Re: What's normal?

[Guest guest]

It's so hard to wait, and wonder, and worry. These are some of the

sites I looked up when we were wondering about 's speech.

http://www.coping.org/earlyin/content.htm

http://www.nncc.org/Child.Dev/ages.stages.new.one.html

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/714.html

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/babysitting/age-infant.html

http://www.babysdoc.com/8-12_months.htm

http://www.24dr.com/reference/library/baby/infant_development.htm#7

Hope some of those offer you some info. Hugs.

[Guest guest]

Sara, I can so relate to what you are saying. is

a little older...like a month (4/5/01). He does clap

and is started to look at you more, but I do worry.

He rocks sometimes and that is a big Ebony thing. But

his eye contact is good and he is starting to imitate

verbal approximations. I still worry. I hope we are

both just being overly paranoid.

Tamara

--- The Byks wrote:

> I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately, but I

> am hoping some of you

> will be willing to answer my questions here anyway.

>

>

> I'm a little worried about Gabe. He doesn't always

> respond to his name.

> I'm pretty sure he can hear fine, although it may be

> worth having him

> tested, if nothing else to ease my mind on that

> front. Usually it's when

> he's paying attention to something else -- watching

> the dog, or the TV, etc.

> It's hard to get him to look at you.

>

> This is exactly what Mikey did at this age (9 mos -

> well, Mikey was 10 mos

> before I really noticed anything, but then I've been

> watching Gabe) and it

> is just making me very uncomfortable.

>

> I have some concerns about Gabe's eye contact too.

> When you are playing

> with him, maybe half-2/3ds of the time he is not

> looking directly at you.

> He will be facing you but look off to one side or up

> over your head. He

> does make and hold good eye contact but not all the

> time. Again, very

> similar to Mikey.

>

> I don't like this. But I don't know what's normal.

> Should a 9 month old

> ALWAYS look at you when you call his name? How much

> eye contact are they

> SUPPOSED to make?

>

> So far these are the only things that have come up.

> He has started babbling

> a bit more. He is not pointing, waving, or clapping

> yet, but at this point

> he's too young for that to be considered a problem.

> If he's not doing them

> at a year, though, we will definitely be having him

> evaluated.

>

> I just don't know what's normal.

>

> Thanks guys,

>

> -Sara.

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Sara,

I'm sorry that you are beginning to worry about Gabe. I think anyone with a

child younger than their autistic child worries. It is way too hard not to.

It has been so long since I have had a normal infant, that I honestly

don't remember when things are supposed to happen. I hope you can find some

help though.

Amy

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Thanks , those were very helpful links.

http://www.nncc.org/Child.Dev/ages.stages.new.one.html

By 8 months:

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

responds to own name - not always

shows fear of falling off high places such as table or stairs - not always

but is learning, and usually does. Not a huge concern.

imitates sounds, actions, and facial expressions made by others - only

actions; does not mimic sounds or facial expressions but will mimic

something done with a toy etc.

recognizes family member names - no. Not at all.

For everything else he is spot on. On the other sites he was pretty much

right on too except for the babbling. He doesn't babble very much. He coos

and squeals and laughs and raspberries. He sometimes babbles papa and baba

but that's it, and he doesn't do it that often. These sites are talking

about " constant babbling. "

I'm starting to wonder more about his hearing. He will respond to a loud

clap behind him but not always to quieter noises and not at all to 'f' and

's' sounds.

But he still doesn't mimic facial expressions. A hearing issue would

explain all of the above except that. So that worries me.

He has his 9 month check the first of March & I will definitely bring these

things up. And...maybe we'll delay shots. Oh gosh I just don't know.

*sigh* *sigh* *worry* *worry*

Thanks guys.

-Sara.

[Guest guest]

> >> I'm starting to wonder more about his hearing. He will respond

> to a loud clap behind him but not always to quieter noises and not

> at all to 'f' and 's' sounds.>>

Hearing is usually the first thing to check out when communication

issues come up...many speech paths won't even do their evals until

the hearing is tested. It's easy, non-invasive, and fairly cheap, as

developmental evals go...

> But he still doesn't mimic facial expressions. A hearing issue

> would explain all of the above except that. So that worries me.>>

That could be motor planning, Sara...don't get too worried yet. Many

kids with autistic sibs have sensory issues without the autism.

> He has his 9 month check the first of March & I will definitely

bring these

> things up. And...maybe we'll delay shots. Oh gosh I just don't

know.

> *sigh* *sigh* *worry* *worry*>>

Let us know how it goes, Sara...I do understand about the

shots...it's all just so complicated, isn't it?

Raena

[Guest guest]

Sara, is ten months and he does not know

everyones names by any stetch of the imagination. You

need to keep in mind that this stuff is NOT set in

stone. Children do not aquire skills at some sort of

planned rate. Be observant, but not too much so. If

possible.

I hope you know what I mean here.

Tamara

--- The Byks wrote:

> Thanks , those were very helpful links.

>

>

http://www.nncc.org/Child.Dev/ages.stages.new.one.html

>

> By 8 months:

>

> SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

>

> responds to own name - not always

>

> shows fear of falling off high places such as table

> or stairs - not always

> but is learning, and usually does. Not a huge

> concern.

