Expert: Trey McGowan - 7/1/2010

Question
QUESTION: My baby, who we call Boo, is far behind other babies his age. He does not talk, except to babble. He doesn't walk, but does crawl at the speed of light. He doesn't eat ANY solid food. Not even mashed banana if it has chunks. He will only eat stage 2 baby food from a jar, or yogurt. He gags when a solid type food goes into his mouth.
It was thought that he had Trisomy 18. Turned out negative, but there was a hole found in his brain before he was born, something called a dangling coloroid ( that is very likely the wrong word, I cannot remember exactly what it was, but it sounds similar to that). I had sonograms every month. Boo had an MRI last week, the hole is now closed they think.
He had colic. BAD. At least it seemed bad to us. I assume all parents of colicky babies think that their baby has it worse than all others.
He only drinks from a bottle, and only milk. No juice.
If he is eating baby food you have to let him buckle the chair straps. Once buckled, he will shove the spoon away, then you have to unbuckle him. He will then buckle it again, and back and forth you go with him. He will only eat while engaged in this activity.
When he is playing with his brother who is exactly 12 months older he will laugh. He will laugh at many things, actually. But when he is out in public, with an enviroment he is not familiar with, he loses it. Becomes weepy, and clingy. This will occur anywhere, even the grocery store. He is not good with strangers, either. I have noticed very little eye contact with strangers. With us he is soo loving, although he doesn't really like to be held that often. He will fight to get down if you are holding him, and when he does he makes no sound. Just wiggles a lot, to the point that he must be put down. My other two kids would wiggle as well, but they would also cry/wail/scream to get down.
He does cruise around furniture, but always on his tip toes.
We have therapists here at the house thru the infant and toddler program with the state. But autism has never been mentioned. My instincts are telling me that he is autistic. Which is hard to accept. Any help is appreciated.

ANSWER: I'm a bit confused by the question here. What help are you looking for? I'm not a doctor, and can't offer diagnosis. You say you have therapists; have you ever directly brought up autism with them?

I need a bit more information about what you're looking for from me before I can help out, here! :)

Trey

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

QUESTION: I just read it back. I confused myself!

I guess my question is this-
Have you ever heard of a baby being this far behind on so many levels? The doctors don't think that he is autistic. Say that he makes too much eye contact. No one knows what is making him this way, the doctors are confused. He saw an ENT dr the other day. Had his hearing checked. The dr. thinks that he may be deaf in one ear, can't be sure because Boo freaked out when they tried to stick this instrument into his ear(s).
So, again, my question...Dr.s are confused as to what exactly is causing him to be so far behind. I am really concerned with the eating. He had a mashed avacado 2 days ago. Got a small chunk in his mouth, and projectile vomitted. I am just wondering if there are any other babies out there that you know of that are similar, and if so, what was the end result?
P.S.--I still want to have him checked for autism, but is it true that the test is more accurate after age 2??

Answer
Hi again, Jennifer!

I understand how you can miss it in panic. I just wish I am going to be able to be of more help, but again: this is a 'I'm not a doctor' moment. I can offer a little more information for you, though.

The term for what your child was diagnosed with, if I read this right, is a 'dangling choroid plexus'. This essentially means that a small portion of the child's brain, while they were forming, had been positioned abnormally. This sounds terrifying, but there are many perfectly healthy children who have had this sort of formation. I suggest strongly that you talk to the individual who had done the MRI and simply ask them for more information on what had been diagnosed at that time. Trust me: no doctor will blame you for wanting more information about a medical situation!

If your child is not even two years old, then diagnosis is definitely going to have to wait at least a little while. Diagnosis is difficult because there are so many variables that may yet have to form. I can't get a 'feel' for how far behind your child is as I don't know how old he is at the moment. But waiting would likely be necessary, to ensure the level of 'falling behind' as well as the level of development.

One thing I will point out: many children will go weepy and clingy in an unfamiliar situation. This is that horrible beast known as 'shyness'. I'm not saying this is the case, but this would explain a lot of the social difficulties with strangers. Try working little by little on getting more exposure. Rather than big, explosive situations, try smaller groups and work your way up.

I wish I could be more help here, but as I said, I can't make any sort of diagnosis, nor am I a pediatrician who can come up with other suggestions other than general 'parental' suggestions. I do wish you all the best, though, with hopefully getting the answers. See if you can find someone in your area who can assess for developmental disorders and the like; even if they can't diagnose right now, they will be able to when the child is old enough, and you will likely be able to make the appointments much more quickly since you already have the doctor in mind!

Further questions? Comments? Feedback? Follow-ups? Feel free to ask!

Trey