The earlier a child is diagnosed as autistic, the better. Children can be diagnosed from the age of 2, so it is best to look out for these signs of autism.
Diagnosis of autism is best done in its early stages, just like it’s with other issues of health. Reports show that a good percentage of children have autism spectrum disorder. The boys are more likely to have this condition much more than the girls. Quite often, diagnosis of children doesn’t happen until they become older. However, experienced professionals can reliably make a diagnosis by the age of 2 years. 4 years is the average diagnosis, but this also varies with the disorder type. Since early intervention is beneficial, it’s advisable that a close attention is given to the toddlers. Let’s take a look at the common autism signs to look out for in your child and toddler.
Signs that can be found in children include the following:
Lack of eye contact with someone who’s taking care of the child is one of the earliest signs of the condition in children. A study carried out indicated children who show decreased eye contact between the second and the sixth month went on to develop autism. So, check your child within the time period.
Children are generally responsive to sounds and sights coming from other people. If you notice a lack of response in your child, this could be an indication of autism in the child. Children with autism are known to less often listen to or look at other people. They may also not respond to communication forms such as facial expressions or to their own names.
A baby will start by babbling at the age of around six months. At this time, they begin to experiment with sounds that are vowel-like when they are just about to begin talking. For autistic children, there won’t be any signs of babbling around the bracket for the sixth and ninth month period. To go through the learning process better, a child needs to learn some aspects of speech. If a child misses these early verbal changes, their cognitive development will be affected.
Children are expected to interact and share experiences with other children. However, those that may be having autism may not want any form of interaction or sharing experiences with the others. In case they’re struggling with something, they opt to deal with the things by themselves instead of looking for help.
Autistic children have significant difficulties in communicating. The variety of sounds, gestures and words they give when they attempt to communicate is significantly reduced. In case they find something challenging to them, they’re not likely to call for help like other toddlers would. They won’t have interest or enjoyment in something that they’re doing. So, if a toddler doesn’t play with other children or doesn’t seek help, you may need to seek the help of your doctor.
Autistic toddlers have the tendency to repeat the same movements or actions over and over again. Researchers believe that this soothes them. These behaviours may include twirling, rocking or flapping hands. They may appear obsessed by these behaviours.
Young children point or make gestures as an indication that they’re interested in certain things. An autistic child won’t show interest when you point something to them or when they notice something.
As mentioned earlier, early detection is better since the younger brains can adapt more easily and if the children are placed under intensive therapy they can develop better, and you can learn how you can help with ABA Parent Training Workshops. It’s also worth noting that children will not show the same symptoms. So, the moment you suspect that your child may be autistic look for screening by a professional.