Just found my notes on an interesting LA Times blog from February 23rd 2010, relating that parents don’t see the early (in the first year) signs of autism. (No matter how hard I try I can’t seem to get the web link to work right now! You’ll have to copy and paste):
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/02/autism-signs-appear-in-babies-first-year-but-parents-dont-notice.html
In my experience I believe this to be true – just within my small circle I have seen:
A 6 month old sitting in the middle of a room making no eye contact with the adult caring for her nor any toy presented to her; absolutely flat affect.
A 6 month old, when pulled up from a diaper change (most babies are using their legs to push by the time they are 3 months), whose legs collapsed like jelly when pulled up – based on my experience of babysitting her, she had spent most of her first 6 months very passively in a jiggling baby seat on the kitchen counter or lying in a portacrib with her bottle, or sleeping. She was never placed on a sheet or blanket on the floor and allowed to wiggle freely – there were no rugs on the tile floor!
A 9 month old lying on the floor of a daycare, under a fan, (first time in daycare, otherwise at home with mum) with his tongue hanging out to one side and his hands flapping! When I queried his behaviour no staff member saw his behaviour as strange and thus had no idea how to help him – except he was ‘quiet’.
He never cried except when anyone was trying to put him to sleep, at which time he screamed for ages. I knew we had to do something and became the volunteer teacher who took him outside and sat and held him, while he cried and screamed, sang to him until he finally fell asleep. He then couldn’t be laid down in the nap room because he’d wake up!
I should note that at just over 2.5 he has been calmly putting himself to sleep in the nap room for the past year. He is highly intelligent and, we now know, very conscious of strange and loud noises, plus he’s a great communicator. My work is done!
An 18 month old described by friends as ‘a funny little thing’ means that someone has already ‘identified’ that something isn’t quite right. When initially in my care in her own home she was exceedingly anxious and panic stricken — anything could startle her. I had to learn what made her tick and how to keep her home and environment calm. I’ve written about this experience on numerous occasions.
Her parents’ demeanors were not conducive in any way to this child growing in a healthy manner. The fact that she’s reached 8 years old and is doing well at school seems purely accidental! But I know the three years I worked with her made a big difference.
I have my theories!