Of your child has autism did you know at 12mo?

[worriedmumsy]

If your child has autism what were they like at 12mo? Or if they were showing signs did it turn out to be not autism?

There's a few things I have started to notice with ds and wondered if your child has autism could you tell as early as 10/11/12 months?
I'm wondering because ds is showing some signs we think he might be

He doesn't respond to his name anymore
He's barely making eye contact now
When he's sitting down and gets really excited he flaps his arms up and down laughing
He doesn't speak. He used to say Mama, Dada and the dogs name. Now he doesn't speak at all. He used to babble but now only makes noises and grunts for things
He used to wave but not anymore
He doesn't point or gesture for things

His personality is amazing. I don’t know if personally comes into an autism assessment but he is the sweetest little boy. He is kind and caring and always shares. Will happily let you taste whatever he’s eating. He’s also very intelligent. He’s always interested in working things out like the safety clips on his chair and pram. He has mastered putting the prongs in the clip and laughs over and over if you keep unclipping and clipping again

He is very much a mum and dads boy and isn’t very sociable however, I haven’t been out much with him due to PND and backache so can’t say for sure re this but I am trying to get out mor

All of the above are making me lean towards yes but he’s also trying to walk at the moment and is really suffering with molars teething (from 9mo) which I’ve read can stop babies from progressing. It’s the regression me and DP are worried about

Could anyone else tell this early ?
Are there any refreshing stories where it did turn out to just be them focusing on walking and the talking/babbling came back?

Thank you for reading x

Yes I could and yes he did.

Now the most lovely primary aged boy - with friends and doing well at school. He has high functioning autism and I fully expect him to have a job and live independently. He has already had a girl friend!

A few things - push for a hearing test. Hearing issues are not always obvious at all. My ds had grommets and speech came on SO quickly. Would go private if you can at all afford it.

Get a speech therapist involved. So much can be done at this age. Again go private if you can.

Buy the hanen book More than Words from the Wilmslow Press - loads of ideas for encouraging speech and interaction. Really helped our ds.

I would also go to gp. Ask for referral to developmental paediatrician. The waiting lists are so long it may take two years. So may come through just in time for nursery class. Really wish we had done this to get ds more support in school.

The more than words book is very pricey on Amazon - definitely don’t get it there. Go to the wilmslow press website where it I cheaper

I absolutely know how this feels op. Something else that really helped me was falling the speech charity ican. They have a great service where you can book a call with a speech therapist. He is called John and is so helpful - I would really recommend speaking to him.

I got the vibe from DS2 at that age, and he is indeed autistic (as am l). Keep an eye on him and see how you go for now.

Thank you so much @MissHavershamReturns that's really refreshing to hear. I spent the last 45 minutes in the kitchen balling my eyes out before taking a deep breath and posted. I know it's not the end of the world it just all feels so fast and he's so young

I've text my HV but I'm going to give the GP a call tomorrow and get the ball rolling there.

DP has managed to find a free version of someone's scanned copy of More Than Words. Thank you for recommending! X

@IScreamAtMichaelangelos it's almost like a sixth sense that I just 'know' IYKWIM
But then there's that little bit of denial that I'm trying to get out of my head

@worriedmumsy I’m so glad it helped! I found this stage the hardest in some ways. I was lying awake at night scared and torn between thinking I was imagining as I was very anxious (I am and was) and believing my instincts. I thought straight to the worst case scenario.

I found as soon as you take action like with more than words and speech therapy you focus on their positives and achievements and the joy is easier to find.

He sounds amazing - sweet and bright. My ds is incredible with machinery and maps by the way. Maybe you have a baby engineer!

@worriedmumsy I knew when ds was two weeks old. I can’t really say how. I just did.

I didn't know she was autistic.

I did know that she wasn't like any of my friends children at the same age.

Please do insist on a hearing test. We thought ds was fine because he could hear some things so clearly. He really wasn’t - you can have hearing loss in some frequencies and not others. So eg you could hear birds, dogs and feet on a path but not be able to hear average human speech well.

So well done for going to gp - you sound like an amazing mum!

Hi yes I did he is now 12 was diagnosed with autism and other learning delays.

When he was 1 he said a a couple of words then went mute ( not saying anything at all) and when his speech came back at 18mths he had a significant speech issue and delay. He started talking at age 5 properly. He didn't point or babble as a baby. He developed other sensory habits from age 18mths old which I now know were autistic stims

I'm also autistic so recognised it all early

Keep pushing for your son don't let them fob you off hun. Start the ball rolling now as the waiting lists are ridiculously long, go private if you can afford xxx

Yes. I knew from birth something wasn’t right and by the time my son was 8 months old I told my friend that I thought my son was autistic. That was 30 odd years ago and I was correct.

@MrsPutItOn that is amazing. What age did he write that?

My ds had a speech delay but could add at two and read at three!

Yes. In fact I was uneasy about my pregnancy from about 5 months into it. It just didn’t feel right. Then when my son was born I just knew something was amiss and I had the Paeds check him again.

same with mine! can't get him away from books :)

I think @MrsPutItOn might have been being sarcastic.

But then I'm autistic as well as my child so perhaps not!

he wrote it at 16 months, must have learnt it from his father

@MrsTumblebee it’s funny you say this - I can so relate. My son’s movements were off the scale. Also he really pushed around in there - to the point where you could see whole limbs. Whole hand etc from outside! Bless him!

I knew my son was neurodiverse at 1 but I wasn’t sure what it was at that point. He was always sensory seeking; rocking, head banging, sucking clothing. He didn’t sleep through until he was 4. He was extremely difficult to handle in all situations, hated being out and about, just wanted to be at home. We didn’t start to discuss ASD until he started reception. He was diagnosed at 7. He’s doing well in a SEN school now aged 14.

@MrsPutItOn wow that is incredible he could do that. Not so good if someone said it about him.

No I had no idea at the time (a girl)
looking back retrospectively there were a few things but nothing very obvious

@MrsPutItOn Just saw your follow up post - so good that he loves reading!

husband has a bit of a potty mouth unfortunately, would never say it about my ds though