Autism advice

[meg1209]

My son is 19 months old and exhibiting the following ‘signs’ of autism:

• fleeting eye contact
• flaps arms and shakes head occasionally
• makes a moany/ humming noise a lot
• no words at 19 months - although does babble and say word like sounds, they are not directed or copied though
• can clap and point but won’t copy it or point to things of interest
• doesn’t wave
• not sure how much he understands of what I say
• answers to his name maybe 1 in 10 times

Although he is very affectionate, has no sensory issues, likes other children, sleeps and eats very well and is overall a very good boy with no ‘tantrums’ although they might come 😂

I have spoken to his HV and they’ve referred us to be assessed but they keep telling me he is very young. Has anyone had these signs and it not been autism? Or just a social/ communication delay?

My main worry is that he’ll never speak 💔

Thanks in advance x x

Has his hearing been checked?

I have autistic people in my family and they all reached milestones early and had hyperlexia, so talking early and very complicated sentences when most kids are only saying a word or two. My point is, while autistic kids are all different, I wouldn't give too much weight to the language at this age. My brother didn't walk until 20 months, btw, and is not autistic.

My so is autistic, diagnosed at 2.5. He showed a lot more signs than this. That being said the lack of waving and pointing at things of interest would concern me, as would the not answering to his same. My son is almost 7 and still doesn't wave or point. He very breifly waved for a week or 2 at approx 15 months and never did it again. He has very obvious sensory and behavioural issues.

Try not to over think it at this stage. The pandemic has affected the development of a lot of children. I know that is easier said that done though.

I think all autistic people are different. My son at that age was referred for adhd because he came across as so hyperactive. This was down to sensory issues and it being very difficult living in a busy town with lack of funding or any education on children with autism. My local hospital even deemed my child a ‘parenting problem’ and yet nursery were quick to state they couldn’t cope. My son is very sociable but at that age he was all over the place, speedy delayed and was constantly climbing on everything. By two he still would only say mum and would point and go errr at what he wanted. I got pulled for hearing and yet his hearing was perfect. He can hear very well. He was very obsessive and only played with cars and trains as a toddler. Yet my daughter who turned two in February has similar traits with the speech delay, has epic tantrums to the point at your sons age she would headbutt the floor, always the wooden one at my parents. She doesn’t sit still when eating and climbs all over the table, very easily distracted like my son, sleeps but is a nightmare in the pushchair constantly climbing out and climbing on everything even me. Won’t eat her dinner prefers everyone else’s plates. Just to mention both of my children were good sleepers at that age and my son only struggles now he is older with separation anxiety and a lot of anxiety issues. However excellent sleeper at that age. Both walked at 9 and 10 months. My son has also always being affectionate but my daughter it is a struggle and I’m not sure if it’s her age. Just to add I’m also facing diagnosis at 31 and I met every milestone as a child and my sensory issues presented at about 8/9 and I had mild ocd as a child at my sons age. Oh and both of my children tend to watch only the same thing. My daughters only interest is Sofia the first and my son would only watch one show as a toddler too. You can have so many different children when it comes to an autism diagnosis. Child number 1 is currently running a bath and will probably run another later. Both obsessed with water but both so different in other aspects.