Autism Warning Signs

Autism is known as a spectrum disorder because the symptoms of autistic children can vary widely and signs of autism may exist in any combinations. Some autistic children have all of the symptoms while others only have a few. Not displaying certain behaviors before the age of one can be an indication of autism. Some autism warning signs in your one year old may include failure to point at object, little or no eye contact, not babbling or using any words and not interacting with others. If your one year old has any of these signs you should discuss them with your pediatrician during your child's one year checkup.

Behaviors Exhibited by Autistic Children

The signs of autism can vary widely. Children with autism are all individuals and some are more deeply affected by autism than others. While some autistic children may display the majority of the signs of autism, others may be affected less severely and display only a few of the signs. Being aware of the signs can help you to seek the treatment that your child needs. The following are a few examples of the behaviors exhibit by children with autism.
• Resisting change
• Difficulty expressing themselves
• Difficulty interacting with others
• Not wanting to be cuddled
• Rarely or never making eye contact
• Not responding to teaching methods
• Being over or under sensitive to pain
• Lacking fear
• Not responding to verbal cues
These are just a few of the behaviors sometimes displayed by autistic children. While displaying one or two of these behaviors may not be indicative of autism, you should discuss your concerns with a medical professional.

Early Signs of Autism

Many children who have autistic disorder are not diagnosed until they are at least 18 months in age. Some are diagnosed as late as three years of age. The signs of autism are usually difficult to detect during infancy. Following are early signs of autism that may be prevalent before the age of 24 months.

Common symptoms of autistic disorder include:
• Does not smile by the age of six months
• Does not respond to his name
• Does not cry
• Does not babble or use gestures by 12 months
• Does not point to objects by 12 months
• Does not use words by 16 months
• Does not use two-word phrases by 24 months
• Regresses after mastering skills/loses previously mastered skills
• Delays in milestones like crawling and walking

Using Developmental Milestones to Recognize Autism

Every parent eagerly waits the time when their child reaches certain milestones. These milestones are eagerly anticipated as part of the joys of parenthood but they can have a more significant meaning. Failure to meet developmental milestones could be early indications of autism. Meeting these milestones may vary from child to child but autism research shows that a delay in the acquisition of some skills can be an indication of autism. Your pediatrician will ask questions pertaining to milestones of your child during regularly scheduled visits but you can find information regarding developmental delays to discuss with your child's pediatrician on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Signs of Autism

The symptoms of autism fall within three main categories: social interaction, communication and behavior. Parents of children with autistic disorder often notice that the children do not respond to their names. They do not gesture and they do not point to objects. Most of the children within the autism spectrum of disorders also engaged in repetitive movements like hand flapping or spinning.

Common signs of autism in the social interaction realm include:
• Lack of eye contact
• Does not notice other people
• Does not respond to his name
• Lacks empathy
• Unrealistic fears
• Difficulty making transitions
• Unable to take another person's perspective

Common signs of autism in the communication realm include:
• Does not point to objects
• Does not use gestures
• Uses few words or no words at all
• Does not respond to other people's words and gestures
• Unable to process nonverbal cues like facial expressions and body language

Common signs of autism in the behavioral realm include:
• Repetitive stereotyped movements (hand-flapping, spinning, rocking…)
• Obsessive need for order and routine
• Has tantrums
• Unusual reactions to pain, either unresponsive or over reacting
• Perseverates on words, phrases and activities
• Preoccupation with certain activities

Recognizing the Signs is Only the First Step

Being aware of the signs of autism can motivate a parent to seek help for their child if they suspect that their child is autistic but recognizing these signs is only the first step in the diagnosis process. Diagnosing autism should involve a multi faceted process involving a number of medical professionals. The medical professionals included in the diagnosis may include any combination of the following: pediatric neurologist, developmental pediatrician, child psychologist, a speech language pathologist, a behavioral therapist and an occupational therapist. The screening process should also include a formal hearing test and monitoring siblings of the child for social, communication and play skills.

There is No Simple Test for Autism

There is no simple medical test for autism. Diagnosing and autistic child involves a multidisciplinary assessment. This assessment should involve a number of individuals including parents, pediatric neurologist, developmental pediatrician, child psychologist and a speech language pathologist. If there are behavioral issues the assistance of a behavioral therapist would be helpful. An occupational therapist might be necessary if the child is exhibiting sensory difficulties. As you can see diagnosing autism is much more complex than the medical tests used to diagnosis physical conditions.