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Original poster

Can one year olds show signs of autism?

46 replies

jordkr1995 · 07/01/2023 21:55

Hi,

My daughter turned one in December.
The health visitor came to do her evaluation of how she’s doing and has asked for a recall in a couple of months. These were the results:

communication - 20/60
gross motor - 40/60
fine motor - 60/60
problem solving - 20/60
personal social - 40/60

They said they would send us activities to do with her however these have not turned up.

She is a lovely child but theres things people keep pointing out that just get into your head. I just want honesty on if they are insane or its me? 😂

currently she’s started walking and does normal things a one year old should do i think.

however people have noticed the following:

tantrums and random screaming
no eye contact
leg and arm flapping
focusing on smaller details instead of the toy itself.
Doesn’t respond to name
likes watching the same thing be done over and over again.
Fixated on little bits on the floor or the thread in the carpet.
Not very loving in regards to wanting to be held or anywhere near her.
Shes not babbling much

I’ve tried everything i can think of to get her to engage with me. From next week I’m sending her to nursery to see if they can get her to come along. ( i know all babies are different and come on at different rates)

im just wondering if anyone else’s child does any of these and everyone has said its fine or am i letting too many people into my head?

Then my OH keeps saying she’s special and its driving me insane. I just keep saying until a professional tells me she’s ok or Autistic just leave it be. However im sure as all you moms know the worry that you’re not doing enough for your child is heart wrenching. I’m loosing my mind as its being brought up daily.

sorry for the long post and rant. This has been ongoing for months now.

OP posts:
MsSweeney · 07/01/2023 22:04

I suspected that my daughter was autistic when she was five months old. Among other things, she wasn't babbling. I mentioned it to the nurses at the clinic as I would be returning to work when she was six months old.

They told me that it was still early days but to bring her back the following month. They were great and made the referral there and then. This was over thirty years ago.

lottie198 · 07/01/2023 22:06

It's way to young to tell if she's autistic but is your gut feeling telling you there is something not usual?
Does she not give any eye contact at all? Does she join in any games such as peekaboo? Will she giggle and laugh when you play with her?
I think it's probably just a case of waiting it out and seeing if these things pass by or whether they become something. X

MissHavershamReturns · 07/01/2023 22:06

Yes you can tell at under one.

If you look at the MCHAT checklist that’s fairly accurate.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting
Fluteytooting · 07/01/2023 22:08

My DD is part way through what we think will be an autism diagnosis. I’ve suspected since she was very young so I think you definitely can tell.

Britinme · 07/01/2023 22:08

It's a bit early for a diagnosis, but I would also be concerned about those particular signs and good on you for being sensitive enough to her to notice them. The good news is that if she is autistic the earlier you can get a diagnosis and interventions, the better her prognosis is. Keep pushing, I'd say.

mondaytosunday · 07/01/2023 22:11

Yes you can. My niece was diagnosed before she was two. She babbled and was good with eye contact but had lots of other markers. She is 12 now and goes to a special school for autistic kids.

Caterpillar1990 · 07/01/2023 22:12

Yes you can. She sounds typically autistic from what you’ve said

MsSweeney · 07/01/2023 22:13

"tantrums and random screaming
little (no) eye contact
leg and arm flapping
focusing on smaller details instead of the toy itself.
Doesn’t respond to name
likes watching the same thing be done over and over again.
Fixated on little bits on the floor or the thread in the carpet.
Shes not babbling much"

From your list, this was my daughter.

snowtrees · 07/01/2023 22:17

My daughter is ND and looking back the signs were there very early. Not obvious but she was unbelievably single minded from tiny. Screamed if didn't want to be somewhere. Would only go in a sling facing out. By two was very fussy about clothes etc

Pallisers · 07/01/2023 22:20

This was my friend's daughter. I - and all her family - worried something was amiss at age 6 months. I remember after spending an evening with them asking my sister "what kind of eye contact does a 6 month old make" as I was wondering was I misremembering. She had very early intervention and is now a quirky happy 15 year old.

