Can you tell if a 10 month old has Autism?

Was the child drug exposed? My son is autistic, and never did many of those things; although he was content to just hang out by himselfhe rarely wanted to be held. Autism itself isnŒt something you can really testӔ foritŒs a basic measure of milestones and developmental measurements. Is she verbal? Does she goo and coo? Has she met all of her milestones developmentally? Id say that ten months is a little early to be looking at Autism҅all the research Ive done and the DrҒs Ive talked to say that the typical diagnosis takes place at around age three, however, its not uncommon with some forms of PDD for the diagnosis to take place much earlier, around 18 months. How long have you had the child in your care? Is this a long term thing? Are you the guardian? Was their mistreatment before coming to live with you?

I started looking after this child when she was 3 months old. The mother of this child says she didn't use anything while pregnant, but no one can tell for sure. The ** is not mature enough to understand the needs of a young child and therefore F&CS has said that as long as the child is in care for 10 hours a day that she can go home at nights. F&CS feels that in that time the majority of the childs needs are being met. I have pushed for developmental testing and she is behind in most things but doing very well in her fine motor skills. (she found a tiny fishing weight in a 2 inch shag carpet.) The child is no verbal except when she's screaming. stays by herself but delights in hurting herself. She has bitten her arms; to the point of drawing blood, pulled out her hair by the handful only to do it again, hits herself over and over again with blocks in the head, will shove her hand down her throat enough to throw up, etc. I have told both my supervisor and the **'s social worker about the odd behavior and they say that as long as the mother still has rights, she can refuse any treatment she wants for the child. The doctor says she's underweight (11 lbs at 10 1/2 months) but says there is nothing wrong but she was sleeping when ** took her and ** didn't say anything about what has been going on. I was there. I just am having a hard time understanding why a 10 month old would be so distructive toward herself. Maybe FAS is the issue but what do I do to help this child? I am beside myself when she throws these 5 hour fits because I can't seem to help her or I get beat up too. These fits are ear pericing screams that wont stop until she just all the sudden stops and then goes blank, alomst into another world. She wont just fall asleep like I thought she might in the begining, she just keeps screaming. sorry this post is so long, I just needed to vent. Kenya

Though it may be too soon to diagnose Autism, it may be more in the area of sensory integration dysfunction. My son had some issues from the moment of birth; i.e., not wanting to be held, being able to play by himself for long period of times, feeding issues regarding textures, problems socializing and that far-away look. My son was diagnosed at 18 months with language delays, sensory integration dysfunction and autistic spectrum disorder. After three years of therapy, he is improving. I would suggest that you talk to your pediatrician about having your child evaluated. The Early Intervention Programs in most states are great. Good Luck.

Kenya: --Nothing-- you've described sounds like normal infant behavior. This child needs to be seen at a children's hospital (I'd bypass the family pediatrician). Many of the symptoms you're describing are significant and atypical. These symptoms could fit with many different diagnoses (i.e., autism, sensory integration dysfunction, failure to thrive, attachment disorder, and some sort of neurological impairment) you get the picture. SOMETHING is definitely wrong. I'd hate to be in the position of seeing these symptoms and not be able to do anything about it. The longer appropriate treatment & diagnoses are delayed, the less successful any intervention might be. One thing you might consider is starting a log and document --everything--. If the social worker still refuses to bring the child to a specialist, I'd consider reporting him/her. Ignoring symptoms this serious, imo, constitutes abuse. If you've documented the social worker's refusal to allow treatment and /or the mother's refusal to seek treatment, could you take her to a specialist yourself? I believe the specialist, especially seeing signs of self-mutilation and such a low weight in a 10 month old, would report child abuse... You'd have to be a brave soul to pursue this path. It seems like any choice you might make, someone is going to be very angry with you. This child, however, is obviously suffering and at risk. Good luck.

