Worried about pointing in my 17m old

[Ayd7815]

Hi I wanted to talk about my 17m old daughter not pointing yet.

Positives: 
Great eye contact 
Very interactive and w e have strong emotional bond since young. 
Wants to be around me near me all the time. 
Follows me when I leave room 
Gets upset if I don’t take her out with me 
Very smiley and happy and cuddly 
Seeks me out when she’s upset 
Follows a point 
Responds to her name most of time 
Looks back and forth at me when doing a activity 
Loves peekaboo and initiates It too herself 
Copies some facial expressions and words like ‘ca ca’ quack quack or’ish’ for fish 
If I sing she tries to sing in babble too when I pause 
Lots of babbling 
When she wants my attention she grunts or makes a noise at me whist looking at me. Also starting to see a bit more conversational babbling too.

She understands instructions like where’s bubbles and will search whole room for it and bring it to me and hand it to me to blow bubbles. Same for when she wants me to wear a hat she find really funny and laughs and a few other things.

Copies me when I play with her toys and does the same. Plays with toys normally I think. 
Bringing my some objects like bubbles on her own accord to blow them or do something with a item she enjoys and hands it to me to play with her. Sharing with us started at 15m
When she wants something she will reach with whole hand to get and looks at me too to give to her too.
Claps since 9m old
Waving is more like 16m


Negatives: 

No index finger pointing yet when she’s reaching (however has started to make the pointing gesture when she sees something she wants but doesn’t quite reach out or up with it yet. Otherwise she makes the pointing gesture a lot when playing or fiddling around or looking at pictures in a book. 
Not many words except mama when she wants me or is upset 
Not sure if she pretend playing yet either. 

I’m concerned mainly because of lack of words and Pointing at her age. 
I hope it’s emerging soon as all the skills she does do have emerged over the last 4 or 5 months and just continued to improve and get more clearer and better.
18months is the cut off for the pointing and I’m just scared she won’t be. And it’s like a big thing apparently.
Any one had any similar issues and your child turned out ok? Can anyone reassure me? Thanks in advance

Children are all so very different. My brother was a very slow developer especially with speech. He now has a PhD and lectures all over the world.

My dd used to gesture to things like the queen (all fingers together and thumb sticking out). Pointing came later. Used to think it was hilarious.

Sorry not the point of your post at all op but what is/are 
? Ive no idea what they are all about/for? 
 Please enlighten me!

@Esspee

Children are all so very different. My brother was a very slow developer especially with speech. He now has a PhD and lectures all over the world.

Wow so amazing. I hope I can say this one day :)

@stimpyyouidiot

My dd used to gesture to things like the queen (all fingers together and thumb sticking out). Pointing came later. Used to think it was hilarious.

How cute. When did the pointing come then?

@Wafflesnsniffles

Sorry not the point of your post at all op but what is/are 
? Ive no idea what they are all about/for? 
 Please enlighten me!

Hi! I'm not sure what you mean here? What did you want to know?

My son was diagnosed autistic at 2. He didn't point but he also wouldn't do a lot of things on your list. I believe the pointing is more about communication so if she can express her needs in other ways I wouldn't worry.

Incidentally not much would happen until she is 2 anyway so try not to worry. It's about a whole picture of the child not just on one or two very specific things.

I would say 8 months for babbling is great!

Try test her in the next months to see how much she understands. For example, before two she would be able to bring her shoes if asked to, to point to body parts, to take you for example to the fridge to give her milk … etc. All these things can happen even if speech is delayed as they are the receptive language, not expressive.

First the receptive should be developed and then the expressive will follow.

Not yet though, not at 17 months, please don’t panic! My DD couldn’t do them all at 17 months but she now can do them that she is almost 2 years old.

Just keep an eye on her.

Then the other thing is to test her hearing, obvious I know but do it. Sometimes because of infections ears get blocked and parents don’t notice as their child seem to hear but at a less level or they don’t hear all frequencies.

Also, try speak to her in 2-3 words sentences. Don’t overcomplicate things.

Also, offer choices. Don’t say “do you want milk?” , say “do you want milk or juice?”

And lots of singing!

All these is these is what the private speech therapist told us!

