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Mom reveals early signs of autism by sharing video of her 8-month-old child

A mother's clip documenting some early signs of autism in her 8-month-old baby is going viral on TikTok.

In the Oct. 15 video, Brandi Green shouts her daughter's name to Hogan and bangs on the floor to get her attention. Despite her efforts, Bella doesn't respond to her name or make eye contact.

Green Hogan from Alabama said Newsweek that she wasn't necessarily trying to record signs of autism, but rather that she was documenting the 8-month-old's hitchhiking crawl – a type of movement pattern in which a baby pulls itself forward with one leg while the other leg remains bent – for her physical therapist.

From left: 8 month old baby crawls hitchhiking; and sits on the floor at home. Mom Brandi Green Hogan told Newsweek that Bella also had torticollis when she was born, meaning she was “already behind…”


@brandihogan2017

“She was in early intervention, where we had physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy at our home,” said the mother of three Newsweek.

Bella's physical therapist often told her that she thought the baby was autistic, but Green Hogan believed it was too early to tell at that age.

At the time of the video, Bella had already had two hearing tests, both of which she passed. It was only a third hearing test, conducted while Bella was asleep, that her family confirmed that her hearing was fine.

“This test showed that her brain was registering the sounds. It wasn’t until after that test that we knew there was definitely something else going on,” Green Hogan said.

In June this year, Bella was diagnosed with Level 3 Nonverbal Autism Spectrum Disorder just before her second birthday. She has since graduated with a degree in physical therapy but continues to receive weekly occupational and speech therapy.

“We are getting an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device next week that she will learn to communicate with. Studies show it encourages her to use her voice, so we hope she can eventually say words,” Green Hogan said.

For parents who may also have noticed that their baby or toddler doesn't respond to their name or appears to be hard of hearing, Green Hogan's top tip is to start therapy.

She added that occupational therapy and speech therapy do not require a diagnosis: “There is no harm in taking advantage of these services. If anything, they will help your baby grow out of these symptoms and you won't have to move on.” On the other hand, if your baby is truly autistic, early therapy can be tremendously helpful.

Jessi Gholami, a licensed parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) therapist who specializes in treating autism, ADHD and other behavioral disorders, shared Newsweek that autism can manifest itself in subtle ways.

“Some early signs of autism may include things like limited eye contact, a delay in speaking or communication milestones, repetitive movements such as hand flapping or rocking, or intense concentration on certain objects or routines,” Gholami said.

She added that she's not surprised that TikTok videos like Hogan's are gaining traction. “Parents have told me they first became concerned after seeing something on social media like TikTok where they heard about behaviors they recognized in their own child. Sometimes these platforms can actually help raise awareness, but it is also important to follow them and work with professionals,” said Gholami.

For Green Hogan, she said she hopes her family's story will help other parents feel supported and encouraged to seek help early.

“I’m not saying every baby with these signs or symptoms is autistic. “I didn't see these signs when they occurred, but she is my third baby and as she gets older and I look back, the signs seem so obvious to me now,” she said.