Expert: Valerie Herskowitz - 2/16/2011

Question
Hi,
I have a 6 month old daughter that has recently began waving her right hand only back and forth like a beauty queen would.  Sometimes she will look at it for a second or two and sometimes she will just do it while she is sitting in her highchair or laying on the floor playing with toys.  I am worried about autism because my cousin's son did this when he was young but when he did it, it was right in front of his face.  Is this something to be worried about.  She seems fine in every other way regarding eye contact, smiling, responding to her name, etc.  Also, she is undergoing testing for hypothyroidism and I heard that it has been connected to autism and causing autism like symptoms.  Does that have any truth to it?  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Sue
I really don't know if your daughter's waving is something to worry about or not. However, if you feel she is developing in all other areas (she's babbling, turning her head towards sounds, making eye contact with you, etc), then I don't know if I would worry about it right now unless it doesn't cease within a few months.

Sorry-don't know about the hypothyroidism/autism connection, though I have heard of individuals with autism having hypothyroidism. Honestly, that is not in my realm of expertise.

I think that since you are worried, you should have her checked out by a developmental pediatrician. These individuals would be your best source for this type of thing.

Let me know how it goes