An Alabama mother revealed the hidden sign her daughter had autism at just eight months old.

Brandi Hogan’s three-year-old daughter Bella was diagnosed with Level 3 non-verbal autism just before her third birthday, but the mother believes the little girl was showing signs as early as eight months, she said. she revealed in a press release. TikTok video.

In an old video, Hogan shows his daughter playing on the floor.

The smiling baby turned around as his mother called his name and patted the ground to get his attention.

Except the baby didn’t respond to her name and, although she noticed the tapping, she avoided eye contact.

Hogan is convinced that both of these were “early signs” that her daughter was autistic.

“Some early signs of autism we had weren’t just responding to her name, but she wasn’t responding at all,” she wrote in the caption.

“We actually had her hearing checked three times and during one of those tests she was put to sleep.” She had perfect hearing but didn’t respond to us at all,” she continued. “She had no eye contact at that age. We kept thinking she would understand, and eventually, she did. sometimes answered.

Brandi Hogan’s three-year-old daughter Bella was diagnosed with Level 3 non-verbal 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 unresponsive. not to his name and avoided eye contact.

Although not responding to one’s name “may be a possible sign of autism,” it is not a “definitive” sign, according to Dr Mary Barbera.

“If a child does not show other signs of autism, then this may not be the case,” she said on her website. “Many factors can affect a child’s responsiveness, including hearing difficulties, attention problems, or developmental delays.”

Children typically begin responding to their name when they are six to 12 months old. Barbera recommends doing an evaluation if a child hasn’t started responding to his or her name within the first year.

Although the child was professionally diagnosed with autism, commenters on Hogan’s video were divided on whether or not they believed the behaviors captured by the mother were due to autism or simply traits normal for the baby.

Some parents could relate what she experienced with her baby.

“My son is exactly like her!” I think he’s autistic,” one parent wrote, saying her son wasn’t walking, had a speech delay and wasn’t responding to his name, among other symptoms.

“My son was like that at that age and was referred before he even reached one. He was diagnosed at two, he’s three and a half and he’s non-verbal with other developmental delays, but he’s a happy soul,” another mom wrote.

“My nine month old doesn’t respond to his name, sometimes I can shout so loud to get his attention and nothing, his hearing is good, he responds to noises like banging, clapping etc, noises he love it,” a third wrote.

However, others were not so convinced and thought the child was behaving normally for his age.

“I don’t see any signs. A beautiful, perfect baby! »wrote one woman.

Another wrote: “It’s normal! (Please) people don’t confuse parents who don’t know anything about autism.

“He’s just a toddler. No autism,” wrote a third.

Signs to watch for in infants during the first six months are “few or no big smiles or other warm, happy, engaging expressions” and “limited eye contact,” according to Autism Speaks.

Commenters were divided on whether or not the “early signs” were concerning, although Bella was later diagnosed.

According to the organization, at nine months, babies with limited sounds and smiles could show signs of autism.

By their first birthday, babies should be babbling, gesturing and responding to their names.

Other symptoms of autism that can appear at any age are loss of learned speech or social skills, avoidance of eye contact, persistent loneliness, difficulty understanding the emotions of others, delayed development of language, persistent repetition of words, restricted interests, stimulation, among others, depending on the organization.

In the United States, approximately one in 36 children will be diagnosed with autism. About 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 for autism to be diagnosed in the United States is five years old.