Signs And Symptoms Of Autism In Babies And Toddlers
If autism is caught in infancy, treatment can take full advantage of the young brains remarkable plasticity. Although autism is hard to diagnose before 24 months, symptoms often surface between 12 and 18 months. If signs are detected by 18 months of age, intensive treatment may help to rewire the brain and reverse the symptoms.
The earliest signs of autism involve the absence of typical behaviorsnot the presence of atypical onesso they can be tough to spot. In some cases, the earliest symptoms of autism are even misinterpreted as signs of a good baby, since the infant may seem quiet, independent, and undemanding. However, you can catch warning signs early if you know what to look for.
Some autistic infants dont respond to cuddling, reach out to be picked up, or look at their mothers when being fed.
Social Security Disability Filing
With childhood autism, the Social Security Administration has a listing in the Impairment Listing Manual under Section 112.10. Under this listing, there are requirements for the child to meet to be eligible for benefits. Examples of things that Social Security will consider are if your child had difficulty making friends and understanding social cues from others these are considered delays in reciprocal social interactions. Children on the Spectrum may have difficulties with changes to their schedules and knowing how to appropriately express emotions, such as disappointment or anger. Information from doctors, teachers, daycare providers, and family members can be very useful in helping Social Security determine your childs disability and eligibility for benefits.
A diagnosis of autism does not automatically make a child eligible to receive benefits. Children with autism are often very high functioning. In order to determine disability Social Security will look at your childs development and ability to function in comparison to other children their age. If your childs development is significantly delayed compared to their peers, they may qualify for benefits. Social Security uses 6 domains to evaluate your childs disability. Having an experienced representative to help you understand what evidence you will need is very important. Disability Support Services representatives have many years of experience and can help you navigate this maze.
They May Not Feel Confident In Their Own Abilities
Feeling self-conscious, timid and anxious can make it undoubtedly harder for people with autism to establish friendships. If negative self-talk overrides, people will begin to believe they are not as good as others or incapable of at making friends. It can be difficult if people are unaware of their special interests and what theyre looking for in a friend.
You May Like: Average Life Span Of Autism
When You Have An Interest It’s Intense And All
Obsessions are a very common part of autistic experiences. They tend to involve learning everything possible about one particular thing or range of things, from television shows to objects to people. It can either be an entire topic or something seriously specific, too. It’s not the same as being a super-fan, though a “special interest,” as it’s termed for the autistic, is an integral part of your identity and how you live your life, and is pursued in every avenue possible. One study calls them “intense, interfering, and idiosyncratic,” which sounds like a trio of children’s book characters. And pursuing your special interest is also deeply comforting.
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism is not a single disorder, but a spectrum of closely related disorders with a shared core of symptoms. Every individual on the autism spectrum has problems to some degree with social interaction, empathy, communication, and flexible behavior. But the level of disability and the combination of symptoms varies tremendously from person to person. In fact, two kids with the same diagnosis may look very different when it comes to their behaviors and abilities.
If youre a parent dealing with a child on the autism spectrum, you may hear many different terms including high-functioning autism, atypical autism, autism spectrum disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder. These terms can be confusing, not only because there are so many, but because doctors, therapists, and other parents may use them in dissimilar ways.
But no matter what doctors, teachers, and other specialists call the autism spectrum disorder, its your childs unique needs that are truly important. No diagnostic label can tell you exactly what challenges your child will have. Finding treatment that addresses your childs needs, rather than focusing on what to call the problem, is the most helpful thing you can do. You dont need a diagnosis to start getting help for your childs symptoms.
Whats in a name?
Don’t Miss: Dyslexia And Adhd Comorbidity
Related Signs And Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder
While not part of autisms official diagnostic criteria, children with autism spectrum disorders often suffer from one or more of the following problems:
Sensory problems Many children with autism spectrum disorders either underreact or overreact to sensory stimuli. At times they may ignore people speaking to them, even to the point of appearing deaf. However, at other times they may be disturbed by even the softest sounds. Sudden noises such as a ringing telephone can be upsetting, and they may respond by covering their ears and making repetitive noises to drown out the offending sound. Children on the autism spectrum also tend to be highly sensitive to touch and to texture. They may cringe at a pat on the back or the feel of certain fabric against their skin.
Emotional difficulties Children with autism spectrum disorders may have difficulty regulating their emotions or expressing them appropriately. For instance, your child may start to yell, cry, or laugh hysterically for no apparent reason. When stressed, they may exhibit disruptive or even aggressive behavior . The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities also notes that kids with ASD may be unfazed by real dangers like moving vehicles or heights, yet be terrified of harmless objects such as a stuffed animal.
