Expert: Jene Aviram - 2/27/2010

Question
My baby is 11 months and 3 weeks and does not wave bye-bye, clap or point.  He has met every other milestone on time.  We try to show him these gestures regularly but he mostly just smiles at us.  He says mama and dada and from time to time I have heard nonono and boom.  He also shakes his head no and reaches for us to pick him up or when he wants someone else to hold him.  I wanted to know if his lack of pointing, clapping and waving was a red flag?  Another concern I have is that he does not bring things to his mouth.  He is not a fan of solids- he gags and sometimes chokes when we feed him something.  And one final note- he can hold his bottle (when we places his hands on it)- tilt it, put it in and out of his mouth- but does not pick it up- he sort of slaps at it when he wants it.  He does pushthe spoon, bowl or bottle away when he does not want something.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my concerns.

Answer
Hi Julie,

Eleven months is way too early to detect autism.  Even so, when I read your post the word autism does not jump out at me.  Far from it.  He says mama and dada discriminately.  He shakes his head no.  He reaches for you when he wants to be picked up.  These skills are often absent in toddlers with autism.  

If anything, it sounds to me like your child might benefit from OT (occupational therapy.)  Gagging and choking on solids is definitely something a good OT works on.  And so are fine motor skills (which accounts for picking up his bottle.)  In fact waving, clapping and pointing are all motor tasks which an OT is incredible for helping children progress.  

By the way, your son is only expected to wave and clap by the end of eleven months.  He is only expected to start pointing some time in the twelfth month.  That being said, I certainly wouldn't be concerned.  I might be somewhat concerned if he was delayed in all areas.  But as you said, he's met every other milestone.  All toddlers develop at their own rate.  And if I were you I wouldn't be concerned about autism.  

I do think that an evaluation by early intervention never hurts.  If anything, it can only help.  And most important it can give peace of mind which is a wonderful thing.  Ask your pediatrician who to contact for early intervention.  The evaluation and services if your son needs any should be free and no expense to you.  And if your son needs OT (which is questionable) he will receive services.  But overall, I think you're in good shape :-)

I hope this has been of some help.

Jene Aviram
http://www.nlconcepts.com