Is he pointing?

[ntt]

Hi, ds, just over 11 months, probable ataxic cp, has been stretching out for/towards things for a few weeks now with his hands/arms whilst I've been carrying him around, or if he's sat in his chair, or on my lap etc. He doesn't point with his index finger, but extends all of them, maybe the index fingers are ever so slightly higher than the rest...

Could this be classed as pointing?

Hope you don't mind me posting - I've no idea about the SN aspects of this, but my ds has just turned one and has been doing this sort of pointing for a few weeks now.

I saw it described on another thread as 'jesus' pointing which seemed to sum it up pretty well . I think that it is the precursor to pointing proper. It certainly seems to be quite an effective means of showing us what he wants!

of course I don't mind you posting

I hope you're right - it'd be lovely to have him reach a milestone on time for once!

It makes sense to me that it is because it was a totally new thing when it started (I guess everything is new when it starts, but this was noticably different bahaviour).

Does your ds follow your finger or line of sight when you point/look at things? ds has started doing that as well. Previously he just looked at my finger no matter how animated my pointing at some deeply fascinating thing. I think that the two are connected (learning to point and following a point).

I hope I'm right too. It seems like quite an important milestone to me - partly because I think it reduced his frustration as we can tell what he wants (not always, though, as quite often he wants a cow from the farm across the road or a hot cup of tea so he just has to stay frustrated ). Also because it is a sign that he can understand that I'm trying to show him something, which makes things much more rewarding somehow.

Why can't he have a cow from across the road if he wants? You're mean! My ds loves finishing off my tea - unfortunately most of it ends up soaking his clothes.

I think he's following a point - I will look more closely today.

what the hell - you're right, he can have the cow. i'm sure the farmer won't miss it.

think we may be in for a proto tantrum when he realises he can't take it to bed though.

sing wind the bobbin up to him to encourage him!

We count this as pointing and reward it hugely "GOOD pointing!" (round of applause) though tbh I'm not sure how far it is an attempt to communicate and how far she's just trying to get hold of things. She still doesn't point to things to get your attention, but if given a choice of two objects will now "point" (reach vaguely) to the one she wants which is huge progress for us.

I suspect that he is mainly trying to get hold of things to be honest but today I've been trying out the following a point thing and he did look towards where I pointed on two occasions, but I don't know if this was coincidence because on other occasions he just looks at my finger. Have been trying to offer choices to him, but because of his ataxia, it's difficult to tell if he's indicating a preference.

Hi Ntt,

My son has Ataxia amongst other things and he did the same as you describe for pointing, but only in the past year, of which he is now 3.5

It;s really great if it is pointing and even if it isn't, it's still good as he's using his muscles and joints.

Hope all goes well.

Butty.xxx

Hi Butty, yes, at this stage he could go anyway, but being able to reach out and extend his fingers has got to be a good sign. Thanks x

r3dh3d, wanted to say before how it must be wonderful for your dd to begin to choose things - it's such a brilliant cognitive development, there must be some good stuff going on!