>

> imitates sounds, actions, and facial expressions

> made by others - only

> actions; does not mimic sounds or facial expressions

> but will mimic

> something done with a toy etc.

>

> recognizes family member names - no. Not at all.

>

>

> For everything else he is spot on. On the other

> sites he was pretty much

> right on too except for the babbling. He doesn't

> babble very much. He coos

> and squeals and laughs and raspberries. He

> sometimes babbles papa and baba

> but that's it, and he doesn't do it that often.

> These sites are talking

> about " constant babbling. "

>

> I'm starting to wonder more about his hearing. He

> will respond to a loud

> clap behind him but not always to quieter noises and

> not at all to 'f' and

> 's' sounds.

>

> But he still doesn't mimic facial expressions. A

> hearing issue would

> explain all of the above except that. So that

> worries me.

>

> He has his 9 month check the first of March & I will

> definitely bring these

> things up. And...maybe we'll delay shots. Oh gosh

> I just don't know.

> *sigh* *sigh* *worry* *worry*

>

> Thanks guys.

>

> -Sara.

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Sara:

After you have autism dxed in the family, I would have any children

evaluated if you have any doubts at all and as young as possible.

It never hurts and it eases your mind considerably.

As everyone on this list knows, I am constantly seeing autism in Robbie who

really does not seem autistic but who occasionally (like every last one of

us) does something sort of autistic.

Salli

[Guest guest]

Sara,

As far as I'm concerned, autism IS normal. What can I say?

Sue

I do hope your fears are wrong, but I know there are no guarantees.

What's normal?

> I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately, but I am hoping some of you

> will be willing to answer my questions here anyway.

>

> I'm a little worried about Gabe. He doesn't always respond to his name.

> I'm pretty sure he can hear fine, although it may be worth having him

> tested, if nothing else to ease my mind on that front. Usually it's when

> he's paying attention to something else -- watching the dog, or the TV,

etc.

> It's hard to get him to look at you.

>

> This is exactly what Mikey did at this age (9 mos - well, Mikey was 10 mos

> before I really noticed anything, but then I've been watching Gabe) and it

> is just making me very uncomfortable.

>

> I have some concerns about Gabe's eye contact too. When you are playing

> with him, maybe half-2/3ds of the time he is not looking directly at you.

> He will be facing you but look off to one side or up over your head. He

> does make and hold good eye contact but not all the time. Again, very

> similar to Mikey.

>

> I don't like this. But I don't know what's normal. Should a 9 month old

> ALWAYS look at you when you call his name? How much eye contact are they

> SUPPOSED to make?

>

> So far these are the only things that have come up. He has started

babbling

> a bit more. He is not pointing, waving, or clapping yet, but at this

point

> he's too young for that to be considered a problem. If he's not doing

them

> at a year, though, we will definitely be having him evaluated.

>

> I just don't know what's normal.

>

> Thanks guys,

>

> -Sara.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sara

I was given a sheet from my daughters teacher at 9 months Gabe should be

doing at least 2 things listed on each line.

6-9 months

( ) can roll a ball, will drop a toy and look for it, will repeat actions

that make noise

( ) will briefly stop if told " no " , can imitate sounds, when he hears his

name MAY turn head at look at or smile.

( ) Can use toy to amuse self, can imitate wave bye bye, play " so - big " may

want you to stay close by, will pull back form a stranger

( ) can use a cup with help, can move things from one hand to another, can

feed self with fingers

( ) Can sit up, can creep or crawl on belly, bounces on legs (not stiff

legged), can pull to a stand.

I hope this helps to reassure you!

G

[Guest guest]

Wow, only did two things on that entire list at 9 months.

Ewwwwww. Sigh.

> I was given a sheet from my daughters teacher at 9 months Gabe

should be

> doing at least 2 things listed on each line.

>

> 6-9 months

>

> ( ) can roll a ball, will drop a toy and look for it, will repeat

actions

> that make noise

> ( ) will briefly stop if told " no " , can imitate sounds, when he

hears his

> name MAY turn head at look at or smile.

> ( ) Can use toy to amuse self, can imitate wave bye bye, play " so -

big " may

> want you to stay close by, will pull back form a stranger

> ( ) can use a cup with help, can move things from one hand to

another, can

> feed self with fingers

> ( ) Can sit up, can creep or crawl on belly, bounces on legs (not

stiff

> legged), can pull to a stand.

>

> I hope this helps to reassure you!

> G

[Guest guest]

> >

> > 6-9 months

> >

> > ( ) can roll a ball, will drop a toy and look for it, will repeat

> actions

> > that make noise

> > ( ) will briefly stop if told " no " , can imitate sounds, when he

> hears his

> > name MAY turn head at look at or smile.

> > ( ) Can use toy to amuse self, can imitate wave bye bye, play " so -

> big " may

> > want you to stay close by, will pull back form a stranger

> > ( ) can use a cup with help, can move things from one hand to

> another, can

> > feed self with fingers

> > ( ) Can sit up, can creep or crawl on belly, bounces on legs (not

> stiff

> > legged), can pull to a stand.

Putter could do nearly all these things, EXCEPT he did not imitate (boy,

could he amuse himself though). I don't recall if he was responsive to his

name or not but at nine months I remember him crawling to the VCR and I

would say, " No! " and he would stop for a second, smile pleasantly, and

continue.

He clearly understood.

Salli