Autism Symptoms - Does My Child Have Autism?
Many parents call asking if their child has Autism Symptoms. Here's how to tell and what to do next...
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder, or “ASD"?
Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a severe disorder in which a child does not develop like other children in three areas: social interaction, communication, and activities or interests. Usually autism symptoms are apparent within the first three years of life.
How Many Children Have Autism?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports in their latest study that 1 in 150 children (8-year olds) have Autism. This data was released in 2007.
Is There An Autism Checklist For Parents?
Parents often wonder what Autism symptoms look like. With an Autism checklist of "red flags, parents can discuss any concerning behaviors with their child's Pediatrician or an Autism Specialist. This expert can then determine whether the child actually has Autism.
It is critical to identify Autism early, because interventions may be more effective when the child is very young. For this reason, parents who feel Autism symptoms have not been recognized or who have been told to "wait and see" are encouraged to seek a second opinion from a qualified professional.
What Are The "Red Flags?"
Typical "red flag" symptoms in the first year are:
- Blank facial expression.
- No smile by 6 months of age.
- Extreme irritibility.
- Unusually passive.
- Decreased activity.
- Emotions not reciprocal (child does not return parent's smile).
- Fixation on objects over people.
By the age of 2 or more, additional "red flags" are:
- Infrequent or avoidant eye contact.
- Non-response to name.
- Uses few gestures.
- Appears "deaf" when spoken to, but seems to hear other sounds.
- Delayed or absent speech/language.
- Doesn't bring items to "show" to parent.
- Doesn't point in order to direct adult attention to something.
- Regresses - loses speech/language or social skills.
- Exaggerated or dulled sensory responses, like resistance to cuddling or upset over clothing textures.
- Non-purposeful play.
- No pretend play.
- Highly repetitive activities, such as spinning car wheels, or rewinding one portion of a video tape, over and over.
- Highly insistent on sameness or routines.
- Prolonged stage of "echoing" what others say, or dialog from movies or television.
- Self-stimulatory behaviors such as waving hand near face or dropping string-like objects.
Later signs, or signs which may indicate possible Asperger Syndrome include:
- Non-reciprocal speech (for example, talking without asking questions of other person).
- Difficulty with the back and forth flow of conversations. For example, talking too long.
- Difficulty with abstract ideas or language.
- Tendency to think only in concrete ways.
- Social difficulties, such as speaking in ways that seem rude to others.
- Avoidance of social situations; tendency to be a "loner."
- Difficulty controlling, recognizing, and expressing emotions.
- Difficulty recognizing emotions and "state of mind" of others.
- Difficulty with non-verbal communication.
- Obsessive interest in peculiar subjects, such as train schedules, lists, or certain routines.
- Flat tone of voice or lack of typical expressiveness.
Onset and recognition of Autism symptoms vary. Some children seem different from birth, others regress (lose speech and other skills) around 18 months of age, and still others have subtle Autism signs which are recognized only in grade school or later.
Want To See Videos of the Symptoms?
Click here for a link to the
ASD Video Glossary,
containing videotape clips of young children with Autism compared to young children who are developing typically, at the FirstSigns.org website. This link will take you out of this website, however.
What If My Child Has Red Flags?
Read here
about important Assessment and Diagnosis information.
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