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About Jene Aviram
Expertise
How do you know if your child has autism? If you're concerned about your child's behavior and would like to know if they're symptoms of autism, I can help you. If you need behavior and parenting strategies, I have many suggestions and ideas to help you. I can also help you with questions on ABA therapy. I cannot answer biomedical questions.

Experience
I am one of the co-founders of Natural Learning Concepts, a manufacturing company for autism and special education materials. I am an author and writer and my work on the autism spectrum is frequently published by many organizations and renowned magazines. My son has Aspergers and my nephew has autism.

Publications
Autism/Aspergers Digest Autism Society of America Autism Today Issue Spirit Magazine The Autism Perspective Magazine Yahoo News Parenting Magazine

Education/Credentials
My original background and education is computer network engineering. A turn of events led me to switch careers in early 2000 when my passion and driving force became helping people on the autism spectrum. I then co-founded a successful company that helps people on the autism spectrum every day.

You are here: Experts > Parenting/Family > Parenting Special Needs > Autism > signs of autism in a 12 month old.

Autism - signs of autism in a 12 month old.

Expert: Jene Aviram - 10/22/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I am the first time mum of a beautiful 12 month old boy (12 months today actually). I have some anxiety about Autism although there is no family history that I am aware of, however, I do not know my father or his side of the family.

Some things he does that concern me are:
His eye contact is not good up close ie: when I am holding him on my hip or my face is close to his. He tends to look at my mouth when I am speaking to him, rather than in my eyes. His eye contact, however, is pretty good at a distance of a anything greater than a metre or so.

He has just started, in the last few weeks, to bring things to us and grab our hands and place the item in our hands without looking at us, rather than bringing it over to us and "showing" us with eye contact, although he does do this on occasion also.

He hates sleep and gets distressed whenever I try to put him down. Even just taking him into his room and closing the door starts a tantrum as he knows that means bedtime.

He isn't waving as of yet.

He is babbling (mama, dada, (not in context yet) nana, nono, gaga etc) but has no words really. Not that we can understand or that he seems to use regulary in context.

He is a catnapper, taking 30 min naps at a time, and has been since 4 month old. Sleep has always been an issue. He wakes between 4.30am and 5am every morning.

On the plus side (the things I console myself with!)
He seems to understand what we are saying. He knows no, and has started, sometimes, to use it. If I say "where is bunny?" he will go and get his bunny and bring it over.

His gross and fine motor skills are excellent. He walked at 10 months, has great pincer grip and loves to put shapes into their holes. Actually, he likes anything he can put things into.

He is very curious and is always off exploring his environment.

He is generally quite a happy baby and always smiles back at attention from strangers.

The other thing that worries me is he used to clap, on demand, he did this for about two weeks then stopped and has not done it again since. Same thing with dancing. He did this for a bit, now he doesn't do it anymore.

He also runs away all the time (well, walks away - he can't run yet) but if we are out, say at the supermarket or anything, he will whinge and whinge and squirm to be put down, and then when he is put down, he'll just take off and not look back. Is this normal?

I know he is only young at 12 months, and not much can be done until 18 months, if even then. I was just wondering if you think I should be concerned at all, or if this seems like normal behaviour for a 12 month old little boy.

Thank you for taking the time to listen.

Kindest regards
Melissa.

ANSWER: Hi Melissa,

I wonder if this is your first baby. If so, it's quite amazing how aware you are of child development. One can't diagnose over the Internet, but your son appears to be exactly in that middle line. For everything that's concerning, he does something on the flip side that makes up for it.

It's a possibility that with maturity your son will blossom and you won't have to worry about him clapping, talking etc. With regards to autism, I wouldn't worry about his sleep patterns or the way he brings you items. Even his eye contact doesn't seem too much of a concern. I know it's the hardest thing to wait, but it really seems like you need a few months to get a clearer picture. All kids develop at different rates and it's highly possible that in a few months you'll look back and wonder how you could have ever worried.

Just as you said, figuring out if a child is at risk for autism before 18 months old is very hard to do. Just so that you have the information in a few months, I'd like to refer you to some links.

One of them is the M-CHAT. This test is really for 18 month olds. After the test, it will tell you which questions were most important. The link is http://www.nlconcepts.com/autism-mchat.htm

Another article I recommend you read is called "How do you know if your child has autism?" Although it's written for kids starting at 18 months old, it might give you an idea of what it looks like to be on the spectrum. You can read it here http://www.nlconcepts.com/autism-howdoyouknow.htm

I know how anxious you must be to get some answers and you'll know better soon. Take it as a good sign. It means that your son is just slightly behind without glaringly obvious red flags. A little bit of maturity can make a huge difference. Talk to your pediatrician about your concerns as well. This way they'll keep a close eye on his development.

I wish you great success and I hope this has been of some help.

Jene Aviram
http://www.nlconcepts.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Oh, sorry, another thing I forgot to mention is pointing. He is pointing with his index finger. Some-what haphazardly at times, and into thin air it appears at times, but other times quite obviously.

Answer
Melissa,

This is yet another very encouraging sign. Pointing is an important milestone and pointing things out to you shows social awareness. You should see this start to increase and once your son develops more language, he'll start to rely more on verbal communication.
You have a lot to be really happy about.

Jene Aviram
http://www.nlconcepts.com

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