Examples of joint attention? (other than pointing)

[catski]

My son, 21 months, is being evaluated for autism. I noticed around 16/17 months that his pre verbal communication skills seemed to be lacking (pointing and other gesturing) and his imaginative play is also limited.

His pointing has improved (although he still doesn't use many other gestures like waving) - he will use informative pointing when looking in books, and will also now use imperative pointing (although not always looking back at me), but his pointing to show interest is still a bit patchy. He points at lots of things which he finds interesting, but doesn't often look to see if I am also looking.

Are there other examples of showing joint attention (which I'm not sure that he does)? Yesterday he pulled lots of videos off our shelf and got heartily told off for it. This morning he was kneeling in front of the shelf, pulled one video off and then turned round to see if I was watching with quite a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Is that joint attention?

The last example is definitely shared attention and sounds promising. I would say my DS1 (ASD) used to do the same when he built a tower and we would tell him not to knock it down - but what was noticable in retrospect was how isolated an example of shared attention it was. Shared attention is rarely totally absent in autism just more limited and impaired. Does he bring you things spontaneously ? Does he follow your excitement if you see something interesting? It's a good sign that pointing is coming on.

Hi.

MY DS2 (3.7) has speech/language delay and one of the things that I remember he DID NOT do was bring things to me. By this, I don't mean bringing things for me to open or switch on, I mean tiny things, like bits of fluff/paper, etc for no real reason other than to give it me.

The only reason that I realised that DS2 didn't do this was when DS3 did at around 12 months. And when DS3 did it, I remember that DS1 had done it and DS2 hadn't .

I assume that it was/is some form of attention sharing.

Thanks for the replies

Yes, he does bring things to me spontaneously - usually books that he wants me to read to him - not sure if this is just using me as a prop or not. He also brings over toys, sometimes just to give me, but more usually because he wants me to play with it with him. He likes it when we play with toys together and he's pretty easy to distract or to engage him onto new toys/activities.

He will follow a point (most of the time) if I tell him to look at something. As for 'catching' excitement - I think he will sometimes, but not all the time. He does 'catch' laughter more often though - if some kids are laughing and having fun, he will laugh and find it fun too. I noticed yesterday at playgroup that he was watching a couple of kids who were chasing each other round the room, laughing and yelling. He didn't join in with them but he was smiling and cleary enjoying watching them. I've noticed that he does watch what other children are doing and will occasionally do the same thing if he finds it interesting (such as colouring on an easel with pens).

It's great that he brings things to you. DS2 brought books, toys etc. But he was bringing them for a purpose iyswim,ie to be played with or read to or switched on. I suppose you could say it was to meet his needs rather than to necessarily share something with me. He was,however, fully sharing attention by 2.5 years. He also did not point and wave until he was 18.5 months old.

DS1/3 used to bring things like bits of paper/fluff at a very young for no real reason other than to do it. It's hard to describe the difference in their 'sharing' experiences but I noticed it

Anyway, your Ds sounds as if he is making progress and it is good that he is being monitored.

Thanks poshpaws. I guess I am trying to second guess what the diagnosis is going to be. Although, I have to go in to psychologist for another 'interview' tomorrow and I also want to make sure I mention all the things that may be of importance. When I had the DISCO interview with the psychiatrist she asked me so many questions which I couldn't remember if he did or not and then some of them I saw examples of later that week! We are scheduled for our 'conclusion meeting' on the 23rd so not long to wait.

I didn't realise that speech/language delay could also involve an impairment in joint attention. I hope your son is doing well

Hi all,

I'm in a major rush here but just wanted to recommend RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) see www.rdiconnect. com (no spaces)

J
x

My 2 year old n/t rascal does things like switch the dining room light on if his dinner is ready, gets his shoes, coat and everyone else's if we are going out, brings me books and demand that I read them, gets me his wipes and nappies, takes his plate out, gets a cloth if he spills a drink brings me his lego, looks directly at me when I say his name-none of the things which I remember my 4 year old currently being assessed doing at that age.