How Autistic Speech Delays Differ
As typical babies develop, they quickly learn that communication is the key to getting what they want. Long before they learn to use spoken language, little ones make eye contact, pull on sleeves, babble, point, and otherwise work hard to get their point across to adults and older children.
Over time, typical children learn to use spoken language because they get positive results from doing so. In addition, typical children:
- Are highly motivated by social responses such as smiles and hugs
- Are naturally inclined to imitate that actions of people around them
- Are likely to spend much more time observing people than observing things
- Tend to be social beings who become quickly bored or lonely when left alone
Children with autism, however, have social communication challenges that stand in the way of any kind of meaningful social connection. While children with high functioning autism may be much more socially inclined than those with more severe autism, the same issues hold true across the spectrum.
Thus, for example, a child with autism:
- Maybe more motivated by his or her own interests than by social responses
- May rarely or never imitate others’ actions
- Be more interested in things than in people
- Be content when left alone to pursue their own interests
All of these differences lead to different behaviors, desires, and outcomes.
Early Signs Of Autism In Children
Although autism is difficult to diagnose before 24 months, first symptoms often arise between 12 and 18 months. The early signs of autism in children involve the absence of normal behaviours, rather than the presence of abnormal ones.
This makes symptoms quite hard to spot. In some cases, the earliest symptoms can even be misinterpreted as signs of a good baby, since the toddler may seem quiet, independent, and undemanding. However, you can catch warning signs early if you know what to look for.
Well take an in-depth look at the early signs of autism in children below, so that parents, early years practitioners and other care givers are aware of the common signs to look for.
What Age Do Autistic Children Talk
Autistic children with verbal communication generally hit language milestones later than children with typical development.
While typically developing children produce their first words between 12 and 18 months old, autistic children were found to do so at an average of 36 months.Since each autistic child is unique in their development, the age when they produce their first words differs.
Until recently, parents and caregivers of children with autism were made to believe that their child would not speak ever if they did not do so by the time they turn 4 or five.
However, a recent study showed that most of the children participating in the study acquired language skills, and almost half of them became fluent speakers. More than 70% could speak in simple phrases. This indicates that language-delayed children with autism could eventually develop speech.
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At Risk And Nowhere To Go
But even if Ramsay successfully identifies babies showing signs of autism, the next step isnt obvious. How do we go about putting in place support for families when there is no treatment yet? he asks.
Fortunately, researchers are piloting early intervention programs. Connie Kasari, an educational psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, meets twice a week with families with children 12 to 21 months old who are at risk of autism. She encourages healthy skills, such as pointing or making eye contact. After two months, one 12-month-old boy who rarely smiled, vocalized or made eye contact with his parents said his first words, and his parents felt they could more easily interact with him. But the results need to be replicated, and Kasari isnt comfortable saying she prevented the boy from developing autism. If Ramsay can identify very early vocal warning signs, however, such early interventions hold considerable promise.
Ramsay plays me one more recording of the now 12-month-old baby boy. Buuuh-bee, he says. Baby, says his mom. Baby, he repeats with perfect clarity. Ramsay suspects this mom, at least, has little reason to worry.
This article originally appeared in print as “Altered Voices.”
What Does The Future Look Like For Nonverbal Children
Nonverbal children with autism could have a comfortable and quality life. It is important that with the right help, they could equip themselves with the necessary skills to live their life normally.
Although nonverbal, children with autism use other methods to communicate. Certain strategies, which we will discuss here, could be used to leverage these methods and add on to them.
Not being able to speak to communicate should not be seen as a setback, but as a challenge that could be overcome. Although there is no magic cure to achieve speech, your child could go a long way with your support.
Once they understand and learn a way to express what they are feeling, be it verbal or nonverbal, they will have a more positive attitude towards communication.
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Babble Or Talk Back And Forth With Another Person
Children at risk for autism may not direct their vocalizations to another person in a meaningful way or may not make babbling sounds at all.
- Example of a typically developing child: When Mrs. Smith asks her son what he wants while feeding him in his highchair, Johnny reaches for the spoon she is holding and responds by saying dadagabada in a way that makes her feel like he is speaking his own language.
- Example of a child at risk for autism: When Mrs. Jones asks her son what he wants while feeding him in his highchair, Sam does not respond and continues to make high-pitched noises while looking at the wall.
Scientific References:
- Garrido, D., Watson, L., Carballo, G., Garcia-Retamero, R., & Crais, E. . Infants at-risk for autism spectrum disorder: Patterns of vocalizations at 14 months. Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 10, 1372-1383.
