Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Autism

Today, parents are so much more aware of the existence of autism. Because early identification and intervention are so important in minimizing the negative effects of autism, the earlier autism is identified the better. A study completed in 2007 indicated that the failure to turn or look in response to hearing one’s name may be one of the earliest signs of autism. 

Autism involves a variety of developmental delays. The following delays raise a red flag and indicate the need for an evaluation by your child’s pediatrician:

By 6 months:

By 9 months:

By 12 months:

By 12 months:

By 16 months:

By 24 months:

At any age:

No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions

No back and forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions

No babbling or baby talk

No back and forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving

No spoken words

No meaningful 2 word phrases that don’t involve imitating or repeating

Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills

Some of the earliest signs of autism are difficult to spot since they involve the absence of normal behaviors – not the presence of abnormal ones. By the time they are 2 to 3 months old, babies who are developing normally will make sounds to get their parents attention, smile at a familiar voice, play with other people and imitate facial expressions. If your baby isn’t responding to you, despite your attempts to interact and show affection, it would be wise for you to alert your pediatrician.

Other early signs of autism may include:

The baby doesn’t make eye contact.
The baby doesn’t respond to his or her name.
The baby doesn’t follow objects visually.
The baby doesn’t smile when smiled at.
The baby doesn’t imitate other people.
The baby doesn’t point.
The baby doesn’t babble or make noises.

As children get older, the red flags for autism increase. There are many signs and symptoms of autism, but they typically revolve around verbal and nonverbal communication difficulties, impaired social skills, and repetitive behaviors.

Verbal warning signs of autism:

  • Slow to develop language skills
  • Repeats or echoes certain words or phrases
  • Has trouble expressing needs
  • Used to say a few words or babble, but doesn’t anymore

Nonverbal warning signs of autism:

  • Avoids eye contact
  • Doesn’t play pretend games
  • Reacts unusually to sights, sounds, textures and smells
  • Doesn’t seem to hear when others talk to him or her

Social warning signs of autism:

  • Appears uninterested in other people
  • Has trouble understanding or talking about feelings
  • Doesn’t know how to talk or play with others
  • Prefers not to be held or cuddled

Repetitive behavior warning signs of autism:

  • Has difficulty adapting to changes in routine
  • Shows unusual attachments to toys or other objects
  • Obsessively lines things up or arranges them in a certain order
  • Repeats the same actions or movements over and over again

It is a good idea to have your child screened by a doctor even if he or she is reaching the developmental milestones on schedule. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children receive routine developmental screenings, as well as specific screenings for autism at 9, 18 and 30 months of age.
 
When considering autism remember that early intervention is the key to a successful outcome. If your child has a developmental delay caused by autism or by another factor, it is unlikely that he or she will simply “grow out of” the problem. In order to develop skills in any area of delay, your child will need extra help and targeted interventions.

 

The following Children Succeed games specifically target the delays found with autism: