Expert: Ettina - 4/21/2010

Question
QUESTION: Ok, my daughter turned one March 25th....and it wasn't a concern until now. I believe that I have been denying the fact that my daughter has severe delays. She didn't start rolling over until six mths old....she didn't sit up until eight mths old by her self...and she is just now for the last 2 mths been holding onto things andwalking around the room. She just now got two teeth...and she still isn't talking. Not even to say momma or daddy. The only things she says are hi de...and I'm at a loss. There's a lot of times she pulls on her hair...has done this for a  long time. She only looks at you some times when you call her name...but a lot of the time seems to be like she's ignoring you. She doesn't like to look at people just the things around her. I don't know what to do other than to have her tested...I guess my question would be....Is she showing any of the signs for autism? I just want to know so she can get the help...beuase she is my third of three children and she is doing everything way later. My main concern is she's not trying to repeat anything said, she doesn't hardly babble, she doesn't point to anything she wants..I have to guess, she refuses to try to walk, she pulls her own her and ears, when you hold her she digs her nails continiously in your arms or whatever she can reach, bucks up in your arms when you hold her, she sticks to what she's doing even if you interupt her she goes right back to whatever it is, and she doesn't take naps and she has a rough time sleeping through the night...she wakes up screaming at least two times a night, and there's been a lot of nights she does it for hours. I don't know if this is close to autism but her development is decreasing really fast and I'm really concerned.

ANSWER: Your daughter is not showing any delays, her developmental milestones are normal. Perhaps your other two might be gifted? Some of her behavior could be suggestive of autism, but it's far too early to tell.

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

QUESTION: Ok, well I have something else to ask you. I was pregnant with triplets, and the other two didn't make it past seven weeks, I was put on meds at 12 weeks to stop my labor. My children are 3,2, and 1. I had severe complications through all of my pregnancies....and was also on five different meds to stop my labor and help with the pain...the one that concerns me was the hydrocodones, and right before I found out I was pregnant I was on seizure meds...had complications during delivery as well, and her cord was wrapped around her kneck for five and half hours because the doctor held me at a nine that long by filling my blatter with two sailine solutions..and she was really having troubles because they couldn't find her heart beat the whole time...now here's my question. Can all of this cause her to have any delays? Or could it cause medical problems for her....I just worry about it.

Answer
Yes, that could cause delays or other medical issues. But there are many children who have a very rough beginning and do just fine later on. And any serious medical issues would have become evident by now.
It's understandable that you would worry about her, given that she had so much trouble early on. But you should keep in mind that the worst is over now, and even if she does have lasting problems, you can deal with that.