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Original poster

9.5 month old regressed with name recognition. Autism Concerns

67 replies

Katewillows1 · 02/07/2021 09:06

Hi All, I'm the Mum of a 9.5month old DS. He was doing really well with turning to his name since about 7 months old but this past few weeks he's flat out ignoring us. Today I was literally yelled his name 11 times to no avail. He's a fairly happy boy. Makes good eye contact, smiles (mainly just at his parents). He's a little stand-offish with most people and doesn't smile really at people outside of his family. He reaches up to be picked up and has just started waving, although very intermittently. No pointing or clapping as yet. He's fairly vocal, ranging between screams and yells to mild babbling. He's quite independent and happily crawls around the house doing his own thing. Is fine to be left alone.

My main concern is that his lack of response to his name at this age is a key indicator for autism. Like I mentioned, he was doing really well and has now regressed to completely ignoring us.
Has anyone else found their LO started responding to their name and then regressed?Thanks so much x

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CrabbyCat · 02/07/2021 09:10

Babies can have off days, I really wouldn't start worrying yet. If there is anything going on, temporary hearing loss due to glue ear (particularly affects human speech frequencies so him hearing e.g. a plane doesn't mean he can't have issues) would be a much more common issue.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 02/07/2021 09:13

He's very, very young still. I think you might be overthinking things a little.

Original poster
Katewillows1 · 02/07/2021 09:16

I so hope you're right @UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername
I just feel so ignored, it's like we don't exist at times. I can't quite understand how he doesn't turn to at least our voices, even if he doesn't know his name...

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sausagerole · 02/07/2021 09:17

He sounds like my 1 year old. Generally a happy baby, happy to play alone, a bit stand-offish with people, only really just started clapping and waving in the last month or so. Oh and it can be really hard to get him to respond to his name if he doesn't want to, he'll literally just ignore you.

I have no concerns about autism, but I do know what it's like to feel there's something not right. Personally I think it's too early to tell just from what you've written

ThatWasCrazy · 02/07/2021 09:17

He's probably just discovered other things to be interested in. His name was interesting to him for a bit, now it's a yellow cushion or a pink truck or humpty Dumpty or whatever. Honestly they are soaking up so much at the moment and digesting it all.

Try not to wear yourself out looking for markers of this or that or indicators of anything. They're just little people developing every day in their own way. I've tied myself in knots worrying about my children's development but now my DS is 5.5y I'm finally working out that they just do different things at different times, they do mad or worrying stuff and then they stop doing it, their can seem like no rhyme or reason to it at the time.

Re hearing loss my DS consistently said he couldn't hear us. One appointment with the audiologist later and it turns out he was definitely just ignoring us to carry on playing 😂

ThatWasCrazy · 02/07/2021 09:18

There*

IWantAllTheDogsInTheWorld · 02/07/2021 09:23

My instinct would be to check his hearing before I worried about something as complex as autism. Have you checked that yet?

Pythonesque · 02/07/2021 09:28

@ThatWasCrazy

He's probably just discovered other things to be interested in. His name was interesting to him for a bit, now it's a yellow cushion or a pink truck or humpty Dumpty or whatever. Honestly they are soaking up so much at the moment and digesting it all.

Try not to wear yourself out looking for markers of this or that or indicators of anything. They're just little people developing every day in their own way. I've tied myself in knots worrying about my children's development but now my DS is 5.5y I'm finally working out that they just do different things at different times, they do mad or worrying stuff and then they stop doing it, their can seem like no rhyme or reason to it at the time.

Re hearing loss my DS consistently said he couldn't hear us. One appointment with the audiologist later and it turns out he was definitely just ignoring us to carry on playing 😂

It took me several trips to the audiologist over a period of years to be confident that my DS was just tuning us all out a lot of the time.

(admittedly a strong family history of glue problems and his behaviour at times was very suggestive of it)

Twickerhun · 02/07/2021 09:28

Both my two did similar, it’s very early to see signs of autism. Babies can be funny things. He knows he gets what he needs so responding to his name isn’t a priority in his head (you still feed him and parent him and pick him up so he doesn’t need to respond to his name yet). Discovering what ever else is new will have taken over his interest.

