AboutMichelle Fattig Expertise I can answer questions about educational testing, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADD/ADHD, Special Education, IEP, Learning Disabilities, Sensory Processing, Parent Advocacy, Response to Intervention, living and parenting with disabilities, parent rights in special education, school psychology, and more. I cannot provide a medical diagnosis.
Experience I am a school psychologist, medical technologist, author of the Annie Books series: Experience Aspeger's Syndrome and Attention Deficits Through the Eyes of a Child, RTI facilitator, ILCD facilitator, parent advocate, presenter, and researcher. My children and I have Asperger's, ADD/ADHD, and learning disabilities.
Organizations National Association of School Pyschologists, American Medical Technologists, Learning Disabilities Association of Nebraska
Education/Credentials Ed.S. in School Psychology, doctoral studies in SPED Law, SPED Systems Enhancement Leadership, and doctoral candidate Education Leadership. MT(AMT) and MLT(ASCP)
Question QUESTION: My daughter has just turned 15 months, she began babbling quite late, 11 months but only says baba and mumum. But has no real words at this point in time. She has good eye contact, i sing plenty of songs to her, and just started reading to her on a daily basis (with the odd exception) whilst she is having her bottle before going to bed. This week she has started to do the arm movements for the song 'the wheels on the bus go round and round' by moving her arms in a circular motion. I have never really said to her 'where is your ball?' therefore, now that i have just started to do that, she does not know what i am saying to her (or so it seems). She does not really point to what she wants, but will use a pointing finger to touch features on your face, pictures in a book, bits on the floor and to push objects to shape toys. She responds well to her name, with the odd exception. At meal times i will ask do you want a drink and she will look at me - but i have recently put the drink near her and she will, if she thinks it is in her reach go to get it herself, or just get a little frustrated when i say do you want a drink and i don't automatically give it to her as i have always done.
I often think that my husband and i have just done too much for her and not let her tell us her needs or desires, we have always presumed her needs and understood the tired cries to upset cries etc. My real concerns at this point in time are this, she is not speaking (although that is quite normal i am led to believe for a 15 month old), she does not point at what she wants, and her ability to understand what is requested does not seem to be present - although, i can say to her 'come here' and most of the time she does, i can say 'say baba' and she does, i can say 'look' and most of the time she looks to see what i am trying to get her attention at.
Please advise what you think? I feel out of my mind with worry, there is alot of conflicting views on the internet as to what to expect from our little ones, am i asking too much of her, or is she on the boundaries to these milestones - please help!!! Thank you.
ANSWER: The language struggles could be related to many things, not just autism or spectrum disorders. I would recommend printing out, and completing the questionnaire found at:
Also, print out and complete the following questionnaire:
EARLY CHILDHOOD/PRESCHOOL PARENT QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of Child: _____________________ Date of Birth: ________ Age: _______
Name of Referrer: __________________ Relationship to Child: ______________
Parent/Guardian: ______________________________________________________
Names Address Phone
Date of Referral: ____________
Referral Concern (Please list any concerns about child’s communication, behavior, or development): _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Medical History:
Pregancy: _____________________________________________________________
Prenatal: ______________________________________________________________
Birth: _________________________________________________________________
History of Chronic Illness, Head Injury, Ear Infections, Hospitalization, or Accident: ______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Mother: ____________________________ Father: ____________________________
Siblings: _______________________________________________________________
Family History (Special Education, Developmental Delays, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health): _________________________________________________________
Who lives with the child: __________________________________________________
How does the child relate with:
Mother _________________ Father __________________ Siblings _______________
Family activities: ________________________________________________________
Does the child experience difficulty with peers, extended family, or social settings?
