Babies less than one year old may show indicators of Autism Spectrum Disorder. These signs are sometimes difficult to distinguish, and parents may mistake them for hearing problems. Some babies actually do lose hearing or may just develop late. If your child exhibits certain autistic symptoms, you should seek an evaluation from a pediatrician. The doctor can evaluate the baby at each routine checkup and record its progress. Official autism examinations are carried out when children are 18 months old, but general developmental delays should be evaluated as early as 9 months of age. Each diagnosis is important for a child's development.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Recognizing Signs of Autism in Babies
Step 1. Pay attention to the baby's facial expressions
At the age of 7 months, usually the baby's face expresses feelings of pleasure and smiles.
- A baby's first smile is often seen even before he is 3 months old.
- If your baby doesn't follow an object with his eyes by 3 months, it may be a very early indicator of autism.
- Look at his other facial expressions.
- At the age of 9 months, babies communicate with others by showing certain expressions such as grimacing, frowning and smiling according to their mood.
Step 2. Notice when the babbling starts
A neurotypical baby (not on the autism spectrum) will babble by 7 months of age.
- His voice may be incomprehensible.
- Generally, babies will make repetitive sounds, but autistic babies will make different sounds and rhythms.
- At the age of 7 months, children who are not autistic can laugh and make squealing sounds.
Step 3. Consider when your child starts talking
Some autistic children have speech delays, or never learn to speak at all. About 15-20% of autistic people never talk, although that doesn't mean they don't communicate.
- By the time they are 1 year old, non-autistic children can say single words such as "Mama" and "Dada".
- By 2 years of age, most children can string words together. A normal 2 year old child should have more than 15 vocabulary words.
Step 4. Watch the child's response to language and play
Children with autism may not respond when their name is called or avoid playing with other people.
- At the age of 7 months, normal children respond to simple games such as peek-a-boo.
- Children who are not autistic respond when their name is called when they are one year old.
- At the age of 18 months, normal children will start playing "pretend", such as pretending to feed a doll. Autistic children are less likely to play pretend, and may appear unimaginative to onlookers.
- By age 2, a non-autistic child will imitate your words and actions.
- Watch for speech decline. Some babies achieve development and then lose this ability as they get older.
Step 5. Check your child's movements
Babies will reach objects usually at the age of 7 months. Place the toy out of reach of the child to see if he will reach it.
- Babies as small as 7 months will try to get your attention with movement. Autistic children may not be that active.
- At 6 months of age, the child should turn his head in the direction of the sound he hears. If your child doesn't do this he may have a hearing problem, or early symptoms of autism.
- Most children start waving and pointing at the objects they want by the time they are 12 months old.
- If your child has not started walking or crawling by 12 months of age, it means a very serious developmental disorder.
- By the time they are 1 year old, most babies will begin to use gestures such as shaking their head to say "no."
- If your child can't walk by the time they're 2 years old, you should see a doctor for autism and other disorders.
Step 6. Look for self-stimulation
Self-stimulating behavior has many purposes: from calming oneself down to expressing emotions. If your child is waving, swaying, or constantly turning in circles, it may be a sign of autism.
Method 2 of 2: Identifying Signs of Autism in Older Children
Step 1. Observe the child's interactions with others
Children with autism may not develop friendships with their peers. They may want to make friends but don't know how, or they may not really care.
- They sometimes have difficulty understanding and reacting to other people's feelings.
- Autistic children may not want to join group activities, either because it is difficult or because they are not interested.
- Autistic children may not be used to personal space, some may refuse touch or do not understand personal space.
- Another symptom of autism is when the child does not respond to being comforted by others when they are sad.
Step 2. Pay attention to the child's nonverbal communication
Children with autism may feel uncomfortable with eye contact.
- They may have a flat facial expression, or show exaggeration.
- Children with autism may not understand or respond to nonverbal cues from others.
- Children with autism may not use movement or have difficulty understanding when others use body movements.
- Children with autism often do not point at objects or respond when other people point.
Step 3. Pay attention to the child's verbal communication
Children who do not develop speech skills or have speech delays may be autistic.
- Autistic children who communicate verbally may use a flat or monotonous voice.
- Some autistic children use echolalia, or repetition of words and phrases, to communicate and focus.
- Reverse pronouns (using "you" instead of "I") is a common trait in children with autism spectrum disorders.
- Many autistic people don't understand jokes, sarcasm, or teasing.
