18 month old toddler is non-verbal, but was babbling at 11 months

[yat182]

Hi guys - first time poster, so please bare with me.

My DS is 18 months old and from what we can see - he seems non-verbal, not responding to name and avoids eye contact and doesn't point. We have started the process with the HV to try and figure out what is happening; and yes the first step is to check on his hearing.

When he was 11 months old, he was able to babble - he was holding eye contact. He was responding to his name, and he would repeat words like "da da da" that we would say.

For any parents out there would have had an ASD diagnosis - have you been in a situation where all previous health markers have been met, and something changed after a certain age?

Thanks so much

It's reasonably common for children with ASD to be developing normally and then regress. Some children will regain these skills (e.g. language) with support, some won't.

Thank you. I take it there is a set path to go down in the UK. And it all begins with my GP right? Then audiologist and only then will we be able to get a clear autism diagnosis?

The HV will be able to refer for an ASD assessment if necessary.

In some areas, you can self refer to SALT. Often they like hearing to be checked first though.

Hey OP. First off, I hope you’re ok. I’ve been where you are and it was a really difficult and upsetting time. My DS was also doing all the things your little boy was at 11mo and lost skills by the time he was 13/14 months. My son is now 6 and was diagnosed with ASD in October last year (but had been on the wait list since 3yrs). I’m not sure if it’s much help, but I’d just like to let you know that whilst my son is still very much autistic, he’s incredibly different to how he was as a toddler. He now follows instructions, is verbal (not conversational yet, but can tell us his needs and wants and his speech is improving all the time), he’s more sociable, he is in a separate class in a mainstream school and doing great. I look back to when he was tiny and didn’t understand a word I was saying or even babble and can’t believe how far he has come. Best of luck to you guys - I was there once and still am but a bit further along and things seem less bleak these days. X

Thank you that was really good of you and I really needed to read that. Can I please ask how did you cope between your sons age 3 to 6? Waiting for an autism diagnosis? That must’ve been so frustrating. What happened in terms of nursery and school while you were waiting?

It’s so good to hear that your son has progressed so well to who he is today. I was looking at starting speech therapy even now.

Provision in nurseries and schools is based on needs, not diagnosis.

The school must still make reasonable adjustments and, for most types of schools, their best endeavours to meet DS’s SEN. And he can still get an EHCP if that is necessary.

In nursery, they should still be providing support. They can still approach the Area SENCO and at 2 or 3 (depending no where you lives) they can still apply for early years inclusion funding. An EHCP is also still possible.

Hi All,

so just an update, my son is now 27 months old and there hasn’t been much change.

No words… And no pointing he just seems to be in his own world. If he wants something, then he will go to get it but not ask for it in terms of leading or pointing . One thing he can do is repeat basic sounds that we make to him such as bababa dadada, mum mum mum etc

he always craves the sensory sensation of putting something in his mouth, so he will do that with any of his toys rather than actually play with them.

The health visitor have given us a referral to a paediatrician and SALT on the NHS, but we know how long the waiting lists are . Right now we are willing to go private with speech and language therapy and somehow just save up what we can to pay for that.

He starts nursery this week and I’m really hoping that they can also help.

I appreciate everyone that has reached out to me since my last post 🙏🏽