An Alabama mother has revealed the hidden sign her daughter had autism at just eight months old.
Brandi Hogan’s daughter Bella, three, was diagnosed with Level 3 Nonverbal Autism just before her third birthday, but the mother believes the little girl was showing signs as early as eight months, she revealed in a TikTok video.
In an old video, Hogan shows her daughter playing on the floor.
The smiley baby flopped around as her mother called her name and tapped on the floor to gain her attention.
Except, the baby didn’t respond to her name and although she noticed the tapping, she avoided eye contact.
Hogan is convinced these two things were ‘early signs’ her daughter was autistic.
‘Some early signs of autism we had weren’t just not responding to her name, but she didn’t respond at all,’ she wrote in the caption.
‘We actually had her hearing checked three different times and one of those tests she was put to sleep for. She had perfect hearing but didn’t respond to us at all,’ she continued. ‘She made zero eye contact at this age. We just kept thinking she will get it, and eventually, she did respond at times.’
Brandi Hogan’s daughter Bella, three, was diagnosed with Level 3 Nonverbal Autism just before her third birthday, but the mother believes the little girl was showing signs as early as eight months since her daughter was not responding to her name and avoided eye contact
Although not responding to one’s name ‘can be a possible sign of autism,’ it isn’t a ‘definite’ one, according to Dr. Mary Barbera.
‘If a child does not have other signs of autism, then it may not be,’ she said on her website. ‘Many factors can affect a child’s responsiveness, including hearing difficulties, attention issues, or developmental delays.’
Children typically begin responding to their name as early as six to 12 months. Barbera recommends getting an assessment done if a child has not started to respond to their name within the first year.
While the child has been professionally diagnosed with autism, commenters on Hogan’s video were divided over whether or not they believed the behaviors the mom had captured were due to autism or just normal baby traits.
Some parents could related to what she experienced with her baby.
‘My son is exactly like her! I think he has autism,’ one parent wrote, saying her son doesn’t walk, has a speech delay, and doesn’t respond to his name, among other symptoms.
‘My son was like this at that age and was referred before he even hit one. He got his diagnosis at two he’s three and a half and is non-verbal with other developmental delays but he’s a happy soul,’ another mom wrote.
‘My nine-month-old don’t respond to his name, sometimes I could shout so loud to get his attention and nothing, his hearing is fine, he responds to noises like banging, clapping etc., noises that he likes,’ a third wrote.
However, others weren’t as convinced, and thought the child was acting normal for her age.
‘I see no sign. A perfect beautiful baby!’ a woman wrote.
Another wrote: ‘This is normal! [Please] people do not confuse parents that don’t know a thing about autism.’
‘It’s just a toddler. No autism,’ a third wrote.
Signs to watch out for in infants within the first six months is ‘few or no big smiles or other warm, joyful, and engaging expressions’ and ‘limited eye contact,’ according to Autism Speaks.
Commenters were divided on whether the ‘early signs’ were concerning or not, despite Bella later being diagnosed
By nine months, babies exhibiting limited sounds and smiles could be displaying signs of autism, according to the organization.
By their first birthday, babies should be babbling, gesturing, and should respond to their names.
Other symptoms of autism that could be displayed at any age is loss of acquired speech or social skills, avoiding eye contact, persistent solitude, difficulty understanding other’s emotions, delayed language development, persistent repetition of words, restricted interests, stimming, among others, according to the organization.
Around one in 36 children will be diagnosed with autism in the US. Roughly four percent of boys and one percent of girls have it.
Boys are nearly four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls, the organization said.
The average age autism is diagnosed in the US is five.