- Some people with autism may develop speech skills too late, or not at all. These people can live happy and functional lives, using alternative communication such as typing, sign language, or exchanging pictures. Early intervention can help autistic children learn how to use these devices.
Step 4. Find out if your child has a particular interest that excites him or her
A strong interest in one topic, such as video games or license plates, may indicate autism. People with autism are fascinated by a particular field of study, study it passionately and share the information with anyone who will listen (enthusiastically or not).
Autistic people are often interested in memorizing categorized facts and numbers
Step 5. Consider whether your child's interests are considered "age appropriate."
The emotional development of autistic people is different from that of neurotypical people, and this may lead them to like different things.
Don't be surprised if a 12-year-old reads classical literature for entertainment and watches cartoons for young children. They may be "retarded" and "over" in some ways
Step 6. Watch how they play
Autistic children tend to play differently than neurotypical children do, they focus more on systematizing games than imaginary games. They may show unusual talents with STEM-type toys (science, technology, engineering, and math).
- A child with autism may be glued to one part of a toy, such as a wheel.
- One sign of autism is lining up toys in various patterns.
- Sorting things doesn't necessarily indicate a lack of imagination. Autistic children may have their own intense world that is not easy for adults to detect.
Step 7. Watch how the child reacts to sensory stimuli
Many autistic children have Sensory Processing Disorder, which is a condition in which their senses may be hypersensitive, or hyposensitive.
- Children with Sensory Processing Disorders may easily get overwhelmed when they are overstimulated.
- Pay attention to whether your child hides from loud noises (such as a vacuum cleaner), wants to leave events early, has trouble concentrating when there are distractions, is constantly active, or gets angry in crowded or noisy areas.
- Some autistic children react strangely to strong odors, bright colors, unusual textures, and certain sounds.
- Children with Sensory Processing Disorders often explode or act up when overly stimulated. Others may withdraw.
Step 8. Watch for explosions
Explosions are similar to tantrums, but they are not released on purpose, and cannot be suppressed once they have started. It usually occurs when pent-up stress bursts to the surface. Sometimes it is triggered by too much sensory stimulation.
Step 9. Check your child's routine
Many autistic children need a routine to feel safe, and will become stressed if that routine is disturbed. For example, your child may insist on sitting in the same chair every dinner or may insist on eating their meals in a certain order.
Most autistic people follow specific routines or rituals when playing or doing certain tasks, and autistic children can become very angry with changes in their routines
Step 10. Watch for social mistakes
Although all children can do rude or inappropriate things, autistic people do it more often, and act shocked and regretful when told. This is because autistic people do not learn social norms as easily, and may have to be taught explicitly what is right and what is not.
Step 11. Continue to watch for other symptoms
Autism is a complex disorder that affects everyone differently. Here are some examples of symptoms that some autistic people have:
- Hyperactivity (may come and go)
- Impulsivity
- Short attention span
- Aggression
- Injuring yourself
- Explosions or angry tantrums
- Unusual eating or sleeping habits
- Unusual emotional reactions or moods
- No fear or extreme fear of harmless situations
- The child may have different facial features. In the 2011 issue of the journal Molecular Autism, researchers found that children with autism have facial characteristics that are distinctly different from children with normal development. The study found that children with autism had wider eyes, and a "larger upper face" than children with normal development.
- The child may have abnormal lung airways. In 2013, a study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders stated "Bronchoscopic evaluation revealed that some children have multiple bronchial branches (called "doublets") in the lower lung airways instead of the normal single branch. Retrospective analysis revealed that there is only one thing in common: everyone who has a doublet also has autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder."
Tips
- Do careful research into autism and related disorders before jumping to conclusions. For example, what looks like autism may be a Sensory Processing Disorder.
- Some children develop late and have normal delays in growth.
- If you are concerned that your child is exhibiting some of these behaviors, take him to the pediatrician for an evaluation.
- Early intervention has been shown to be successful in enabling autistic children to enter regular classrooms and interact with their peers.
- Give yourself time to reflect, adjust, and cope.
- Contrary to popular belief, autism will not destroy your child or family life. Everything will go well.
Warning
- Never consent to therapy that you feel uncomfortable giving even to a neurotypical child (eg hand-holding), or that is classified as torture (eg electroshock therapy).
- Watch out for anti-autism campaigns and organizations as they can spread destructive messages that hurt a child's self-esteem. Do careful research on autism organizations before exposing your child
