Expert: Dr. Sharon A. Mitchell - 8/6/2011

Question
Good afternoon
My 9 month old is a very active baby... All he wants to do is play and play.  I always struggle to feed him, he rather have water all day and thats it... He refuses solids, especially the ones that are mushy.. He only want to feed him self which is great ... Whenever  I try new healthy foods, he will touch them and not eat it... So basically he only wants to feed himself junk food..Is alike if he is afraid of  any food I introduce him to... He was not like this couple months ago.....  Lately he is been crying every time I put put him in high chair.... He refuses to hold his bottle but he will hold his zippy cup as long as is cold water in it, if there is formula hen would  only drink an ounce and ignore it. He only gained 1 lb. in 3 months... He is very sensitive to loud noises like  dogs barking , kids playing loud, when people  get their shopping carts etc...he cries

He hums slot and sings to himself.... He swings back and forth a lot...and he likes banging the back of his head in walls or whatever is behind him..... He talks a lot and love being around people and moves around a lot... Very busy guys ..hyper very hyper.... I am worry he is autism .... What do you think?

When can I test him for autism? I am  his mother and I am ADHD ....

Answer
Nine months is a bit young to test for autism Irmarie, especially when he is not showing extremely overt signs.

The most pressing concern right now is likely his eating habits. I would suggest getting medical help to investigate this first. Might he be having teething problems so that he prefers just liquids? Does his stomach seem upset? If he's having digestive upsets, he may be want to consume food. Do you think he has allergies or food sensitivities?

It is worth talking to a doctor about your concerns. To give the doctor helpful information, begin keeping a food diary. It need not be elaborate - use one page per day. Put the date at the top of the page. In a column along the left put the time. You could be general and have headings such as Breakfast. Then under that, Snack. Continuing down the column write Lunch, Snack, Supper, Snack, etc. Or instead of such headings, you could write the time. In the right hand column, opposite the meal or time listed in the column on the left, put down all the foods he ate, along with rough quantities. An example would be three bites of an apple, two teaspoons of potatoes, one quarter cup of Cheerios, etc. Put down every bit of food or drink he consume, even if it's three Smarties. This will give the doctor a good look at exactly what he eats in a week and how much he consumes of each item.

Do you have access to a dietitian? Dietitians can be very helpful when there are feeding difficulties. She would like to see the same food diary you're preparing for your doctor.

When you see your physician, repeat to him what you said in your second to last paragraph above. Those are good descriptors or things your son does.

You've mentioned a few real positives about your son - that he talks a lot and loves being around people. Neither of those characteristics are often found in kids who do have autism.

Many kids love to swing. How many of us as adults enjoy the motion of a rocking chair? It's a matter of degree. Some kids who have autism spectrum disorders REALLY like to swing. The head banging is worrisome and worth mentioning to your doctor.

Kids with autism may have sensory sensitivities, including oral ones that involve the mouth, making them dislike certain textures, tastes and temperatures. There are children who do NOT have autism who also experience sensory sensitivities. Again, this is worth discussing with your doctor when you talk about his eating habits.

Your doctor or public health nurse may know if there are occupational therapists available in your area. Occupational Therapists (OTs) may be helpful in determining if your son does have sensory sensitivities and if so, what to do about them. The OT may also offer suggestions for getting your little guy to accept a wider variety of foods. In addition, she may give you hints on how to handle things when loud noises upset your son.

I think for now, you might want to concentrate on the eating difficulties, but still mention your other concerns to your doctor.

Best wishes,

Dr. Sharon A. Mitchell
www.autismsite.ca

Have his ears been checked? Some children have ear infections without their parents ever knowing. When they have an ear infection, some kids may rub or bang their heads.