_______________________________________________________________________
As an infant, did the child experience difficulty with colic or soothing (stiffen or pull away when cuddled or stroked)? ___________________________________________
Communication:
1) Does he or she respond to his/her name: Never Sometimes Often Always
__________________________________________________________________
2) Does he/she express her needs or wants: Verbally Pointing Pulling Tantrums
___________________________________________________________________
3) Does he/she talk like children his/her age? ______________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4) Does he/she follow simple or complex directions? ________________________
____________________________________________________________________
5) Have you ever wondered if he/she is deaf? _______________________________
6) Does he/she seem to hear at times, but not at others? _______________________
7) Does he/she ever seem lost in own little world or stare off? _________________
_____________________________________________________________________
8) Does he/she mimic, copy, or like to immitate? ____________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
9) Does he/she seem to have lost words, or say fewer words than before? _________
_____________________________________________________________________
Social Concerns:
10) Does he/she smile at family members? __________________________________
11) Does he/she smile at strangers or become overly frightened by strangers? ______
____________________________________________________________________
12) Does he/she prefer to play alone or overly dependent on parent/caregiver for entertainment (you are his favorite/only toy)? ____________________________
____________________________________________________________________
13) Does he/she get things for self? _______________________________________
14) Is he/she very independent or overly attached (extreme separation anxiety)? ____
_____________________________________________________________________
15) Has he/she met milestones early or unevenly? ____________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
16) Does he/she seem to avoid eye contact or have too much eye contact (watching without mirroring or reacting like a little professor)? _______________________
_____________________________________________________________________
17) Does he/she often seem “lost in own little world”? ________________________
____________________________________________________________________
18) Does he/she seem tuned out or uninterested in other children? _______________
____________________________________________________________________
Behavioral Concerns:
19) Does he/she seem to have excessive tantrums or emotional outburst with little or
no provocation? ____________________________________________________
20) Does he/she express frustration or over react to small changes or routine? ______
_____________________________________________________________________
21) Does he/she demonstrate a lack of understanding in playing with toys (excessive mouthing, banging, lining up, sorting, focus on one part like spinning, or lack of interest)? __________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
22) Does he/she seem to get stuck on things regularly (wants to stick with one activity over any others, watch the same movie over and over, read the same book over and over, or other)? _________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
23) Does he/she have unual attachments to objects? ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
24) Does he/she toe walk or have unusual facial movements/grimacing? __________
_____________________________________________________________________
25) Does he/she make any unusual hand movements or spin for long periods of time?
_____________________________________________________________________
26) Does he/she seem overly sensitive to textures or sounds? ___________________
_____________________________________________________________________
If Age Appropriate:
27) Did he/she babble by 12 months? ______________________________________
28) Did he/she gesture (point, wave bye bye) by 12 months? ____________________
29) Did he/she use single words by 16 months? ______________________________
30) Does he/she seem to have an unusually advanced vocabulary? _______________
31) Does he/she seem to have an extremely good memory? ____________________
32) Does he/she demonstrate two-words spontaneously (not echo) phrases by 24 months? _________________________________________________________
33) Has he/she demonstrated any loss of language or social skills of any kind? _____
_____________________________________________________________________
(3-4 years of age)
Cognitive:
34) Show him/her a doll or stuffed toy, touch one to a box and have the other
pretend to look in the box. Ask him/her “Which one knows what’s in the box?”
Response: ____________________________________________________________
I would recommend contacting your local school district or early referral network for a free comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation to include a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, and school psychologist. Share the checklists with the team and discuss your concerns. If she is demonstrating delays or more significant concerns, she is entitled to free services with an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). See:
QUESTION: Thank you for your response and the questionnaires, they are helpful. But just to clarify, is it common for children to express delays in some areas and not in others? Also, i feel that she has a mix of abilities in certain areas, ie, she is able to wave bye bye most of the time, but tends to struggle with clapping her hands of her own admission - i have to clap her hands for her then she will do it a couple of times herself ..... do you feel that there any serious concerns, delays in speech and language can be worked at, but just a little scared at it being any more serious .... thanks once again
Answer It is very common for children to have somewhat uneven development. One of the biggest predictors, according to many researchers, of spectrum disorders is not responding to their name when called. Since she does respond well to her name, that is a very good sign. A comprehensive evaluation by the school can provide information and lead to supports if she is delayed in one or more areas at no cost to parents. Early intervention is the best regarding language and or any fine motor concerns she may have. I wish you the best. Please let me know if there is anything else that I can provide for you.
