re: 12 month old wont look at us...weird?

Quoting Kristen Parris:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Mommy of a giggler!:</b>" It's probably nothing, and the first ... [snip!] ... But again might be his personality... I'm just really worried, I need to take him to his doctor and talk to her about them!"

Many signs, but I didn't think they were signs until after. He was my first, I thought everything he did was normal lol

From day one, he was always looking everywhere (not towards people, but sounds and lights). It wasn't "normal" though because he wouldn't settle. He didn't like to face towards my chest, always had to be looking out at the world. He would ONLY sleep in his carseat or crib (or occasionally on my, but that was rare). We would go places and he would stay awake the whole time, crabby as hell, but awake. We joked that he didn't want to miss any of the action - I realize now he was totally over stimulated. The only way to get him to sleep at others homes was put him in the carseat and swing him.

He was always interacting with people, very social and making tons of talking sounds - yet it was to the point that he was so social that he never noticed/cared if I left a room, he never showed fear of strangers AT ALL and then we noticed that even if everyone did leave the room he was still talking and social, all by himself. We started to question if his soicalness was really directed at others or more just something he was doing with himself.

He could play for really long periods of time. I could put him in the jumper or exersaucer and leave him for hours and he wouldn't care. You could hold him, but he didn't really care if you were. He could sit there and stare at the tv, transfixed, and not notice anything going on around him at all. You could call him and he would ignore you, you could wave things in front of him, he wouldn't look at them.

As he got older, he wasn't really speaking, lots of sounds and some words but no functional langauge (we just got that when he turned 4 and it's awesome!!) he was obsessed with ceritan toys (that started around a year). He would have to take them everywhere, his arms full, because you couldn't put them in a bag or he would freak.

He never practiced anything and had no sense of danger AT ALL. He didn't practice crawling (like rocking back and fourth) he army crawled but never up on all fours until the day he crawled. He would go stand up all on his own in the middle of the room, but never took a step until the day he could fully walk (he would practice walk while holding hands though, but never tried on his own). He always had to be moving around! Heck, by 4 months I would just hold him under the armpits and he would jump on my leg for up to an hour, just bounce and bounce and bounce......

There were lots of signs, that alone, meant nothing, but together.....

https://www.m-chat.org/

This is the link to an online mchat. Can't remember if this is the one I did, but if not, you can just google it, there are lots of free instant scoring ones online. Many doctors are now realizing how soon the signs can be detected, and while they might not give you a diagnosis, they can get him into early intervention which makes a HUGE difference. Here, there is an entire infant and toddler program at our autism clinic. They are dx earlier and getting help sooner. I'll PT you and feel free to contact me whenever you like  

Quoting ☮Sugar Magnolia:" There's no way to diagnose a 1 year old with Autism. They're still babies and develop at different rates. The earliest I've ever even heard of a child being diagnosed is 3."

Not true. They are dx earlier now when there are clear cases, and for ones that show signs but not enough for a dx they are getting early intervention now which makes a huge difference.

Our autism clinic has an infant and toddler program for 9-24 months. A friends son was dx at 16 months (his "symptoms" were VERY clear) and was in a full treatment program by 18 months. He is now almost 3 and thanks to that early intervention is doing AMAZING  

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mommy of a giggler!:</b>" Many signs, but I didn't think they were signs until after. He was my first, I thought everything ... [snip!] ... at our autism clinic. They are dx earlier and getting help sooner. I'll PT you and feel free to contact me whenever you like  "</blockquote>

You just described my son almost to a tee. He won't sleep anywhere except the car or his crib, and no one can be in his room while he's sleeping. He will occasionally fall asleep watching a movie but only if he's in his play pen. He's overly attached to a couple toys because he's texture sensitive and they're very fluffy. He never had separation anxiety or stranger anxiety. He started early intervention to be evaluated for autism (he's not they've decided) at 15 months and is in speech therapy now and is doing so much better. Best decision I ever made. He interacts with us now, communicates, is affectionate, it's amazing how far he's come in just 5 months.

Quoting Mommy of a giggler!:" Many signs, but I didn't think they were signs until after. He was my first, I thought everything ... [snip!] ... at our autism clinic. They are dx earlier and getting help sooner. I'll PT you and feel free to contact me whenever you like  "

Thank you so much! I am going to make an appointment with his pedi because his next one isn't until March. I just want him to get the help he needs if he does need it as soon as possible! I know catching things early almost always helps the outcome!=.