How To Bond: Bath Time
Contrary to popular belief, a parent doesnt need to give their baby a full-on bath until after their umbilical cord falls off. According to Seattle Childrens Hospital, on average, this happens between 10-14 days after birth. Until then, sponge baths are completely acceptable. Once the baby is old enough for a bath in the tub, this is a major bonding moment. Mom or dad can hold their little one afloat as they get used to kicking their feet and learning the sensation of water around them. Its sweet to see them figure out what water feels like and eventually, they may come to love bath time.
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Hypothesis : Infants Later Diagnosed With Asd Will Demonstrate Significantly Lower Canonical Babbling Ratios Compared To Typically Developing Infants
Canonical babbling ratios of infants later diagnosed with ASD and TD infants were contrasted using a Mixed ANOVA. The between-subjects variable was diagnostic category and the within-subjects variable was age range . The mean canonical babbling ratios at 912 months were .06 for the 21 infants later diagnosed with ASD and .17 for the 14 TD infants at 1518 months the values were .16 and .28 respectively . Analyses revealed a significant main effect for diagnostic category = 6.79, p = .01, p2 = 0.17), with infants later diagnosed with ASD producing significantly lower canonical babbling ratios, and a significant main effect for age = 7.86, p< .01, p2 = 0.19), with higher canonical babbling ratios at the older age. The effect size between groups for 912 months was d = 1.09 and for 1518 months was .62 . The age by diagnosis interaction was not significant .
Canonical babbling ratios by age and diagnosis
How To Bond: Teaching Them
Even if you didnt go to school for teaching, being a parent is your chance to teach a little one all about life. And first things first is teaching them tummy time! Tummy time is an exercise for babies to help them grow stronger and to learn how to lift their head, strengthen their back, and eventually learn to roll over. This, of course, will one day lead to them learning how to crawl. As a parent, being there and supporting them through tummy time and beyond can do wonders in the bonding department.
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Hypothesis : Infants Later Diagnosed With Asd Will Demonstrate Significantly Fewer Total Vocalizations At Both Age Ranges Compared To Typically Developing Infants
For this analysis, all 37 infants were included because there were no significant outliers. Volubility of infants later diagnosed with ASD and TD infants were contrasted using a Mixed ANOVA. The between-subjects variable was diagnostic category , and the within-subjects variable was age range . Infants later diagnosed with ASD produced a mean of 4.55 syllables per minute while TD infants produced a mean of 5.86 syllables per minute at 912 months. At 1518 months, infants later diagnosed with ASD produced a mean of 3.24 syllables per minute while TD infants produced a mean of 4.63 syllables per minute . Analyses revealed a significant main effect for diagnostic category = 4.85, p = .034, p2 = 0.12), and for age = 4.96, p = .032, p2 = 0.12). Thus, infants later diagnosed with ASD displayed significantly lower volubility than TD infants. The effect size for group at 912 months was d = 2.07 and at 1518 months was 2.77 .
Volubility by age and diagnosis
Early Signs Of Autism In Babies Aged 0
Shortly after they are born, babies begin to smile and coo at people around them. By the time they turn 2 months old, they are able to pay attention to faces.
If the child has autism spectrum disorder, this may not be the case. If a child doesnt smile, or smile as big, and is not showing any warm expression, it may be a sign of autism spectrum disorder.
The following signs can also be seen by the time the baby turns 3 months old:
- Doesnt respond to loud noises,
- Doesnt grasp objects,
- Doesnt follow objects with their eyes,
- Doesnt babble,
- Doesnt respond to their names,
- Cant stand when supported,
- Doesnt babble
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Play With Toys In An Unusual Manner
A child at risk for autism might use their toys or other objects in a manner different from how they are typically used, or might not actually play with toys. A childs use of these objects might replace typical usages.
- Example of a typically developing child: While watching Johnny play with a matchbox® car, Mrs. Smith sees him pause briefly to examine and spin the cars wheels. For the rest of the play period Johnny rolls the car across the floor while saying, vroom-vroom.”
- Example of a child at-risk for autism: While watching Sam play with a matchbox® car, Mrs. Jones sees him flip the car over and repeatedly spin the wheels while holding the car level with and a few inches away from his eyes.
Scientific References:
Five Early Signs Of Autism
UCLA
If youre a parent or caregiver who is concerned that your child may have Autism Spectrum Disorder, getting a diagnosis as soon as possible is important because early intervention can be the key to the most optimal outcomes.
