Incredibly worried about 15 month olds development

[Jessicalee478]

I am feeling incredibly worried about my 15 month old boys development. Just after his first birthday he had a really odd few weeks where he basically stopped babbling and interacting. It was horrific and I felt at the time I had lost my boy. At the time my GP referred us to a paediatrician (waiting on appointment) and I had his hearing checked which was all fine. After this period he slowly started interacting again but I still feel in my gut that he is potentially showing early signs of ASD. He does now babble again but it appears very much to be either random babble to himself whilst playing or mumum to get my attention if he wants something or wants to point something out to me. There is not and I am not sure there ever has been really any socially directed babble. He has never babbled where it kind of sounds like they are trying to say something with intonation. We have started private speech therapy and I have noticed he is starting to make some new noises with his babbling but it is still very very basic and inconsistent. He is not affectionate and will not make eye contact while being held although when he is engaged and interacting he makes beautiful eye contact. He has picked up makaton well over the past few weeks and is consistently using about 8 signs so far. He loves peekaboo, this little piggy and will ask for more more when I am finished. He appears to have good receptive language, can follow simple instructions ie get your shoes, sit down, go and put this in your room etc. He can shake his head no appropriately to answer questions and has just this week started to nodd yes to questions if he wants something. He waves, points everything out to me, is very very good at getting his point across if he wants something, is fairly good at imitation ie clapping, stamping feet, pointing to body parts etc as well as if I model something with a toy he will generally repeat straight away. He can point to a few body parts when asked and say meow and moo consistently in context. I am aware he is doing so so many positive things but I just can't shake the feeling that something is missing communication wise. The richness and easy flow of back and forth communication just does not seem to be there? I feel that I have to work very hard to get and keep his engagement and I don't feel it should be this hard? Please help. I am worried sick. Any advice appreciated.

There is a reason a general developemental check isn't given until 2 years old. Babies develop so differently. All three of mine hit "milestones" at different ages and although my 6 year old is autistic (functioning at around 18-24 months) she wasn't able to be put on the ASD pathway until she had had her 2 year check.

Hello
my son is 8 and was diagnosed with ASD a couple of years ago.
signs for him were:
not walking until later on. He didn’t crawl either. When he did start walking he was very clumsy and would fall over a lot. He didn’t climb.
he didn’t and still doesn’t like unexpected loud noises ie hand dryers in cafes.
he didn’t like walking bare foot on grass and didn’t like sensory messy play.
he was overly clingy and cried a lot as a baby.
he was and is fixated on cars.
in later years his fine motor skills and writing are a struggle amongst some other things.
he has a lot of strengths and in some ways doesn’t fit the typical autism signs but everyone is different.
Autism can be a scary thought and diagnosis however if there is a chance your child is neuro diverse you have to take some time to digest and absorb it (which can take as long as it takes) and then support him in the best way possible and let life resume.
I would keep a watch on how he develops and if there are any niggles discuss these with future child care providers and health care professionals and get a referral for diagnosis as the earlier the better mainly to get an answer and work with it.

OP, on your research have you found that there’s a big difference between early intervention and just recommended good practice with encouraging babies to communicate? If you’re already doing things like talking to your baby about what you’re doing when he’s with you (like narrating your day) and talking directly to him when you’re interacting or playing with him, then what more do you think you or health professionals should be doing? Sorry I’m not well read on early intervention so do correct me if I’m wrong.

@ilovepuggies sounds like your son is doing great and yes it is amazing how different they can all be. I think it is just the unknown. I am a nurse and physical problems we can treat (generally) when it is the brain and outcomes are so so variable I just find it so scary to even begin to get my head around. We actually just got an appointment in the mail today to see a pediatrician in two weeks time. I know they will not diagnose at this age and actually I don't want that as as everyone says development is so variable but it will just be a general chat about concerns I think which will be good.

@AliceW89 thankyou. I do agree. It has become all consuming. I was watching my mum with him yesterday and he was interacting BEAUTIFULLY. Laughing smiling playing games being so so cheeky and kept returning for more. I burst into tears as it made me realize that actually my anxiety is affecting him. I think he just feels scrutinized and that I am always wanting or watching for something from him whereas my mum just accepts him exactly as he is right at this second in time. It was a wakeup moment that is for sure. Fresh start today. I still want to discuss my concerns with the paediatrician but actually maybe a lot of the concerns are caused by me. How ironic is that. 🙄

Don’t feel bad about this! My DD always plays better with her grandparents too, I think it’s the novelty factor 😊Also my DD is 16 months and only has a handful of sounds none of which sound like words yet. if that helps at all?!

Hi all. I don't think I mentioned in my original post about my boys repetative movements that he has developed. They also developed initially around 12 months when he went quiet for a few weeks and became more withdrawn, but the past few weeks they had almost completely gone- I almost thought it must have just been to do with teething or something but as of yesterday morning they all started back up again - repeatedly flicking his tounge in and out, mouthing/biting his wrist, repeating his broom broom noise constantly to himself and just generally appearing more frantic and not as calm as he has been for the past few weeks. They are what I am thinking are stimming behaviours but nothing has changed and I am so at a loss as to why he can just wake up one day and seem like a different child again. He has also become slightly more withdrawn again. What can I do to help him? Is it likely sensory related? I notice that he does it more in time of boredom if he is pottering around and I am getting a few things done and not actively engaging with him. Is stimming due to boredom common? Is he stressed out about something? We had such a lovely few days where he was really engaging and interactive and I almost feel like hes pulling away again. 😪 please any advice. We had an appointment with the paediatrician but she was just a general paed just took a history and to follow up in 3 months.

Just relax and do what you doing
Have fun sing go out

Review with paediatrician in three months
Video the behaviours but one day isnt a trend.
Maybe he teething or constipated or hot
If paed said come back in three months then do that

if he then needs referrals they can be made then

Your son sounds exactly like my 14 month old daughter. When she turned 1, she become seemingly detached. Everything you mentioned about son’s behavior describes my daughter perfectly. May I ask how things are going for you and your son?

The anxiety that you should be doing something is totally normal and will pass either way. He's still v young 🥰 The main thing you need to be doing (autistic or not) is really trying to tune into what he's focussed on or what he's trying to communicate in each moment, so you can respond to him, and therefore motivate him to keep interacting with you as he knows you understand him :)

Paediatric autism communication therapy (PaCT) is a specialist qualification speech and language therapists can have that helps you do this through play sessions and works well with toddlers. It's approved by the nhs here but hardly available anywhere (too expensive !) . Works well on zoom though if you find a private therapist.

Hi how is ur son doing now? Is he speaking...?

I’d say he sounds very similar to my 16 month old boy! I think it’s too early for you to make such big judgements and agree you sound anxious. I also want to ask you ‘so what?’if you’re right. What would it actually change for you now?? Nothing. You’d just carry on the same and cross those complex bridges as they come. I don’t think there’s any point in flapping or worrying now at such a young age; whether is is or isn’t ‘normal’ it doesn’t really matter and you’ll do your best in both scenarios. Good luck x