Autism spectrum disorders are most successfully treated when diagnosed as early as possible. However, one of the biggest factors getting in the way of children receiving early intervention is parents not recognizing the early signs of autism.
While autism can look different from person to person, the following are some common warning signs to look out for.
1. Little to No Smiling
Newborns aren’t known for smiling much in response to their surroundings. However, as a child progresses through infancy and toddlerhood, smiling should be a fairly frequent occurrence.
A parent may notice their child smiling when watching a certain TV show, playing a game, being tickled, or in response to seeing someone else smile or laugh.
Lack of smiling, or smiling on rare occasions, could be a potential warning sign of an autism spectrum disorder. Children with autism have difficulties with social interaction, as well as understanding and reciprocating non-verbal social cues.
2. Doesn’t Respond to Their Name
Infants aren’t going to immediately learn their names, let alone, respond to hearing their name. But after a period of time, not responding to their name becomes a concern.
Babies often start recognizing their names around seven months. By nine months, babies are more consistent in responding to their names. When a child doesn’t meet the latter milestone by 12 months, then it can be considered a red flag, though not an automatic diagnosis.
3. Avoids Other Children
As children get older, it’s common for them to be interested in playing, socially interacting, and sharing with other kids. This is something that tends to appear naturally as they get used to being around more children.
Children on the spectrum may do the opposite. Even well into their toddler years, they may prefer independent play and working alone. This is often due to their differing social abilities, interests, and desire for routine and predictability. They may also avoid other kids due to feeling overstimulated.
4. Lack of Eye Contact
Refusing to make or retain eye contact is one of the most common red flags noticed in children with an autism spectrum disorder. While it can also be a sign that a child is shy or nervous, if a lack of eye contact happens consistently, even with those familiar to the child, it may be more than just shyness or anxiousness.
Children with autism may avoid or struggle to make eye contact due to their different social processing, discomfort, and sensory or cognitive overload.
5. Frequent or Very Intense Tantrums
Tantrums are not uncommon in toddlerhood. It’s called the terrible twos for a reason. Tantrums may happen when a child is tired, hungry, or upset about something that recently happened.
Tantrums or meltdowns in autistic children tend to be more intense, difficult to diffuse, and occur over different circumstances. For instance, a child with autism may have a meltdown over unexpected changes in their routine, being overstimulated in their environment, or having difficulty communicating or emotionally expressing themselves.
6. Odd Hand or Body Movements
All children have their fair share of awkward movements. They might be clumsy on occasion, do a silly dance, or struggle with certain fine motor skills. This is natural as a child begins to explore and develop within their environment.
Autistic children, however, often engage in unusual or repetitive motions regularly. This is referred to as stimming. Engaging in these movements helps those with autism self-soothe from overstimulation, express their emotions, or help create sensory input when understimulated.
7. Delayed Language Development
While some kids talk sooner than others, delayed language development is seen as a red flag. No words spoken after 14 months doesn’t automatically signify autism, but it can be a warning sign.
A couple of other things to look out for in terms of language development are how many words your child speaks in relation to their age and whether or not they’re able to pair together phrases or sentences into toddlerhood. If your child regresses in language development, this can potentially point to autism or another concern.
If your child does end up being on the spectrum, there are great autism services in Charlotte, NC to help them progress in their development.
8. Limited Interests
It’s normal for children to have varying interests. They may be interested in a certain show or toy for a while. However, their interests often shift over time. They may even go through phases of liking a certain toy for days, weeks, or even a few months before getting bored with it.
Kids with autism, on the other hand, tend to have narrowed interests. These aren’t short-term phases. They’re long-term fixations. They may only seek interest in one or a few things, and other TV shows, toys, and experiences may not capture their attention unless they closely relate to their current interest(s).
9. Rejects or Unexcited By Routine Changes
Children, in general, thrive with routines, especially in a learning environment. However, kids often feel excited by changes in their routine to help break up stagnancy.
A child with an autism spectrum disorder, however, may thrive only with routines, particularly ones they are familiar with. Changes in their routine can be overwhelming. They may react in emotional distress, aggression, confusion, or refusal to participate.
10. Highly Sensitive to Certain Sensory Stimuli
As children explore their environment, they’re going to gravitate or draw away from certain stimuli. Some stimuli, like loud noises, are viewed as unfavorable. Meanwhile, children may like objects or toys that are soft to the touch.
Children on the spectrum tend to have extreme sensitivity to stimuli, exhibiting signs of discomfort or irritation. They may also be very picky with the stimuli they find acceptable. For instance, someone on the spectrum may be overwhelmed by high-pitched noises, bright lights, tags on their clothing, or strong aromas.
Having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean your child does, in fact, have autism. However, having multiple of these signs can signify it may be time for your child to get an assessment.
Conclusion
No two children with an autism spectrum disorder are exactly alike. Symptoms and the intensity of their symptoms can differ. Nonetheless, there are certain signs to look out for, ranging from a lack of eye contact to high sensitivity to certain stimuli. If your child exhibits one or more of the latter list of symptoms, it might be time to get them evaluated.