As many studies have now shown, early intervention is critical for the best outcomes in children with autism, and many believe the earlier the better, says Connie Kasari, a professor of human development and psychology in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and the Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Only with a diagnosis can parents begin to obtain necessary intervention services for their child.
Autism Spectrum Disorder , a growing public health concern that is often widely misunderstood, has been gaining attention ever since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control announced in 2014 that instances of autism are being diagnosed with greater frequency. According to the CDC, 1 in 68 children today have some form of the disorder thats an increase from 1 in 88 in 2012, and 1 in 110 in 2010.
A founding member of the Semel Institute’s Center for Autism Research and Treatment, an initiative that offers assessment and treatment services for the public as well as resources related to ASD, Kasari has developed targeted interventions that focus on improving early social communication development for at-risk infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
Additional information and resources:
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You Are About To Be Around A Person With Autism Or Are Living With Someone With Asd
If you are in day to day contact with a person with autism, you have been given a divine responsibility. Each of us has something to contribute either good or bad to an autistic person. There are some things you should and should not do when around a person with ASD. Here are 5 doâs and donâts on how to behave around a person with autism.
5 Things you should do around a person with autism.
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Hypothesis : Infants Later Diagnosed With Asd Will Be Less Likely Than Typically Developing Infants To Be In The Canonical Stage At Each Age
Log odds ratios were calculated to compare the classifications of both ASD and typically developing children with regard to their canonical babbling. The criterion for canonical babbling stage was set at 15% or greater canonical syllables compared to all syllables this is a common criterion in studies of canonical babbling, and is based on data reviewed in . TD infants were significantly more likely to have reached the canonical babbling stage based on the criterion than were infants later diagnosed with ASD at the 912 months age range , and remained more likely at the 1518 month age range . As an easily interpretable effect size measure, the simple odds ratios can be considered the simple ORs indicated TD infants were 17 times more likely to be categorized as in the canonical stage than ASD infants at 912 months and 6 times more likely at 1518 months.
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How Common Is Autism Spectrum Disorder
Based on most recent CDC report, ASD is estimated to affect about 1 in 54 children, with boys being more likely to have ASD than girls. There were more than 5 million adults in the US, or 2.21% of the population, with ASD as of 2017. Government statistics suggest that the prevalence of ASD has risen 10% to 17% in recent years.
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Little Or No Imitatin Other People Of Pretending
They use a variety of functional actions like putting a sippy cup in their mouth to drink and a spoon in their mouth to eat.
From this, they learn to pretend in play they may offer you a sip with a cup or bottle, give Teddy bear a hug and cover him with a blanket or jiggle a pan with invisible stuff inside to pretend to cook.
Children with autism usually have strengths in using objects in solitary play.
If your child is showing little or no imitating of others, and is not beginning to pretend in play, it can be an early sign of autism.
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Autism Signs By 12 Months
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She doesn’t say single words.
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She doesn’t use gestures such as waving or shaking her head.
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She doesn’t point to objects or pictures.
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She can’t stand when supported.
It’s important to note that these criteria aren’t conclusive evidence of autism. “Theyre simply things we look for to determine if we need to further assess the baby, says Mandi Silverman, PsyD, MBA, senior director of the Autism Center at the Child Mind Institute. Another social or developmental factor may be to blame.
Behaviors That Reveal A Child May Have Autism
Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by social withdrawal, by repetitive behaviors and by some kind of focal attention in its classic form. Basically, its an inability to relate to others. Harvey V. Fineberg
Autism spectrum disorder is not as mysterious as it used to be ten or twenty years ago. Now, we have a better understand of the spectrum, and with that understanding comes empathy and support. Children on the autism spectrum see and process the world differently than children who dont.
They may also have a harder time socializing and understanding social cues than other children. Without knowing what autism is, or without knowing how to stop the signs, these children can often end up with an unfair expectation put on them by both their parents, teachers and their classmates.
Like the name suggests, autism spectrum disorder exists on a spectrum of different types of behaviors, and things that a child can or may have a harder time doing that most, including auditory processing, speaking verbally and communicating. How can you know when your child might have autism?
There are some classic signs, and once you get a diagnosis you can help your child better interact with the world in a way thats safe and comfortable for them.
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Why You Should Hug Your Kids
Not only are hugs good for childrens brain development and physical growth, but they also support emotional development. Nothing soothes the cries of a child with a skinned knee more quickly than a warm hug from an adult who loves them. In addition, hugs are the most effective way to end a temper tantrum.
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