Suspected autism 12 month old

[MS261996]

Hi everyone,

I would like to get a little advice about my little girl who just had her 1st birthday.
She has never liked to be held, and would always arch her back so it would be difficult to sooth her. She does have reflux and had colic which stopped around 8 months old. Always been a difficult sleeper!

My main concern is the lack of eye contact or when she does look at me it’s usually a blank expression. She will crawl over to me and then get straight back down and not look at me during this interaction (may babble mumma). She doesn’t spontaneously laugh or rarely smiles of her own accord, and have to try very hard to get her to laugh. (She loves her sister (5) and does smile but looks more at her mouth than at her if that makes sense). She has never cuddled me and doesn’t kiss either, she doesn’t point or wave but will clap although this is at random times, she does smile when we praise her though.

When she gives eye contact it is very fleeting and doesn’t show any joint attention, looks down at the floor when I try and get her attention and doesn’t bring me things or pass me when I ask her. 95% of the time she will not respond to her name. She doesn’t play with toys and no putting phone up to her ear or anything like that, she bangs the wall, shuts cupboards and puts the toys in her mouth.

Another concern is sensory related, she shakes her head sometimes looking out the corner of her eyes, she scratches everything and always flings her head back to look at the light when I hold her. She gages when she eats more often than not, and she likes to rub her head on soft surfaces like the sofa.

Sometimes I feel she understands the word no but majority of the time she does ignore me. She can say Mumma and says it when I put her down for bed and doesn’t want me to leave and says dada. She is standing holding on to things, and walks along her playpen holding on, a lot of the time on her tippy toes. A couple of times when I have sang mummas on the bus go chatter she says chatter but doesn’t look at me. No social babbling, when she is in her high chair at dinner/lunch time she is so quiet, not even a smile unless I say “I’m gunna get ya and pretend to tickle her” she will laugh but look down slightly.

sorry for the long post, I just wanted to see if this seem typical behaviour for her age?
My son is autistic and was diagnosed at 2, and started talking at 6 but isn’t understood by most and has verbal dyspraxia which is what I worry about the most. (He was very affectionate and did some pretend play (phone to ear) had the same stims and speech regression at 1, still toe walks now.

I did have a HV app when she was 10-11 months and they agreed something is socially off, I do have another one booked for her to be evaluated and discuss if she needs a referral although with her being so young I am not expecting much at this point, I want to just enjoy her, but it’s so difficult when I know what challenges she might face and want to be prepared for that.

I don’t know what I am looking for in this post, I feel like I may be paranoid but I can’t imagine her progressing typically and want to prepare for any challenges she may have. Any opinions or advice would be appreciate.

thanks x

I have to say, from your title I was going to say she is so very young, and I wouldn't worry yet, but from your detailed post, you know yourself that there are several pointers there.
It is great that your HV is on board.

Each part of the country has different routes to assessment and there are some that won't accept referrals before certain ages, and most would at best only be monitoring at this stage.

Kite22, thank you for replying. My sons was picked up fairly early because of his toe walking he had to have casts to correct his feet but they realised they wouldn’t have a long term effect for him and referred him to community ped at 18 months! I think it’s just a case of wait and see for the next 6 months and I will do all I can to help with her social development.

Hiya, just wanted to check how your daughter is doing now. My son is very similar and started toe walking around furniture at 9 months. Did the cast correct his feet?

@Akay2023 the casts didn’t he still toe walks now but he can put his feet flat since the casts were done. My daughter has come on a little but definitely autistic, possible learning disability. Her health visitor came over yesterday and she said she can’t diagnose her obviously but she is not withdrawing her referrals based of this little progression and I’m not insane lol. She referred her at 12 months old so have been waiting 9 months, hopefully receive her ped appointment soon and our health visitor said she should be diagnosed there and then.

I am soo stressed. I don’t know what to do. My son will be 1 in a few days and he just wont eat so fussy with food, constantly tip toeing wont clap or wave . Hardly imitates but kind of responds to his name and babbles a little. The anxiety about what his future hold is constantly stressing me and i feel like i am losing my mind

@Akay2023 I had the same worries with my son, I thought he would never be able to have friends or speak for that matter. We was told he was severely impaired and he was very difficult until he turned 6 and started speaking but also every milestone that he eventually reached was amazing and he is a joy to be around. All of our family and friends say how amazing he is each time they see him because the difference in development is insane each time, and is always learning something new even if he has done it later. I was also worrying about my daughter but she is so similar to my son, I believe she will develop similar to him. Also at this stage pre diagnosis, its difficult because your constantly doubting what you know and think you are paranoid, its good to keep in constant contact with the professional that refers your child as they can keep monitoring development while waiting and you will have an idea of what areas you need to focus on but also validate your feelings on what is going on.

How is your son now please? X

@Chzm not sure who you was asking but my daughter ended up with a diagnosis of level 3 autism, development delay at 24 months - limited speech and just coming up to 3 years old. Extreme sensitivity to clothing and other issues. PDA profile so extreme behaviours.

@Akay2023 forgot to tag you! Thanks