Savant skills in autism spectrum disorder
Fixation On Particular Subjects Or Ideas
Continually discussing the same topics in conversation, obsessively playing the same song repeatedly, or reading every article written about a certain topic are some ways that autistic fixations can manifest. These interests can be negative if they take over the individuals life or interfere with their relationships with others. Of course, these obsessive tendencies can also be helpful Dan Aykroyd, writer and star in the hit film Ghostbusters, was inspired by his focus on ghosts and the paranormal. Many other high-functioning autistic individuals have used their focus on mathematics, biology, or writing to inspire successful careers.
Also Check: Nick Eh 30 Hide And Seek
Implications For Autistic People
Knowing how pervasive social motivation is for almost everything we do throughout our lives, it’s easy to see that lack of social motivation in a person with autism can lead to some serious deficits. This is the case even if the individual is bright, capable, creative, sympathetic, and willing to engage with othersand, of course, it’s much more of an issue for a person who has a lower IQ, behavioral challenges, and difficulty with spoken language.
People on the autism spectrum are often unaware of social expectations or their importance. As a result, they may:
- Dress or speak inappropriately based on the situation in which they find themselves
- Choose not to complete tasks that they find uninteresting or unimportant
- Misunderstand spoken or non-verbal social communication and take action based on that misunderstanding
- Behave in an unintentionally rude or thoughtless manner through lack of social understanding or unawareness of subtle spoken or unspoken cues
- Find themselves socially isolated because they have not reached out or reciprocated social invitations
- Lose opportunities that could have come their way had they taken advantage of opportunities of which they were unaware or to which they didn’t respond
- Lose peer relationships as a result of perseverating on topics of personal interest that don’t interest others
Distinguishing & Treating Autism And Adhd
In many situations, the distinction between autism and ADHD is not black and white. As challenging as it is for a professional to know whether ADHD, autism, or both are present, receiving appropriate intervention matters most for a child. Often, developing a plan helps sort out whether either diagnosis or neither is appropriate. Most social and communication interventions benefit children, whether they have ADHD or autism.
Ask your childs school to evaluate their development, including language pragmatics, play, and self-help skills. Or seek a private, comprehensive evaluation outside of your school district. Having a secondary condition frequently occurs with both ADHD and autism, so screening for these disorders is essential.
Some common coexisting conditions with autism include:
- ADHD
- Sleep problems
- Substance abuse
Interventions that improve symptoms of ADHD usually enhance the social abilities hindered by it. Comprehensive care for ADHD can include individual or parent-based behavioral therapy, social skills groups, medication, and other evidence-based treatment.
If a child has autism, they have communication challenges. However, it is challenging to measure language pragmatics through testing. Therefore, regardless of test scores, a child with autism benefits from language services. With ADHD, consider the possibility of language delays, and intervene when appropriate.
Recommended Reading: Can Autism Be Passed Down
Does Every Timid Child Have Social Anxiety
Babies do not differentiate foreigners in the first months. However, from the 8th month, when they are not present with their mother, they feel uncomfortable being in the same environment as a stranger. The child, who can establish a safe relationship with the mother in the early period, can more easily tolerate such situations. From the age of 3, children start to be in social environments outside the home. Since being shy has to do with genetic transmission, not every child may be able to show the same sociability in these new social situations.
For example, there may be children in kindergarten who have difficulty participating in games with other children or conducting a joint activity. However, we cannot call children with all timid behaviors in social anxiety. There are some physiological reactions accompanying this kind of avoidance and avoidance behaviors. These reactions occur especially when they are exposed to behaviors they avoid.
Since being in social situations is a source of stress for these children, their anxiety levels increase. As a result, physical reactions such as rapid heartbeat, sweating of the hands, shortness of breath, tightness and shaking in the muscles, discomfort in the stomach, hot or cold flashes, and headache are observed.
How Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Play
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder tend to be less spontaneous than other kids. Unlike a typical curious little kid pointing to things that catch their eye, children with ASD often appear disinterested or unaware of whats going on around them. They also show differences in the way they play. They may have trouble with functional play, or using toys that have a basic intended use, such as toy tools or cooking set. They usually dont play make-believe, engage in group games, imitate others, collaborate, or use their toys in creative ways.
Read Also: How To Improve Sitting Tolerance In Autism
Impact Of Autism On Social Interaction
For people on the autism spectrum, a common theme is having difficulties with social interaction and interpreting other peoples behaviour, as well as knowing what to say or how to behave around others.
People on the autism spectrum will have varying skills and desires when it comes to social interaction.
For some people on the spectrum, they may display limited motivation in interacting with those around them. It may only be to get their needs met, such as using their arm to reach for an item that is out of reach.
Others on the spectrum, may have a desire to interact with a range of people, to a large extent.
People on the autism spectrum may find social interaction difficult, which can impact their ability to:
See our page on how communication affects people on the spectrum for more information.
For some people on the autism spectrum, challenges with social interaction can lead to anxiety or a feeling of being isolated.
Unfortunately, according to some studies people that are on the autism spectrum are more likely to experience bullying than any other type of disability.