I had to have my boys heating checked loads as he often doesn’t listen to me, turns out he can’t be bothered!!!!! But definitely consider glue ear etc before autism.

mindutopia · 02/07/2021 09:35

All that sounds completely normal for a 9 month old. Neither of mine would have showed any acknowledgement to being called by their name until well after they started talking. I would assume he's teething or hot with this weather or just grumpy and being a bit silly.

jasminoide · 02/07/2021 09:40

As a mum of 2 dc with autism, I really wouldn't worry about this. He is 9 months, he really hasn't regressed at anything! Stop worrying (or yelling at him) and just enjoy him.

Amammai · 02/07/2021 09:41

As others have said, babies that age have SO much going on that they often seem to ‘regress’ because they are working on a new skill/plotting their next move. The novelty of new skills wears off then further along they decide if the skill is useful for them and they will work on it a bit more.

Original poster
Katewillows1 · 02/07/2021 09:41

Thanks for all your advice everyone. I know his hearing is A-OK, because he'll respond to other sounds, even soft noises.

I really hope he's just being stubborn. All of the milestone lists state 'Responds consistently to name by 9 months'. Freaked me out a bit!

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CrabbyCat · 02/07/2021 16:14

As others have said, it may well be he's moved on to focusing on other things, and it really won't something to worry about yet.

However, if it were glue ear, being able to hear some soft sounds at some frequencies doesn't mean he couldn't have some level of hearing loss. Glue ear can take out the ability to distinguish between different consonants - so for example his name might sound garbled, so he doesn't recognise it. My DS has glue ear and delayed speech - as far as I can tell from what he's saying he can hear a biscuit wrapper rustle from half the house but not for example he can't distinguish between the letters 'k' and 'h'. This article explains quite well www.starkey.com/blog/articles/2019/02/Hear-but-not-understand .

Kanaloa · 02/07/2021 16:18

Can I just say don’t panic too much about those milestone lists. They’re just a guide, every child meets milestones in their own time - they didn’t get to see the list! If you’re repeatedly calling him he might just be ignoring you as it’s gotten boring.

Original poster
Katewillows1 · 03/07/2021 08:44

Thanks for the advice, I definitely need to remember this. Have made a point today and not testing his name recognition every second of the day. Has been a much more enjoyable time together

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Foxhasbigsocks · 03/07/2021 08:47

Could be onset of glue ear. Hearing loss can be across particular frequencies. We had similar with dd but didn’t recognise she couldn’t hear because she could hear birds tweeting quietly. In fact she could only hear 25% of human speech frequencies! I would go and get a hearing test - ask GP.

Just to be on the safe side! We didn’t with dd until she was 2 and she had a speech delay. Younger dd we went at 9 months and got grommets and she didn’t end up with a speech delay.

elizabethdraper · 03/07/2021 08:49

My 6 year doesn't react to his name even when scream ed - children are very good at blocking the world out:-D

riseandshine2021 · 03/07/2021 08:50

Not really regressed he's 9 months old. I think you're over thinking things personally and I have a lot of experience of autism personally.

MartyHart · 03/07/2021 08:52

Honestly I'd stop answering if you shouted my name at me eleven times in a row.
Try to relax and stop reading all these lists of milestones. Babies haven't read them.

otterbaby · 03/07/2021 08:55

My 9 month old flat out ignores me. If I repeat her name over and over and over, she'll start smiling to herself while looking at whatever, before finally turning to me, as if to be like WHAT?! 😂 I wouldn't worry too much!

doadeer · 03/07/2021 09:15

Even if your child is autistic there's nothing to be done at this stage. 2 is considered an early diagnosis age. My son had a plethora of behaviours that indicated autism, I wouldn't fixate on this one thing too much. 9 months is sooo young.

Original poster
Katewillows1 · 04/07/2021 07:44

I will definitely try to not focus too much on his lack of response. He's a sweet boy so I'll try and focus on that

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Foxhasbigsocks · 04/07/2021 08:10

@Katewillows1 but maybe get a hearing test? Nothing to lose and if there is an issue you will be SO glad you did. Really wish I had done that with dd1 and glad I did with dd2

Original poster
Katewillows1 · 04/07/2021 10:40

@Foxhasbigsocks I'm seeing the Dr this Friday, so will ask for a referral for a hearing test then.
It's funny, because he does look when we speak (not all the time, but often), but doesn't specifically if we call his name... I don't know if this is normal or if this is a red flag...

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