You could be describing both my son's at that age - one has asd and one doesn't. There really is no such thing as 'mild' autism. To get the diagnosis you need impairment in three areas that causes you difficulty. Some people are better at hiding their autism meaning you might perceive it as mild but they will have difficulties hence their diagnosis

@Doveyouknow

You could be describing both my son's at that age - one has asd and one doesn't. There really is no such thing as 'mild' autism. To get the diagnosis you need impairment in three areas that causes you difficulty. Some people are better at hiding their autism meaning you might perceive it as mild but they will have difficulties hence their diagnosis

What was the differences in your sons just out of curiosity?

@Hikoridikori

I would say 8 months for babbling is great!

Try test her in the next months to see how much she understands. For example, before two she would be able to bring her shoes if asked to, to point to body parts, to take you for example to the fridge to give her milk … etc. All these things can happen even if speech is delayed as they are the receptive language, not expressive.

First the receptive should be developed and then the expressive will follow.

Not yet though, not at 17 months, please don’t panic! My DD couldn’t do them all at 17 months but she now can do them that she is almost 2 years old.

Just keep an eye on her.

Then the other thing is to test her hearing, obvious I know but do it. Sometimes because of infections ears get blocked and parents don’t notice as their child seem to hear but at a less level or they don’t hear all frequencies.

Also, try speak to her in 2-3 words sentences. Don’t overcomplicate things.

Also, offer choices. Don’t say “do you want milk?” , say “do you want milk or juice?”

And lots of singing!

All these is these is what the private speech therapist told us!

Hi thanks for your response I already do speak in shorter sentences and her understanding gets better all the time It's just the expressive I'm worried about I will definitely take on board your tips! Thanks again for the advice x

@Ayd7815 Yes, I have the same question as OP.

And also, which are the areas that they are testing for impairment?

And what age was your DS diagnosed?

Sorry for the many questions! I wish you all the best and thanks for the advice :)

We are on the exact same page OP! I am just 5 months ahead :)

@Hikoridikori

We are on the exact same page OP! I am just 5 months ahead :)

Maybe I'll message you again in a few months to see how it's al going x

The three areas they look at for my son were :

Communication and Play
Reptitive activities
Social interaction

Hows your daughter OP? I could have written some of your posts my 17mo sounds so similar, even down to the sort of ‘making the point action but not really at anything in particular type thing’? Have you seem much change in the last few weeks?

"No index finger pointing yet when she’s reaching (however has started to make the pointing gesture when she sees something she wants but doesn’t quite reach out or up with it yet."

The pointing is meant to be to a as a form of communication. Like showing you stuff. So if a plane flys over they point at it. Or you say plane and they point you to show you they understand.

Pointing and reaching combined? I suppose you could point to something you want, but can't reach, but I imagine a child would normally be with an open hand. ( I have a two year old now, and have an older child who did have a speech delay, which was in part caused by a medical issue but changing how I spoke to him really helped. He was on the slower side and I suspected ASD, but he doesn't have it. Now age 5)

You can work on your daughters speech by labelling everything with your voice and being simple ( one or two words) and very repetitive. Such as in books - dog, where's dog ? Woof dog. Bye dog, as you turn the page.

@OrDis

Hows your daughter OP? I could have written some of your posts my 17mo sounds so similar, even down to the sort of ‘making the point action but not really at anything in particular type thing’? Have you seem much change in the last few weeks?

Hi! My Daughter is now 18m I have seen her point more recently. It's not all the time and not at everything like some kids but if she wants something she will sometimes point at it and its more instinctively. She doesn't point to share yet. Like 'look at the dog' and pointing. It's more if she wants something. It's emerging I think and she does sometimes. Since my post however she shares items a lot more. Brings me books to read, bubbles to blow, a hat to wear (she finds it funny) and just handing me things to share with me in general. All day long. Can get exhausting but I'm not complaining that she wants to interact. Her understanding is also better too in last month. More instructions etc. she also helps with dressing now like she tries to put on her socks or shoes and arms and legs through clothes. Still worried about the words but I do see a bit more conversational babbling however The words worry me and I hope she points to share soon.

@Smellyporcupine

"No index finger pointing yet when she’s reaching (however has started to make the pointing gesture when she sees something she wants but doesn’t quite reach out or up with it yet."