Homecomin · 07/01/2023 22:20

Get the ball rolling to have her referred. I’m late diagnosed and it makes some things harder but not everything harder. Try not to panic too much, just support the child in front of you as best as you can and advocate for her as I’m sure you will

Lougle · 07/01/2023 22:21

DD1 used to try and dismantle toys rather than play with them. Fixated on small bits of glitter etc., in carpets. I could put her down in a room and walk away, and she wouldn't even look for me. She has a brain malformation and learning disabilities, so her ASD diagnosis waited until she was 15, but the signs of her ASD were there from a very young age.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 07/01/2023 22:22

lottie198 · 07/01/2023 22:06

It's way to young to tell if she's autistic but is your gut feeling telling you there is something not usual?
Does she not give any eye contact at all? Does she join in any games such as peekaboo? Will she giggle and laugh when you play with her?
I think it's probably just a case of waiting it out and seeing if these things pass by or whether they become something. X

I'm surprised you say that, maybe it's too young to confirm a diagnosis but ime of a close friends child it's definitely not too young to tell

Anecdata only but he can't be the only child whose parents knew at age one

lottie198 · 07/01/2023 22:33

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair yes you are probably right, I think parents have a gut feeling as well. What I meant is that they wont professionally diagnose autism at the age of 1 and certain things are just because they haven't caught up with development yet .
I'm no expert. My son is one and I would probably be concerned if he wasn't doing some of the things listed. X

Original poster
jordkr1995 · 07/01/2023 22:42

lottie198 · 07/01/2023 22:06

It's way to young to tell if she's autistic but is your gut feeling telling you there is something not usual?
Does she not give any eye contact at all? Does she join in any games such as peekaboo? Will she giggle and laugh when you play with her?
I think it's probably just a case of waiting it out and seeing if these things pass by or whether they become something. X

She gives you eye contact for a spilt second and then back to whatever she’s doing.

She does do peekaboo but its when we hide and she runs back and fourth laughing.
She doesn’t engage with playing in regards to toys. She just snatches them and throws them away.

I feel like my gut says she is but my heart says no she’s still little.

Thats why im paying above the odds for the best rated nursery in my areas to see if being with other people and children help bring her on. There’s only so much a parent can do unfortunately x

OP posts:
Fordian · 07/01/2023 23:12

Sorry, cut to the end, having read 5 or so responses . At 18m DS was looking quite autistic. The paed we were seeing (Aus) obvs suspected the same.

No eye contact; repetitive behaviour; lining toys up, not playing with them; no response to his name; toe-walking; no concern for consequences/ as in - mummy's cross.

He's 23 now and a happy, chatty, engaging young bloke with a lovely girlfriend.

Fordian · 07/01/2023 23:13

Oh, and some hand-flapping.

tappinginto2023 · 07/01/2023 23:50

Fordian · 07/01/2023 23:12

Sorry, cut to the end, having read 5 or so responses . At 18m DS was looking quite autistic. The paed we were seeing (Aus) obvs suspected the same.

No eye contact; repetitive behaviour; lining toys up, not playing with them; no response to his name; toe-walking; no concern for consequences/ as in - mummy's cross.

He's 23 now and a happy, chatty, engaging young bloke with a lovely girlfriend.

So he is autistic at 23?

2 out of 3 of the grandchildren in my family have ASD.
The thing both of them had in common at that age was they were very placid babies, were happy to be held by anyone and passed around. I'm not sure if that's a trait or just a coincidence.

Fordian · 08/01/2023 00:03

No, not at all. He has no autistic tendencies at all.

This was to encourage the OP to understand that really quite definite, diagnosis-traits in very young children are not riven in stone.

But, if your child is on that spectrum, far better to identify it young and to put appropriate coping strategies in place asap.

inloveandmarried · 08/01/2023 00:15

Yes. Once you know, it all makes sense. All the little quirks, the individual differences. It all makes sense. And it's all ok it's just a slightly different path.

I think the most important thing is to enjoy your baby. Bond, spend happy times, don't worry about autism. If it turns out to be accurate then in time you'll get a diagnosis.

Absolutely nothing you do now can change this outcome. It's a developmental condition.

The most important thing now is a secure bond.

jumanji100 · 08/01/2023 00:28

Get hearing checked. The babbling and not responding to name needs any hearing issues ruled out.

Britinme · 08/01/2023 02:42

My older son had a few signs I didn’t recognize (he was born 1978 when less was known or diagnosed). He’s also chatty and engaging but as a 44 year old has clear difficulties with adult life and executive function. He was diagnosed at age 33.

Original poster
jordkr1995 · 08/01/2023 09:26

My health Vistor has sent a referral for the hearing test.

I had quite a traumatic birth and when they came to do her hearing test the piece was too big so they couldn’t do it.

im hoping the waiting list isn’t too long. I’ve been trying to find somewhere private to get it checked sooner but having no luck 😢

OP posts:
ThisGirlNever · 08/01/2023 09:54

Does she respond to loud noises - e.g. nursery rhymes with the volume turned up 'too loud'?

Original poster
jordkr1995 · 08/01/2023 15:47

Hiya,

if I shout her name she doesn’t respond. However if I sing nursery rhymes she turns around and smiles.

loud noises wise. She will do a runner when she hears the dryer turning on or hovering/ hair dryers.

she will pay attention when you play hey duggee and quickly come running.

xx

OP posts: