Cant Communicate Wants Or Needs
Apparently, many children within the autism spectrum have trouble communicating their wants and needs.
My son is 3 and he still cannot tell me what he wants to eat or when he needs to go potty. His language in the past 6 months has not been getting better. Instead, hes regressed completely to where hes not speaking any words or phrases. Only nonsense words and syllables on repeat!
This absolutely breaks my heart!
To tell me what he wants he will use non-communicative gestures: If he wants to go into the kitchen he will grab my hand and lead me there, then place my hand on the baby gate to open it. If he wants milk he will get his sippy cup and hand it to me.
Ive tried daily to get him to at least say milk. Unfortunately, he either ignores me or will start throwing a tantrum out of frustration. Its at this point I know its not that he doesnt want to say milk, hes simply frustrated because he CANT say it.
Repeats Same Syllables Words And/or Sounds
The repeating of words and sounds is common with autism spectrum and often children will repeat words in a robot voice or in a sing-song tone of voice.
A robotic sounding voice is pretty self-explanatory. But a sing-song tone of voice is often demonstrated by children repeating words in a form of a question. In other words, words or sentences that are not a question are asked in question form with an influx in tone of voice.
Until I saw this sign on a list of symptoms for autism spectrum I didnt recognize my own son doing it. Now I cannot unsee it. My son does repeat the same syllable non-sense words and asks them in the form of a question.
Social Communication And Interaction Skills
Social communication and interaction skills can be challenging for people with ASD.
Examples of social communication and social interaction characteristics related to ASD can include:
- Avoids or does not keep eye contact
- Does not respond to name by 9 months of age
- Does not show facial expressions like happy, sad, angry, and surprised by 9 months of age
- Does not play simple interactive games like pat-a-cake by 12 months of age
- Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age
- Does not share interests with others
- Does not point or look at what you point to by 18 months of age
- Does not notice when others are hurt or sad by 24 months of age
- Does not pretend in play
- Shows little interest in peers
- Has trouble understanding other peoples feelings or talking about own feelings at 36 months of age or older
- Does not play games with turn taking by 60 months of age
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Prenatal Factors That May Contribute To Autism
Taking antidepressants during pregnancy, especially in the first 3 months.
Nutritional deficiencies early in pregnancy, particularly not getting enough folic acid.
The age of the mother and father
Complications at or shortly after birth, including very low birth weight and neonatal anemia
Maternal infections during pregnancy.
Exposure to chemical pollutants, such as metals and pesticides, while pregnant.
More research on these prenatal risk factors is needed, but if youre pregnant or trying to conceive, it cant hurt to take steps now to reduce your babys risk of autism.
Reducing the risk of autism: Tips for expectant mothers
Take a multivitamin. Taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily helps prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. Its not clear whether this will also help reduce risk of autism, but taking the vitamins cant hurt.
Ask about SSRIs. Women who are taking an SSRI should talk with a clinician about all the risks and benefits of these drugs. Untreated depression in a mother can also affect her childs well-being later on, so this is not a simple decision to make.
Practice prenatal care. Eating nutritious food, trying to avoid infections, and seeing a clinician for regular check-ups can increase the chances of giving birth to a healthy child.
Source: Harvard Health Publications
Warning Signs Of Autism In Older Children
Deficits in Social Interactions and Communications Skills:
There may be a lack of eye contact, lack of verbal communication, and lack of response.
Children with autism usually avoid making eye contact with people. They seem not show interests in their peers. Sometimes they prefer to talk or play with older kids or adults. They do not communicate their needs in typical ways, for example, pointing to the thing they want. They might have tantrums until they get what they want, or pull someones hand to grab it for them. They do not share their attention with others for example, if you show them something interesting by pointing to it, they will not look at the thing you point to.
Restrictive and Repetitive Behaviors and Interests:
Repetitive behaviors are usually seen in younger children for example, hand flapping, finger flicking and body rocking or they might stare at some object for hours. These behaviors are thought to be the way they self-soothe when they are over or under sensitized. Autistic children can be either extremely sensitive or not sensitive at all to their own pain or that of others or their surroundings and emotions. For example, they may not cry at all when they feel pain, but they may cry and react unusually to new sights, smells, textures and sounds. When they grow up, these behaviors usually fade away, but can persist in severe cases or in the case of intellectual disabilities.
What should I do, if I think my child could have Autism?
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Other Signs Of Autism In 4
These signs are usually accompanied by some of the other signs listed above:
ASD encompasses a broad range of signs and symptoms. An autistic child may need minimal support in some aspects of their life and more significant support in other aspects.
An autistic child who needs minimal support may have:
- little interest in social interactions or social activities
- difficulty initiating social interactions or maintaining conversations
- trouble with appropriate communication
- trouble adapting to changes in routine or behavior
- difficulty making friends
An autistic child who needs a moderate amount of support, or who needs daily support, may have:
- difficulty coping with a change to their routine or surroundings
- a significant lack of verbal and nonverbal communication skills
- severe and obvious behavioral challenges
- repetitive behaviors that interfere with their daily life
- an unusual or a reduced ability to communicate or interact with others
- narrow, specific interests
An autistic child who needs significant support on a daily basis may:
How Is Asd Diagnosed
There is no simple medical test for diagnosing ASD.
To diagnose a child with ASD, a healthcare professional observes the childs levels of:
- communication
This could include the childs:
- verbal skills
- how they relate to others
- behaviours related to their interests and activities
- repeated actions related to how they speak, move or use objects
To determine the severity of ASD, the healthcare professional observes the amount of difficulty the child has with:
- social communication
Medical professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders to evaluate ASD.
If a health care provider thinks that your child may have ASD, get a referral for a diagnosis. A specialist will create a detailed description of your child’s strengths and challenges. A team of health professionals may work together for this assessment.
Testing for ASD will also make sure that this is not a different condition. For instance, sometimes hearing loss can explain your childs unresponsiveness in social situations or when their name is called.
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A Lack Of Interest In Pretend Play
For kids with autism, pretend skills may be absent or lacking. dont use objects for pretend playstuff like picking up a sponge and using it as a pretend phone, she says. Play-feeding a doll or pretending the couch is a truck or train are other examples. If this kind of pretend play hasnt started by 18 months, thats a warning sign, notes the CDC.
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Diagnosis Of Asd Requires Professional Evaluation
Although the signs mentioned above are all common in autistic children, they can equally be found in neurotypical kids or can even indicate an entirely different type of disorder. Without formal training, even the most astute observations from parents and family members cant determine for sure whether or not a youngster is on the spectrum. If you suspect something is amiss, the next step is to consult a professional for a full diagnosis.
The CDC recommends that these screenings be conducted, at a minimum, at the ages of 18 and 24 months for all children. They may be performed by a:
- Developmental pediatrician
- Child psychologist or psychiatrist
Complete an Online Questionnaire to Get a Jump on the Assessment
As part of the screening, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire that helps the professional begin their assessment. In many cases, you can find these questionnaires online and use them to assist you in your own self-screening at any time.
The medical professional you visit will use your answers to fill in some of the blanks in their own screening, since some symptoms may only manifest during certain situations.
Still, beginning treatment early using applied behavior analysis can be key to improving the quality of life and cognitive abilities of a child with ASD.
Dont delay in seeking professional help if you spot autism symptoms in your child!
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You Find It Much Easier To Be Alone
Autism in many forms is distinguished by feelings of social difficulty: not quite understanding, integrating, keeping up, or doing the right thing in social situations. Many autistics feel, obviously, that being on their own is a much easier option. Interestingly, some scientists believe that autistics could actually have originally been early solitary foragers,who survived in the wild on the strength of their attention to detail and ability to see patterns rather than their social ties. Its still early days for that hypothesis, but its an intriguing idea.
- Appears disinterested or unaware of other people or whats going on around them.
- Doesnt know how to connect with others, play, or make friends.
- Prefers not to be touched, held, or cuddled.
- Doesnt play pretend games, engage in group games, imitate others, or use toys in creative ways.
- Has trouble understanding feelings or talking about them.
- Doesnt seem to hear when others talk to them.
- Doesnt share interests or achievements with others .
Basic social interaction can be difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder. Many kids on the autism spectrum seem to prefer to live in their own world, aloof and detached from others.
Challenging Behaviors In Autism
People with autism spectrum disorder may exhibit behaviors which put themselves at risk, cause difficulties for people around them or which are not socially acceptable.
Around 50 percent of people with autism engage in behavior that can cause themselves harm when they feel frustrated, overwhelmed or unwell. Such behaviors can include:
- Banging their head on walls or other objects
- Hitting themselves, e.g. hitting their head with their hands
- Poking themselves in the eye
- Pulling their hair
- Biting themselves
- Smearing feces
A person with autism who feels frustrated, overwhelmed or feeling unwell may also display physically aggressive behavior. This can include:
- Throwing objects
- Hitting, slapping or biting other people
- Pulling other peopleââ¬â¢s hair
Some people with autism eat objects that are not edible, or keep the objects in their mouth, a behavior known as pica. It is the most common eating disorder found in people with autism spectrum disorder. People may eat anything, including dirt or soap.
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Early Signs Of Autism In Babies May Include:
- Smiling rarely in social situations
- Unexpected reactions to new faces
- Little or no eye contact
- Doesnt respond to their name
- Doesnt turn their head to locate sound or react to loud sounds
- Overreacts to sounds
- Displays a lack of social anticipation. For example, baby doesnt reach out their arms to be picked up, or doesnt seem to understand the game of Peek-a-Boo.
- Doesnt use chatter or babble
- Doesnt use gestures such as pointing or waving in context.
- Dislikes being cuddled or touched
- Displays repetitive and unusual body movements.
Difference Of Autism Signs In Boys And Girls
The symptoms of ASD may range from mild to extreme, and there is no definitive list of symptoms that are sure to be shown by each and every child. On top of that, since boys are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder four times more than girls , classic symptoms may be described in a way to refer more to the boys.
The symptoms are generally the same for the both. But, an autistic girl may be:
- quieter
- hide their feelings better
- good at imitating social behaviors.
This can make the impairs seem much less noticeable compared to the case of boys. Also, the autism traits in girls are reported less by their teachers.
It is important to note that not all children with autism show all of the signs. In addition, many children who actually dont have autism may show a few of the symptoms and signs. That is why professional evaluation is of utmost importance.
There are certain developmental milestones children reach in terms of their language and social abilities. Caregivers should take notice of these milestones. They should observe children closely during the first few years of their lives. These are crucial times in terms of early diagnosis and intervention. Although not reaching a milestone at a specified time or achieving it late does not necessarily mean that the child has autism, it may be a sign of a developmental delay.
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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 point to things,
- Doesnt respond to their names,
- Cant stand when supported,
- Doesnt babble
Does Not Respond To His Name
I know my son knows his own name. But when I say his name he doesnt stop what hes doing to turn and look at me or respond by speaking.
Ive now resorted to tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention if he is within reach.
All this time I always thought he was in his own little world or simply ignoring me. Now I know this missed symptom is actually pretty common with autism.
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Signs Your Child Might Have Autism
Does my child have autism?
If youre asking this question, chances are you already have some serious concerns and that alone is enough to make most parents feel scared, bewildered, and alone.
But the fact is, many parents find themselves looking for signs of a possible problem and asking this question simply out of an abundance of caution. Thats just good parenting and its only natural with the amount of attention autism has received in recent years. The good news is, most of the time concerned parents discover that everything is absolutely fine. Noticing a single red flag or even identifying a combination of concerns often amounts to nothing more than a childs individuality expressing itself as some slight variation in normal developmental progress.
And on the other side of the coin, even if there is reason to believe your child may fall somewhere on the spectrum, the news is still good: You are not alone Your child will go to school just like the other kids and learn in a regular classroom You will get the help you need and your insurance will cover most of the expense Breathe everything is going to be all right.
Before you start arriving at any conclusions at all, its important that youre very clear about one thing: You may be able to identify some traits that indicate the possibility of autism, but only a medical professional is in a position to say for sure.
- Difficulty with social interactions
What Are The Signs Of Asd In Babies
Diagnosing ASD is challenging. One reason for this is that the condition presents differently in all individuals.
Babies can reach developmental milestones at slightly different ages, even when they do not have any health conditions. However, some developmental differences indicate that a baby may be autistic. These include:
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How To Identify Autism In Your Child
Articles Asperger’s Syndrome autism autism and therapy autism treatment Biomedical Autism identification therapy and autism
Lets start at the beginning with discussing what is Autism?
Autism is a disorder of the brain and one in every two and a half thousand children are born with it. Children who are Autistic will show signs of being withdrawn from their environment and will have problems communicating. Often it is confused with Aspergers Syndrome and, although similar in many ways, they are two different diagnoses.
Signs of Autism can be displayed in a child as young as twelve months and it is usually prominent by the age of three. Autism is also called spectrum disorder or autistic spectrum disorder, and statistics show more males than females have been diagnosed with the neurological abnormality. Often, a child can seem very normal until up to three years of age, then suddenly they begin to change as their speech and social development is impaired. They will exhibit strange behavior and movements, have trouble communicating, some even become deaf and mute and will not like being held. Some will move compulsively and prefer to occupy themselves rather than play with toys or people. Every case is individual, so each child has a different combination of symptoms.
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