Autism?

[Lolly2803]

Hi there,
Looking for some advice. I have girl boy twins who are 18.5 months (corrected age 16.5 months).
I am a little concerned about my DD. She doesn't answer to her name and won't point at things and only looks half the time when I point at things. I've been googling of course and autism comes up. There are however lots of things listed as signs of autism that she doesn't do so I'm not sure if I'm worrying over nothing?
She is very affectionate and will come over to me for cuddles. She plays games like peekaboo with me. She brings books over to me to read to her. She looks at me when I'm talking to her most of the time and when I'm feeding her etc. She understands simple instructions.
Her twin my DS isn't pointing also but he is much more sociable than her and I'm less worried about him. They both make gestures if they want something.
They babble a lot and say mama and Dada but no other words yet. I have read that twins are often behind on speech? When I'm talking I can see them looking at my mouth and trying to see and work out what I'm saying etc. As I said they do babble a lot and are noisy! So just after some advice really. Not sure whether to be concerned or not!

Step away from your search engine and enjoy your lovely little people
Yes, often speech can be a bit slower arriving with twins. Even not 'corrected' they are still young.
Just keep your language simple (use one word labels, or two or three word phrases rather than long sentences), and talk to them all the time. Comment on their play. Make noises (of the animals or the vehicles you are playing with) and make the noises when you share books or notice pictures elsewhere (jigsaws or toys).

I think you are doing all the right things. Just keep an eye and note any differences you see when you have your various checks.

My DD (4yo) is autistic but like your DD very affectionate and generally lovely person: autism is very diverse. Not all autistic people have all autistic traits (in fact, I suspect none of them do). Having said that nearly all autistic people do communicate (some not with speech), are affectionate with their loved ones, etc. etc. My DD is autistic but goes to MS school and so far doesn't need a 1:1 - it just means we need to be aware in how we parent her. Doubtless more challenges may come up as she gets older but we're in the best place we can be to tackle them as and when.

I have friends with twins and I know they compared them a lot and were quite worried about their DD but actually they are both brilliant kids: turns out their DS is just super-outgoing and confident, their DD a bit more shy (but actually probably not even an unusually shy kid - just relative to her brother!)

The advice above is good and it sounds like you are being very observant and coming up with good ways to engage them anyway, so I would say try not to worry but keep being observant and doing what you're doing. FWIW my DS is behind on his speech (which DD never was), and when I took him to an SLT drop in at 18 months they didn't seem unduly worried as he is social in other ways, uses gesture etc. (which DD never did). Speech is only quite a small part of communication. They suggested going back to a drop in at 2 if he was still behind.

Thank you that's really useful. My DS is more outgoing than DD that's for sure. He's louder and more sociable with other children. Whereas DD is confident but quieter. She does babble loudly throughout the day but he's very extrovert I would say and she's not so much. I'm going to just keep an eye and see how she is when she's 2. I've noticed this week she's really watching my mouth when I'm reading to her so hopefully all will be ok. xxx

It might be worth getting their hearing checked.

Think I'm going to make a GP appointment for my DD. She isn't answering to her name, less than half the time I'd say. And she isn't pointing.
Things she doesn't do:
Talk
Point
Answer to her name
Bring things to show me other than a book

Things she does do:
Initiate cuddles
Play with me when I initiate
Babble
Play peekaboo
Enjoys nursery rhymes
Puts the phone to my ear
Brings me books she wants read to her
She will look at things I point to
Does respond most of the time to instructions she understands

My DS isn't pointing or talking but he's really trying to talk. And although he doesn't point he'll take my hand and take me to things to show me. He'll bring me toys and a cup of tea. Understands instructions. Looks when I point. So I just think he's a bit late which is fine. They are twins which can delay their language I'm just worried about DD.