How To Detect Signs Of Autism In Children

Signs of autism can be detected in children, as young as six month olds. This condition is caused by the abnormal development of the brain. The symptoms are usually apparent in affected kids within the first 18 months to three years.

Thus, as the signs appear at an early stage, it is essential to study your child’s behavior and responses well. Keep in mind that autistic kids lack social and interpersonal skills, and tend to have unusual mannerisms.

In addition, autism is characterized by restricted and repetitive behavior. The toddlers dealing with this problem seem to be quiet and undemanding. The exact cause that leads to autism is not known. It is believed that this condition runs in families.

Moreover, there is no proper cure for this neurodevelopmental disorder. Nevertheless, early behavioral and cognitive intervention therapies can prove to be extremely useful for the treatment.

Identifying Signs of Autism in Kids

• • Autistic babies do not respond to your presence. More often than not, they are more interesting in staring at other things around them, especially moving objects, rather than making eye contact with you. Unlike other toddlers, they do not make noises to seek your attention and do not respond to cuddling.

   

• • Children suffering from this condition do not like changes in their routine. In addition, it may seem that they treat others as objects.

   

• • They tend to have unsynchronized vocal patterns. Plus, these kids exhibit repetitive behavior like hand flapping, head banging, repeating words and noises, etc. They do not engage in pretend play (with soft toys, for instance).

   

• • These children are fascinated by spinning objects and seek sensory stimulation.

   

• • Kids generally imitate others and like to share their interests with others; this is not the case with autistic kids, though. Furthermore, they do not demonstrate attachment behavior and lack in nonverbal communication.

   

• • They do not understand social conventions such as turn-taking.

   

• • Autistic children start talking late and have delay in the development of fine and gross motor skills, too.

   

• • The child may not have used two-word phrases independently by the age of two. In addition, he or she does not socialize with others, especially children of the same age group.

   

• • The child may throw violent temper tantrums.

   

• • Infants suffering from this psychological disorder or disability tend to line up their toys and other objects instead of playing with them.

   

• • They prefer to be alone and lack in giving warm and joyful expressions even by six months.

   

• • Some may not respond to their names. In addition, the infants do not smile, babble, or make gestures like waving good-bye independently by the age of one.

   

• • These kids are likely to have excessive attachment with unusual objects.

   

• • They do not indicate or request that they want something.

Check out this video giving information on the autism and its diagnosis.

While identifying the symptoms of autism, though, remember that the signs of this condition are highly variable and difficult to discern.

In case you have doubts about your child’s development and chances of having autism then you can  discuss these problems with your doctor and seek the advice of a developmental pediatrician or some other specialist.

You may be suggested to get your kid screened for autism spectrum disorders. It has been observed that this problem is more common in boys than girls.