Autism in 16 month old - ADVICE

[meg1209]

My DS is currently showing a lot of signs of autism (no speech, stimming, not answering his name/ no understanding of commands, no pointing or shared enjoyment) he has now been referred for a proper assessment.

Just wondering if anyone else has an autistic toddler? Any tips on how to encourage him to speak?

I feel so anxious about it all, he is a wonderful baby with so many strengths. Selfishly I just want him so say mummy and communicate with me a bit more 😞

Thanks!

Portage are amazing and you should ask to be referred for an assessment asap. They will work on all skills, including communication, and will be a big support for you as a family too.

There is a book called More Than Words which will give you a fantastic grounding in communication and play skills. It is very expensive (though cheaper than private therapy) but you may be able to get it from a library.

Maybe have a look locally for SEN playgroups and pre-school for when the time comes. Google 'local offer' + your local authority eg 'local offer Devon'

Good luck! Early diagnosis and early interventions will give you and your little one the very best support

Ah OP, you definitely don't have to pay for private therapy. I didn't mean to imply that, it was just the most helpful for me when I was stuck, My local authority are notorious for very long waiting lists and underfunded SEN services. It's incredibly rare here for a child to have an autism diagnosis or see SALT before 3 but as others have said in other areas it is possible. Your area will hopefully be way more proactive!

I had help from our portage worker to apply for a charity grant which paid for our first 12 sessions of speech & Lang and I also applied for Disability Living Allowance for my daughter which we now use to pay for it. If you can get advice from a local charity supporting children with autism or SEN or your portage practitioners, they will be able to signpost you to the best places to get support.

I also learned bits and pieces of Makaton from watching Mr Tumble on TV which was really helpful and is free!

My dd was different from birth, obviously I didn't realise this until later but the signs were there, slept very little for a newborn, low tone in joints, never looked at me, constantly crying, no babbling. Diagnosed at 2yrs 7 months. The good news is that at 4 she developed speech, pretty quickly from one word to full complex sentences was just a few weeks, she could already read (we just didn't know!)

She had weekly speech and ot from diagnosis and aba therapy from 3 (in USA)

I would consider starting using makaton or another sign language, my dd was competent at American Sign Language before she spoke. Pecs is another good idea - but I would suggest trying a few things, they can't hurt. Also lots of face ti face communication and less tv I was told

Hi OP, I started to noticed signs with my DS around the 12 month mark. We had a lack of eye contact, no attempt at play, stimming and no words at that stage. When he hit 18 months I rang my HV for advice as we still had no words, no engaged playing, lack of eye contact and he was constantly up on his tip toes when walking. We were referred to the children's centre and we had an assessment when he hit 2 but autism can only be diagnosed when they are 3 (from what I have been told) I have done speech therapy with him, I've attended coaching sessions, I've taken him to more toddler groups and at 2 and a half we still have no words. They say not to overwhelm them with too many words and to start pointing at everything, wave when you come into a room to say hello and goodbye.

If you can afford it get a private speech therapist involved. We had all the work sheets from the nhs when she was 4 but only when we had 1:1 privately did it really make a difference. Sad that to get help for your child you have to pay. It's a game changer

Thank you so much for all the advice everyone!

He does babble a lot (some days more than others) he says a lot of vowels like dada, mama, nana. It's just not directed and he never copies what I say to him.

If he wants me to do something - like blow bubbles for instant, he will bring me the bubbles.

This therapist is excellent. To note that speech therapy is largely about how we understand language and not just how we speak. Good luck. Also you're not failing your son. The very fact you're on here asking tells us you are a loving mum who has his best interests at heart x
https://youtube.com/c/CarrieClarkCCCSLP

Hello
Have you had any update my son is 16 months and has the same sort of signs but has strong signs is not saying words was saying dada mumma but lost the words now just babbles occasionally not persistily has been referred on waiting list 8 months wait here in London on NHS I'm wondering if yur child is non verbal does it mean they never going to talk at all for the rest of there life's or is there hope my mind is going 100 miles trying to research and found out educate myself I feel so alone do u know any groups any one who could help me would be really appreciated a heartbroken mother here

I see you posted this in January this year any improvements or assessment was his austic I'm curious as my son is in your son place now its very scary not knowinh and if they will talk again i pray to hear my son talk

@Kezzer20 I saw your post and couldn’t not respond.

My dd was similar to the OP’s son at a similar age. I self referred to SALT on her second birthday and we were told she definitely had autistic traits. When the therapist asked about our fears I said I was worried that she’d never speak- she quick as a flash said “Oh she will use words, absolutely.” And when I asked how she was so certain, she said that kids who used jargon and babbled as much as she did went on to speak.

She’s five next month and is doing amazingly, Potty trained at 3 like a dream, generally very chilled out, no meltdowns, sleep is fine. She’s an extremely fussy eater, but we work around it.

She still has a speech and language delay, but we’ve seen huge huge improvements since starting mainstream nursery. Single words, short sentences- she told me to get into the bold corner earlier after I told her off🙀.

She’s just started primary one, still at mainstream, and we’ve just got her EHCP through for 15 hours a week with a classroom assistant.

