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What Causes Difficulty In Maintaining Eye Contact In Children?
Question: hi..my 9 months old baby does not establish eye contact for more than a minute. in a new environment he pays attention to non living objects more than humans. doctor says this s concerning. pls advice
Brief Answer:
encourage more eye contact, test B 12 & vit.D
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The symptoms you had posted are in fact concerning...the baby should be examined by a child psychiatrist as well...
it is important to know other milestones as well..like when did the baby started giving social smile?
Is the baby making any noises? Like a normal baby of nine months does or no?
Is the baby more attracted towards objects like running fan?
What are the baby dietary prefrences (though there is hardly many choices for a nine months old...but still do you find him very choosey?)
Establishing eye contact and maintaining it is an important aspect of socialization in humans...if the eye contact is established late or is less it is a pointer towards future life.
...and check if when the baby looks at you, does it appear- as if the child is not looking at you but -"past you" towards something ahead...it is a sign of low socialization.
The most important thing which you and other family members can do from now onwards is - to encourage the baby to maintain the eye contact. Talk to the baby more often and spend time with him/ her.
Next is touch...it is also necessary to give him good number of hugs and touches..the baby should not lie down all time or play by himself. Give him company. I know you said he is more into non living things- but you need to put real efforts to engage him with you. Try to bring kids to play with him if possible.
The signs you mentioned are suggestive of autism like symdrome. But it is too early to diagnose anything...ok..so he may just turn out to be absolutely normal in future...however, just to be on a safer side I have mentioned some tips and also asked some related questions...nothing is 100% sure at the moment...
Also, your child appears to be much better as he establishes an eye contact and atleast keeps it for a minute...you should maintain patience and have faith and work as mentioned above. Most of kids with this disorder are diagnosed late due to unawareness of parents.. and donot have any intellegent eye contact with anyone at all...so, your child is good compared to most of others...
Use rewards to encourage desirable behavior by giving him what he prefers...
get his Vit. B 12 level and vit. D levels done & treat if they are low. It is helpful.
Please feel free to ask more questions.
I hope the reply is useful for you
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
encourage more eye contact, test B 12 & vit.D
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The symptoms you had posted are in fact concerning...the baby should be examined by a child psychiatrist as well...
it is important to know other milestones as well..like when did the baby started giving social smile?
Is the baby making any noises? Like a normal baby of nine months does or no?
Is the baby more attracted towards objects like running fan?
What are the baby dietary prefrences (though there is hardly many choices for a nine months old...but still do you find him very choosey?)
Establishing eye contact and maintaining it is an important aspect of socialization in humans...if the eye contact is established late or is less it is a pointer towards future life.
...and check if when the baby looks at you, does it appear- as if the child is not looking at you but -"past you" towards something ahead...it is a sign of low socialization.
The most important thing which you and other family members can do from now onwards is - to encourage the baby to maintain the eye contact. Talk to the baby more often and spend time with him/ her.
Next is touch...it is also necessary to give him good number of hugs and touches..the baby should not lie down all time or play by himself. Give him company. I know you said he is more into non living things- but you need to put real efforts to engage him with you. Try to bring kids to play with him if possible.
The signs you mentioned are suggestive of autism like symdrome. But it is too early to diagnose anything...ok..so he may just turn out to be absolutely normal in future...however, just to be on a safer side I have mentioned some tips and also asked some related questions...nothing is 100% sure at the moment...
Also, your child appears to be much better as he establishes an eye contact and atleast keeps it for a minute...you should maintain patience and have faith and work as mentioned above. Most of kids with this disorder are diagnosed late due to unawareness of parents.. and donot have any intellegent eye contact with anyone at all...so, your child is good compared to most of others...
Use rewards to encourage desirable behavior by giving him what he prefers...
get his Vit. B 12 level and vit. D levels done & treat if they are low. It is helpful.
Please feel free to ask more questions.
I hope the reply is useful for you
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
thanks..but this makes me worry more. yes, my son established social smile arnd 3 months. he says small words n calls people with name. he smiles at closed ones n cries at strangers. he looks at all moving objects n watch them closely. he prefers semi solid n liquid food. he likes to go out a lot. he had jus started sitting. he does look at us but our doc says he looks his moving hair more than his eyes. we are afraid.
Brief Answer:
more like normal kid but see child psychiatrist
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
By reading your answers Im more positive that your baby has only one or two signs & otherwise he apears to be growing quite normally. His social smile was ok, uses words, likes to go out ( but does he play with kids there or is happy enjoying all by himself?).
Its good that he eats fine as in autism kids are very very specific even with the color of food itmes and have very limited choices.
Your baby also passes smile to known people and fear from strangers is absolutely normal.
your doctor is having a direct observation of the child and if he feels the child looks at hair and not his eyes...it should be looked into ( although otherwise baby appears largely ok). His opinion should be highly valued as well..thats why I feel there would not be any harm in making an early visit to a child psychiatrist as well.
Wish you good luck!
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
more like normal kid but see child psychiatrist
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
By reading your answers Im more positive that your baby has only one or two signs & otherwise he apears to be growing quite normally. His social smile was ok, uses words, likes to go out ( but does he play with kids there or is happy enjoying all by himself?).
Its good that he eats fine as in autism kids are very very specific even with the color of food itmes and have very limited choices.
Your baby also passes smile to known people and fear from strangers is absolutely normal.
your doctor is having a direct observation of the child and if he feels the child looks at hair and not his eyes...it should be looked into ( although otherwise baby appears largely ok). His opinion should be highly valued as well..thats why I feel there would not be any harm in making an early visit to a child psychiatrist as well.
Wish you good luck!
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
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