The pointing is meant to be to a as a form of communication. Like showing you stuff. So if a plane flys over they point at it. Or you say plane and they point you to show you they understand.

Pointing and reaching combined? I suppose you could point to something you want, but can't reach, but I imagine a child would normally be with an open hand. ( I have a two year old now, and have an older child who did have a speech delay, which was in part caused by a medical issue but changing how I spoke to him really helped. He was on the slower side and I suspected ASD, but he doesn't have it. Now age 5)

You can work on your daughters speech by labelling everything with your voice and being simple ( one or two words) and very repetitive. Such as in books - dog, where's dog ? Woof dog. Bye dog, as you turn the page.

Hi thanks for your post. My daughter still does reach open palm but I do get more points then before Also your older child. What was the development like at 18m ish? X

Aww thanks for updating OP, this is nice to hear. I’m hoping things will keep going in the right direction with my daughter as they have with yours, i’ve seen loads and loads of progress in the last few months, so I have no reason to think there won’t be loads of progress in the next few, but then you read all this stuff online about the importance of things like pointing and it just puts the fear into you!! I think I need to keep the perspective that every kid is different and just because she doesnt point at everything ALL THE TIME doesnt mean she can’t do it IYSWIM! Just like everything else I guess, some kids do it more than others!

@OrDis

Aww thanks for updating OP, this is nice to hear. I’m hoping things will keep going in the right direction with my daughter as they have with yours, i’ve seen loads and loads of progress in the last few months, so I have no reason to think there won’t be loads of progress in the next few, but then you read all this stuff online about the importance of things like pointing and it just puts the fear into you!! I think I need to keep the perspective that every kid is different and just because she doesnt point at everything ALL THE TIME doesnt mean she can’t do it IYSWIM! Just like everything else I guess, some kids do it more than others!

No problem! The internet scared me too so much! Just with the importance of it! But it think it comes instinctively as someone who knows about this stuff told me. And that one day kids just wake up and do it! So maybe it will happen this way. I'm trying not to stress! I'm just happy she's going in the right direction too. I'm hoping words come soooon :S

@OrDis

Aww thanks for updating OP, this is nice to hear. I’m hoping things will keep going in the right direction with my daughter as they have with yours, i’ve seen loads and loads of progress in the last few months, so I have no reason to think there won’t be loads of progress in the next few, but then you read all this stuff online about the importance of things like pointing and it just puts the fear into you!! I think I need to keep the perspective that every kid is different and just because she doesnt point at everything ALL THE TIME doesnt mean she can’t do it IYSWIM! Just like everything else I guess, some kids do it more than others!

Also I think it doesn't matter that your child does it all a day or a few times a day. As long as they do. For sharing and requesting.

I do these assesments and there are 2 types of pointing : to request (something they want) and declarative pointing (to share interest- look at that). The second is the important one for social communciation. Also imitative play (pretending to drink tea, cook etc) and what they do with dolls or teddies( hugging, kissing putting them to bed). I would expect to see most of these around a year and by 18m so your Dd is still within range. I am concerned that she doesn't consistently respond to her name, that should be much earlier (6-8 months)

@Neurodiversitydoctor

I do these assesments and there are 2 types of pointing : to request (something they want) and declarative pointing (to share interest- look at that). The second is the important one for social communciation. Also imitative play (pretending to drink tea, cook etc) and what they do with dolls or teddies( hugging, kissing putting them to bed). I would expect to see most of these around a year and by 18m so your Dd is still within range. I am concerned that she doesn't consistently respond to her name, that should be much earlier (6-8 months)

Hi. She's 18m now. She does respond to her name and knows who she is and that's her name. But if she's engrossed in something she sometimes doesn't. Is this concerning?

@Neurodiversitydoctor

I do these assesments and there are 2 types of pointing : to request (something they want) and declarative pointing (to share interest- look at that). The second is the important one for social communciation. Also imitative play (pretending to drink tea, cook etc) and what they do with dolls or teddies( hugging, kissing putting them to bed). I would expect to see most of these around a year and by 18m so your Dd is still within range. I am concerned that she doesn't consistently respond to her name, that should be much earlier (6-8 months)

She does do some bits of pretend play. Like pretending to feed me from a cup and then herself. Like turn taking.