Autism signs at 9.5 months

[Parkbench123]

Hi,

I've posted in the Behaviour/development section about my concerns that my son is showing early signs of autism, but wondered if anyone here might be able to give me a little info about possible prognosis.

I'm now fairly sure my son is not developing normally (does not respond to name, often in own world, does not look to me or dh when upset or playing or various other times, and a general gut feeling which I can't explain that he is just a little different). Given this, I wondered if the point when your child first shows signs is indicative of how severe their ASD symptoms will be in childhood and adulthood?

Some of the time he is the most friendly, smiley, sociable wee boy, but really only on his own terms. In fact, when I mentioned my concerns to nursery they said they felt he was one of the least likely children to have autism. However, I know that I'm right on this one.

Any thoughts on likely prognosis? I think I'd read somewhere that 50% of ASD children have learning disabilities. Or, could a child with Aspergers be showing signs this early? Feeling very worried.

You could try the Chat or MChat questionnaires but it might be a little early.

As regards to the rest you need to get your child a hearing test asap.

If you're convinced of autism then you should research ABA particularly the Early Start Denver Model, and perhaps Pivotal Response Training.

Also Hanen More than Words is a good introduction.

The rest, well, in the UK no-one will take you seriously until about 2years old unfortunately, but it doesn't matter because even when they do, intervention is rarely forthcoming so you'll find yourself doing it all anyway.

Hi I think if your concerned go and see your health visitor or gp , it's very hard to predict severity online or indeed your ds may not be on the spectrum

firstsigns.org has some videos as well (but you need to register to watch them).

unfortunately, star is right. You will probably struggle to get taken seriously until your DS is 18 months or 2 years old and even then, you won't get much support or any other type of early intervention - any intervention you will have to research and sort yourself.

Even if your DS has Asd, then symptoms at 9 months won't tell you much about the severity or possible learning difficulties. however, the right intervention can make a massive difference to the long term outcome. I second to research ABA.

I would approach the GP however to get a hearing test sorted.

And I would keep a diary. If you have still concerns in a couple of months having a diary might help you to convince the GP to refer.

Thanks so much for your replies. I've done the M-CHAT, and he pretty much fails every single question, but its designed to be used from 16 months, so you never know, he will hopefully improve a bit in the next few months? I will keep a diary - that's a good idea, and will look into ABA etc. I'm back at work already, so will speak to nursery to see if they can do some work with him too. It's so upsetting to see your baby distance themselves before your eyes, especially when sometimes they are so normal - especially in new group situations.

Do you know if any child can show such strong symptoms at this age, and then miraculously grow out of it? Like, learn their name and start to look to you at ten months? I suspect not, but, but not sure this false hope is helpful.

My son is 2 1/2 and we thought he was okay until about 18/20 months, but he had been a very very difficult baby and it was all a fog. So I just went back to look at photos from 9/10 months and he is way more concerned with objects than people. In contrast, the photos of ds1 at the same age show him interacting with people, heavily interacting with the camera, smiling here there and everywhere and a wide variety of things he's doing, movements and facial expressions.

But as mentioned above, I doubt I would have been taken seriously if I suspected anything then. I wasn't taken seriously at his 2 year check.

I think in your shoes, with the lack of response to name, a hearing test would be a good idea, they'll do one anyway if autism is suspected.

Otherwise, it's very difficult to predict anything I would say. But I've read it said a lot on here that you can do things with your child as if they do have autism and will also be beneficial if they don't, certainly not harmful or anything!

But it's very worrying when there's something niggling at you that your child is different.

Parkbench - I had some strong gut feeling around similar age too. My recommendations:

1 - Look into fish oils like Nordic Naturals or Vegepa
2 - Keep a diet diary and see if certain foods make things worse/absence of certain food make things better
3 - Keep a video diary
4 - Go see your GP ASAP and ask for a referral. DO NOT be fobbed off by the GP and HV
5 - Read these books:

5a - www.amazon.com/Let-Me-Hear-Your-Voice/dp/0449906647
5b - www.amazon.com/gp/product/1843108526/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1535524082&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0449906647&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1XSHHVWF2QFM68HZJRG6

6 - Look into ABA/VB
7 - List all his issues and keep a track of them.
8 - Hearing test
9 - List his sensory issues

Hang in there.. The parents on this board are very helpful

Parkbench, I had concerns about my DS from a very early age. To be honest, he did respond to his name but there were lots of little niggles. My GP referred him to community paed when he was 9 months, but as others have said, we got the brush off.......
He's now 8 and his problems are not severe - diagnosis of social communication disorder as he doesn't quite tick all the boxes for an ASD diagnosis.
So, just because you have picked up on some things early doesn't mean he will be at the severe end of the spectrum, if on the spectrum at all. Whilst you try out things to help him, try to enjoy him as he is now, the baby years go by so quick!
Good luck x

Ds was diagnosed with AS at the age of 7. He showed signs of Asperger's from about 6 months old with extreme tantrums through toddler years however nobody would refer us until he was 6 and still this was not successful on the NHS. I had never heard of Autism then but knew something was up (gut feeling). The thing is an assessment is only necessary when the child has difficulties that are causing distress to the child or others or/and gets in the way of normal life.The fact that you are aware of autism is brilliant because if your child's difficulties are ever causing you or him problem then you will be all set to act. you don't need to think that you might be too late then, you won't, it will be the right time to do so. I will back up all the suggestions above.

sorry that should have read "I never heard of what autism really meant"

My DS is nine and was diagnosed with high functioning ASD when he was five. When he was a baby he was very happy and smiley. He's always liked cuddles, is very tactile and maintains eye contact very well. I only started to have suspicions about his development when he was around 18 months old as he just didn't speak. He seemed very much in his own world. I simply couldn't break in. I took him to my GP a few times and was fobbed off. It was only whe he started preschool that my concerns were taken seriously and he could be seen a classroom setting.

The only thing that indicated his ASD when he was a baby was he didn't wave goodbye, clap hands or play pat a cake. He didn't point either. As far as tantrums go, my DS was nowhere near as bad as dd and she is nt.

Please don't panic, my daughter has AS she was a quirky and trying toddler who we always felt was different. It all clicked into place aged 6/7 and I realised she was Aspergers and she was diagnosed aged about 9. Go and see your GP who should refer you with your concerns to a paediatrian. They will look, listen and check your child over. They will probably not do anything more at his age but the issues will be formally noted and once your child is under paediatric care you can go back directly at anytime. I tool my daughter aged 18months with various developmental issues (she could sit but not sit herself up, she could walk but not crawl or get herself up to standing, very frustrated child) and they became part of her diagnoses later. If it is on record it will help in the future should you still have concerns at a later date.
Hope this helps, time is on your side. X

@Parkbench123 how did your little one get on?

@Parkbench123 Hi. How is your dc doing?

Not a hint of asd or any neurodiversity! He’s now a completely socially, academically and emotionally thriving child. My concerns at 9.5 months felt so so real to me, but were 100% my own parental anxiety and not grounded in reality. If I could give advice to myself 11-12 years ago, I’d say please stop stressing on developmental milestones, and spend more time enjoying these precious baby moments - the cuddles, the squidginess, the closeness, the happy smiley moments. And accept it’s a waiting game as your child develops into the most perfect version of what they are! Worrying just makes everything harder. Neurodiversity is so common now (many of my kids’ friends have a diagnosis of some sort) and they are wonderful children loved by their friends and family for their own uniqueness.

@Parkbench123 I appreciate your response and how great that your dc is doing so great. I will try to take your advice and not stress too much. Thanks