Concern about autism in 10 month old

Baggs, do you have any loved ones who have a diagnosis of autism, and have you worked with autistic people? This is a genuine not a snippy question.
I have an autistic grandson, worked with children with autism and have a number of very close friends who have children with this diagnosis
I apologise for using the phrase "something wrong" if that offends anyone. It's shorthand in my mind for that feeling that parents / carers have, when their much loved child is finding life more difficult than the majority of their peers.
My own grandson is a delight, very gentle, kind and clever, he writes brilliantly. He is socially isolated, doesn't work and has a few cyber friends rather than friends in RL. I wish there had never been 'something wrong' - his life would have been so much easier than it is or will continue to be,
There is also research suggesting that people on the ASD spectrum are more likely to feel they're in the wrong body and explore changing gender.
Before anyone shouts at me, I'm not criticising those amongst us who are unsure about their sexuality or their gender. I'm simply saying that in my experience, life is tough for most of us and anything that adds to our feelings of difference, can make it tougher.

Need autism always bee seen as "something wrong"?

Hypersensitivity to sound is part of the cluster of factors that can lead to a child needing assessment for the possibility of ASD. I agree that 10 months is early to be considering ASD but - as the gran and mum both feel something may be not quite right, then I agree with lemon, keep an eye but of course, try to avoid becoming obsessed with indicators of autism. It's more usual for ASD indicators to become noticeable at around 18 months upwards, around the time the MMR jab is given, hence the inaccurate suggestion that the MMR jab caused autism.
It's so easy to dismiss genuine concern as anxiety but my experience of working with families was that generally speaking, mothers know their children well and if they're suggesting something is wrong, they may well be right. Paediatricians are the starting point.

I'm not sure that not smiling when a parent returns is that unusual. Don't they sometimes want to sort of "punish" the parent for leaving them in the first place.

What counts as hypersensitivity to sound?

OK so he doesn't take much notice of oher adults BUT does he notice and react to other children? My GS was exactly like yours at 10 months and he still doesn't talk much to other adults and not much to us but he is popular at school and is a normal 14 year old boy. He is very self contained but definitely not autistic.

Give him time to develope and try not to worry. Don't make his mother nervous.

Does he turn to face sound. It could be something like deafness.

Another word of support for lemon grove's input.

Is his eyesight ok?

Look out for sensory sensitivity.
Does he seem hypersensitive to sound? Does he resist being held/not enjoy cuddles?

I'm another with lemongrove. I think there is cause to take note and watch. Not smiling when a parent returns after an absence is unusual.

I discussed concerns I had about my elder child with my very good health visitor. when he was about this age. I wasn't even sure what it was that was bothering me. But the health visitor took me seriously and, yes, there were problems but they were minor and sorted out at the appropriate time.

I also agree with lemongrove!

If you look for things you ll find anything, stop using google stop even thinking about autism he’s a perfectly ok little baby, yes baby, trying to find his way round the big wide world Perhaps he ll never be a smiler some kids are more hesitant some are great smilers and giggles, some kids are serious from small babies some are open and full of life Relax and forget all the scare stories.
I don’t agree at all with last poster stop making notes unless it’s a life saving situation like anaphylactic reaction or high unsolved fevers what will happen will happen your anxiety will pass to both the baby and the babies mother Firget it for now

Absolutely agree with lemongrove

Just keep an eye on him Sielha 10 months old is old enough to think something may not be right, but unlikely to get a diagnosis under the age of three.
Make a note of anthing that you observe for future reference.
We did, and yes, it was autism.

Thank you for the input everyone x

Much too early to be worrying about this in my humble opinion

It's common for babies' different developmental skills to progress at different rates. My job involved assessment of babies and young children, and uneven profiles were the norm.
Try not to worry, and give the little lad time to develop at his own pace.
"babbling is usually to himself rather than in response."
I think that's fairly normal at 10 months. My eldest used to do that.

He does make eye contact but only occasionally and the babbling is usually to himself rather than in response.

Jane10 “Eye contact is not a useful predictor for or against autism” ?? .

On its own it may not be, but in conjunction with other symptoms, it certainly could.

Eye contact is not a useful predictor for or against ASD. You say he's babbling. Is it in response to others? Does it seem communicative?

Sielha You say that he doesn’t interact, but does this include not making eye contact?

Thank you for your comments. I guess it’s very easy to consult “Dr Google” over anything and get yourself in a state. Don’t remember worrying about my own babies as much as I worry about my grandchildren!

She said today that she was concerned as she had noticed (as had I) that he didn’t smile at her when she came home after being out about 4 hours. We were babysitting.

I agree with BlueBelle babies develop at such different rates and in different ways. Enjoy your family.