Since we work with kids and young adults on the autism spectrum, it’s only appropriate for us to write a signs and symptoms post! In this post, we will be discussing the hallmark symptoms to look for if you suspect your child could have autism. Let’s dive in!
It’s important to know exactly when parents can start to notice signs of autism so that they can get the diagnosis they need to start services. However, the onset time varies for each child. Some children show signs during infancy when they don’t hit certain developmental milestones, particularly speaking. Other children can develop normally for a few months, then start to show signs later. Some other signs include low eye contact, resistance to being held, and indifference to name being called. Autism is typically diagnosed when the child is 2 years old because that is when the symptoms become extremely apparent.
As we said above, there are certain developmental milestones that infants and children with autism may miss. One big one that comes toward the beginning is the lack of a social smile. Infants typically smile socially in the first 1-3 months of life. Lack of a social smile after this time period can be a cause to keep an eye on your baby, and even take him/her to the doctor to get an early diagnosis. Other symptoms to look for are speech and language-based. Late babbling, cooing, and speaking words are also key signs to look for. Lateness in these developmental milestones shows a language delay or disorder at the very least. This can lead into a diagnosis of autism and the opportunity to get services for your child.
As your child gets older, you will begin to notice more social impairments. For example, if your child is school-aged, he/she might have trouble making and keeping friendships. A big part of the ABA services we provide is focused on teaching children how to interact with peers and adults because it is such an important part of life. Children with autism often have trouble holding conversations for different reasons. Some might not be interested in social interaction, while others can get stuck on a certain topic and have unwillingness to talk about anything else.
We hope that this post about the signs and symptoms of autism is helpful for parents questioning the possibility of their child having autism. If you ever have further questions about whether or not to make the call for a diagnosis, do not hesitate to reach out to us at office@stepsbcba.com. We have seen autism all across the spectrum and want to share our knowledge with you. Thanks for reading!