casein free stuff and the next 2 entries are designed for parents who are concerned.

I told my HV when ds3 was a tiny baby that if he wasn't pointing by 18 months then I would be insisting on a referral and she agreed.

Manny, that tests suggest that any percentage higher than 0% indicates markers for autism. It is obviously a flawed test. My DS came up 28%, wtf? He is certainly not autistic.

Twinkle. The CHAT test is a very good screening test. The key to the CHAT test isn't the % you get it's the questions that are 'failed'. Some are more 'important' than others.

Anyway, back to the OP. DS is 15mo and has only started pointing quite recently, I'm sure like with walking etc they all get there at different rates so I wouldn't worry about it yet.

Yes I can confirm:

"All positive scores on this test are markers for Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is a common screening test that is given to children ages 18 months to 24 years. Please see your Pediatrician if you have received a positive score."

Talk about deliberately inducing paranoia. Very very irresponsible!

No it;s the reproduction of its that is wrong.

If you follow my link from my blog to the First Signs website you get the M-CHAT test and the correct way to score it. If a child is failing it at 18 months then I would advise seeking referral. But do wait for 18 months.

Twinkle- there is nothing wrong with the actual test- it has been scored incorrectly on the link. The correct form (follow from my blog) is an excellent screening tool.

If you look at the link that's being a bit overexcitable the key questions are:

8, 14, 16 and maybe 7 and 10.

Other combinations are a problem, but the ones mentioned above are particularly key.

Don't worry about flapping - it often doesn;t come until later and NT kids can flap too.

For a young child the key thing really is sharing things of interest and the obvious way to do that is via pointing. DS1 always did share interests but not using his index finger. It's a nice 'screen' as its objective. But remember it is a screen. It flags up children who need to be observed, not children who definitely have condition 'X' iyswim./

getbackinyouretc. (long name!) - can you link me to it directly? I can't seem to find your blog.

I completely get what you're saying. That being the case though, that quiz shouldn't be out there in that form - very misleading and pretty dangerous I'd say.

Sorry, just saw your link further down the thread - duh!

OK, so does a YES consitute a pass and a NO a fail then? Because I answered YES to every one of those on that other dodgy test (he's 22 months, admittedly)

oh I doubt the researchers have any input though.

First signs (did you get the link) is an excellent website though, and you can get the MCHAT done professionally through it. Although I'd really advise waiting until 18 months.

I know its scary, but if there is anything up its really key to get in as early as possible (speaking from bitter experience, I had concerns about ds1 from 17 months - he wasn't diagnosed until gone 3- had we got in earlier we would have made different choices, and now he's 9 I'm finding all these great things I could have done with him right back at 17 months!). Done properly the CHAT is a good screening tool.

No- on some questions a yes is a pass on others a no is.

Oh that's marvellous then - another thing to worry about

So, what, a toddler's not supposed to engage in pretend play? Or playing hide and seek? All those things are simply a sign of an intelligent, developing child. I guess this is why cases of autism are increasing. Perfectly normal children are being labelled as mildly autistic. Sorry, I don't get it.

I'd urge anyone not to do such a test unless you already have concerns. Sorry - hijack over.

Starlight - I looked at the CHAT test and I would say a YES answer to every single one of those questions would be normal. But I'm being told that in some cases a YES is a fail - very very strange.

Anyway, you clearly do have concerns about your DS so I'm sorry to go on. But I really do think that parents have enough to worry about without being handed completely spurious anxieties.

Getbackinyouryurtjimjams - can you please give details of which questions require a YES and which a NO. I have really genuine concerns about the reliability of that test.

Come again? "Does your child understand what people say?" A 22 month old who understands me is possibly autistic??!!!!

Sorry Starlight, you're just the messenger but that test is utter paranoia-inducing tripe.

A 'no' to questions: 7, 8, 10, 14 and 16 is a fail.

Autistic children generally do not point, engage in pretend play, bring objects to share, imitate or follow points.

Please getbackinyouryurtjimjams - you must come back on this, please. How many other mothers are now worried about this after looking at those links?

In my personal opinion there is clearly a close relationship between above average intelligence and mild, mild autism. It all depends on where the parameters of "normal behaviour" are set. My impression is that these parameters are getting narrower as society becomes more intolerant of more "eccentric" individuals.