I am not sure if you are a childcare person or a foster parent. I would reccomend you Videotape the behavior and show it to the doctor or next incident of head banging or screaming show up in thier office live to have them see it live. It doesn't sound too normal to me. If the child appears sick in your care in any case you have an obligation to seek help so you would not be out of line. I would videotape first though. Also, when my friends autistic son is in pain he beats himself and his mom up. If the child is non verbal consider this. Maybe something hurts her?

I waited until this week when I knew my direct supervisor would be on vacation (the one who has doing nothing about the behavior) and went straight to her supervisor. she came out to the house and spent 3 hours with us! She saw first hand what this now 11 month old can do! She agreed that the behavior was "not normal" for a child of this age and has arraged for me to take her to a specialist while ** is working, so she wont know until after. She has also agreed to wait until she gets the results to tell her so she can decide if the child needs to come into full foster care or not. The supervisor also agreed that it would be best that if the child did come into care that the child be moved to another foster home because the ** is going to go blistic when her child is taken into care. ** knows something isn't right but so far she just thinks I'm mad at her. I hope this all works, I'll keep you posted!!! Kenya

Reading all of your messages has made me very emotional and angry as i am shocked that your direct supervisor even has a job in such a responsible role. Everybody reading your message could see that this child was in desperate need of help, yet somebody superior refused this child the chance. I was wondering how the tests went and whether this child is now getting the care she deserves? Also i would like to congratulate you on being so brave as to go above your supervisor and just hope that there are more people like you in your industry. :confused:

November 1 2004 -The Child saw the specialist last week. I wanted to wait to post until then. The doctor has said it is a bit early to tell if it is PDD. She is showing signs though. She will be retested at 18 months. Without the mothers information of family history all these tests are really only going to show what is wrong not what caused it. The Dr. thinks that the child has had both drug and alcohol exsposed. We are dealing with an attachment disorder as well. It's so strange though, the child scored off the charts for fine motor skills but yet her gross motor skills are severly lacking. The child is being moved into full time care next week, not in my home as there is a saftey issue. The plan is to move her when ** is at home with her. They will come in saying they had a call from someone. The Dr. figures that this child will most likley not be able to function normally in life. November 10 2004- The baby's grandmother droped by, she wanted to talk. I have only met this woman once when she picked up the child. She says that ** had been doing drugs and drinking for 3 months after she found out she was pregnant. She also said that ** did not feed her correctly when she was born. Wrong formula (allergies) and not enough. So we're dealing with so much more here than we had first thought. The grandmother went on to say that ** had shaken the baby when she wouldn't stop crying and then would throw her into the crib face first. It's no wonder now why this child is the way she is! I asked her why she wouldn't say anything, she said that **'s boyfriend had beaten her to make sure she wouldn't say anything. It has taken her this long to get the courage up enough to come to me for help. I am still beside myself with anger at **. I realize she is not mature enough to look after her but this is just the icing on the cake. I called my supervisor to ask what to do now. She said if I feel that the child is in no imediate danger they will go with the plan they had before because if they come and take her now I could be risking my life. and if we need to we will figure out something else. "D" day is next tuesday. I'm sorry this post is so all over the place but I'm still trying to work out in my head all that has happened. Kenya

Hi Kenya, I am sorry that you have had to deal with such a sad situation, but BLESS YOU for doing what you had to do to get this poor child the help she needed. You were her guardian angel! Kelly

Even if the birthmother says she did not do drugs while pregnant..there is always Rhogam and the flu shot she may have received both of which had/have mercury in them..the fetus is 5-10x more suseptible to mercury and thier brains are highly developing..so..aside from illicit drugs, we need to ask about Rhogam (for RH incompatablity) and the fluzone flu shots in pregnant women as well.. My sister received 1 or 2 doses of Rhogam (with thimerosal) while pregnant, as well as the flu shot with thimerosal..her son has severe speech delayes, ADHD, social awkwardness, ezcema, allergies etc..I have heard this time and time again from women who received the "old" Rhogam while pregnant..their kids have the same symptoms as my nephew.. I am sorry this little girl had to suffer and I help she gets all the help she needs..