She’s doing brilliantly, but the main thing is she’s happy. We all are.

Sorry for the wall of text- it’s just I was in a really bad place mentally when the reality of her not being “normal” hit, and I just wanted to say it’s a potential diagnosis, not a prediction of what your ds can go on to achieve.

DS1 is almost 3. Not officially diagnosed but appointment for that soon and very likely he will be. Until maybe 6 months ago we really weren't sure we'd ever hear his lovely voice speak. He flaps, spins, and Until maybe a month ago didn't show many signs of understanding either. He's such a funny lively boy and he giggles at everything. About 6 months ago he picked up his first words. Now he has roughly 30. First sort of sentence this week. He always hand leads but in the last week or so he will hand lead but if I can't go straight to what he wants after a couple attempts he will try to use words. There seems to be a little more understanding now as well. We aren't sure how much he'll catch up, but we are grateful for the progress. The BBC show Yakka dee seems to be where he got his first 6 or 7 words from. It was recommended by a SALT. Don't worry if he doesn't seem to be everyone else's pace. You might find there are little things he does that are even more special than calling you mummy (for a long time DS would blow me kisses and those were only for me) and they are so resourceful and find such creative ways to communicate.

OP here!

My little boy just turned 2 and we had an initial assessment in august.

It actually went really well, she said she thinks he is most likely on the spectrum but they aren’t diagnosing yet, we will have another appointment in 6 months to a year.

He shows signs such as flapping, some repetitive behaviour, no words, little eye contact and no answering to name.

But she said he shows some amazing strengths - such as good behaviour, no sensory issues, good cognitive ability and he is babbling away in a normal fashion so she thinks he will speak.

We have been referred to speech therapy and play therapy which I hope will do wonders for him.

My main concern is his speech, I am longing to hear his precious voice. Reading these posts give me so much hope, we just have to keep working at it.

Sending love to you all, I know how hard the worrying and anxiety can be sometimes. It's all an unknown xxx

Thank you guys for responding I think that is the main worry not talking my son does all of that now at 16 months non response to his name un a were of his surrounds or strangers hand flapping head nodding head banging hardly babbles makes nosies no gestures little eye contact I'm so scared I won't hear my boy talk I cry and worry everyday he is so young and displaying strong signs this young what is salt I'm in England is this in England we on waiting list still it's so so hard

Thank you for responding please could u keep us all updated I hope everything goes well and he speaks I hope all our babys talk xxx

Thank you twokidsanddone for your reply I really appreciate it I'm glad to hear your little one is talking all of us as parents worry I'm so worried I will never hear my boy speak I cry as the future is uncertain like wherever our children will live independently my son is 16 months he says no words or hardly babbles he makes sounds I'm so scared and worried for him 😔

Kezzer20

Go to your GP and ask for your son's hearing to be tested. A child who cannot hear well won't talk or communicate as well as their peers.

If that's fine, then the next step for referrals will likely involve some or all of the following professionals. Everyone uses these abbreviations.

SALT - Speech and Language Therapist.

OT - Occupational Therapist

PAED - Paediatrician

ED PSYCH - Educational Psychologist

In some areas of the UK, you can self-refer to SALT and OT, in others you have to see your GP and ask for a referral.

NHS SALT www.nth.nhs.uk/services/speech-language-therapy/children/

Does your son have any sensory needs? They are very commonly seen with autism. This is a great booklet to show you what to look for
www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/social-care/disabilities/docs/young-people/Making%20Sense%20of%20Sensory%20Behaviour.pdf?

This is a great resource for all sorts of needs, have a look through the parents' guides.
www.theottoolbox.com/

Google your County Council's Local Offer page to find sources of help and support in your area.

Try and focus on communication rather than speech. Giving a child a communication system is so important and you can start this nice and early with your lovely boy. Using visuals / symbols is one way, and/or makaton signing. Make sure you are always using simple spoken language alongside these. Don't worry that this will stop / replace talking, it really won't. Helping him to understand the purpose of communication plus giving him a way to do it will make a big difference 🙂

Play ready steady go games - eg a car down a ramp say ready...steady... Leave a gap for him to look at you or point or make a sound then say GO! and run the car down

Lots of singing is good. Repetitive songs so he can recognise and learn, when singing leave a gap for him to "fill in". "Twinkle twinkle little...." If he doesn't sing star thats fine, you sing it and carry on. One day he might 🙂

Definitely look into Portage and see if you can get a home visitor.

My now 20 year old son was diagnosed at 2.5, but I'd been concerned since 18 months. My mum reckons she knew much earlier.

We were recommended the Hanen Programme and it's book for parents called More Than Words
It's developed by speech therapists and has lots of gentle and fun ideas to help toddlers with autism develop their communication skills. It's a bit expensive, but I think well worth getting, especially if you aren't yet accessing any other therapies. The strategies they suggest would probably help any young child.

Hey, just to add we did a SCIP (social communication in preschoolers) course with a SALT through a university research centre. Was brilliant so would recommend it if available near you.

@meg1209 how is your little boy