For others, while having social interactions is important, they may enjoy their own company and not care about others so much.
Social Skills Therapy For Autism
To teach a child with autism social skills, parents can seek help from social skills therapists. These experts come from different backgrounds but share the same knowledge and competencies needed to help people with autism develop social skills.
Social skills therapy is mostly based on a concept called Social Thinking. Michelle Garcia Winner, a speech-language pathologist, coined the phrase social thinking and transformed it into a strategy to improve the social skills of people on the spectrum.
Therapists use different teaching strategies for students to cope with common social situations. This would include teaching a child with autism how to play, talk, share, and work with other children his/her age. Some sessions are also conducted in a group setting to encourage children to apply what they have learned.
Most schools with autism programs have social skills training available. You can visit the Autism Society of America to check for social skills therapists in your area.
You May Like: Diy Visual Schedule
Do Highly Sensitive People Have Autism Psychology Toda
Autism can pose challenges for parenting, their stories indicate. helping a child learn social skills can be difficult for people who struggle with social interactions themselves, for example. Thinking about social interactions reveals brain patterns indicative of autism. How Brain Scans Can Diagnose Autism With 97% Accuracy I can tell which one you’re thinking about, he says 46 percent of kids with autism in middle and high school reported being victimized in 2011 and some studies show that 70 percent of kids with autism, that are mainstreamed, are bullied. This inspired me to investigate the issue of bullying and how it affects kids with autism and offer ways you can help
Treatment Of Social Anxiety And Suggestions For Families
Since social anxiety is often perceived as an ordinary shyness, families do not care much about this situation and do not need treatment. However, social anxiety is a problem that can be eliminated with early diagnosis and correct treatment.
Psychotherapy is used extensively in the treatment of social anxiety. If deemed necessary, drug therapy should be used. Since social anxiety causes problems in all areas of a childs life, the treatment team should be in cooperation with the family and school.
In psychotherapy, situations that cause anxiety in the child are determined and methods of coping with these situations are tried to be gained. In addition, wrong and negative thoughts in the child are tried to be changed. In order to get more positive results from the process, the school and the family should be more understanding towards the child, motivate the child by giving responsibilities appropriate for their age, and avoid displaying an oppressive or overprotective attitude.
In the treatment of social anxiety in children, families also have some duties. First of all, they must be good models for their children and provide correct communication with their children. Parents should encourage and reward their childrens attempts to communicate with others. With the rewarding system, they increase the permanence of the behavior.
Don’t Miss: Can Autism Be Passed Down
What Are Some Common Signs Of Asd
Even as infants, children with ASD may seem different, especially when compared to other children their own age. They may become overly focused on certain objects, rarely make eye contact, and fail to engage in typical babbling with their parents. In other cases, children may develop normally until the second or even third year of life, but then start to withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement.
The severity of ASD can vary greatly and is based on the degree to which social communication, insistence of sameness of activities and surroundings, and repetitive patterns of behavior affect the daily functioning of the individual.
Social impairment and communication difficultiesMany people with ASD find social interactions difficult. The mutual give-and-take nature of typical communication and interaction is often particularly challenging. Children with ASD may fail to respond to their names, avoid eye contact with other people, and only interact with others to achieve specific goals. Often children with ASD do not understand how to play or engage with other children and may prefer to be alone. People with ASD may find it difficult to understand other peoples feelings or talk about their own feelings.
Children With Autism Are Not Interested In Social Interaction
Most children with autism are very keen to have friends and interact socially, but often have difficulties knowing how to make, and keep, friends. Social graces dont come naturally to people with autism, so they often need to be explicitly taught the hidden social rules. This can be done through role playing activities with peers, parents or carers, or through structured learning programs such as social stories.
Because of their social awkwardness, children with autism can become socially anxious and withdrawn, despite wanting friendships and social contact. This is a life-long problem for people with autism.
You May Like: What Is The Symbol For Autism
Whats The Opposite Of Autistic
Reeling people in Chris has Williams Syndrome , a rare genetic disorder affecting around one in 18,000 people in Britain. It has often been dubbed the opposite of autism. People with WS are empathetic, social, friendly and endearing but they tend to have a low IQ, making tasks such as counting money difficult.
Social Motivation Is Key For Typical Learning And Growth
People with autism think differently than others, and social acceptance isn’t necessarily a primary motivator for them. Perhaps, as a result, people with autism don’t attend closely to others’ social behaviors nor do they imitate what others do, say, or wear in particular settings. They are rarely motivated by social rewards or by the threat of losing social opportunities.
None of this means that people with autism dislike social engagement , nor does it mean that autistic people never get lonely. But it does mean that autistic people react differently to behavioral motivators and, as a result, often lack the skills and desires that push their peers to achieve socially approved goals.
Recommended Reading: Is Shaun Murphy Really Autistic