How To Tell If Your Autistic

Whats The Outlook For Autistic Children

Autism is a spectrum of neurological differences that develop during childhood.

Although there is not a cure for autism, many in the autism community believe these neurological differences dont need to be cured. Theyre just a different way of communicating and interacting with the world.

Decades of research have shown that early intervention can have a powerful effect on health outcomes for autistic children. When therapies begin in early childhood, autistic children benefit from the incredible adaptability of their growing brain and nervous system.

Some signs of autism can appear during infancy, such as:

• limited eye contact

Signs Of Nonverbal Communication Difficulties

• Avoids eye contact.
• Uses facial expressions that dont match what they are saying
• Doesnt pick up on other peoples facial expressions, tone of voice, and gestures.
• Makes very few gestures . May come across as cold or robot-like.
• Reacts unusually to sights, smells, textures, and sounds. May be especially sensitive to loud noises. Can also be unresponsive to people entering/leaving, as well as efforts by others to attract the childs attention.
• Atypical posture, clumsiness, or eccentric ways of moving .

Children with autism spectrum disorder have trouble picking up on subtle nonverbal cues and using body language. This makes the give-and-take of social interaction very difficult.

Should I Get My Child Assessed

You should get your child assessed for ASD if:

• you have concerns
• you notice any signs or symptoms
• your child has a close relative with ASD

Normally, your health care provider will test your child first. You can help your health care provider understand the unusual behaviour you see by:

• taking photographs
• maintaining logs or diaries
• capturing these behaviours on video

If there are concerns, then your health care provider should refer you to a specialist for more tests. A specialist is the best person to help diagnose your child.

You May Like: Is Dr Shaun Murphy Really Autistic

What Are The Signs Of Autism In Babies

Autism doesnt change a babys physical appearance. The condition does affect how babies communicate and how they relate to the world around them.

Autism is described as a spectrum condition because signs, symptoms, and abilities can vary widely. If you notice any of these developmental differences, its important to talk with your childs doctor or healthcare professional about them.

Limited Or No Response To Their Name

At 6 months , most infants show an awareness of their own names, especially when its spoken by their mother.

Autistic infants show a developmental difference: By 9 months, many babies who later develop ASD dont orient to their own names. say this usually appears as a pattern of nonresponse, rather than a single instance.

Don’t Miss: What Is The Life Expectancy Of People With Autism

Theme : Positively Supporting The Childs Differences

Many parents noted that they preferred to use difference as opposed to disorder when describing their childs needs. They felt that this was less stigmatizing and easier for children to understand. Each person is different and that does not decrease their intrinsic value. Refocusing their childs attention from their challenges to their strengths was also a common strategy among the parents surveyed.;

How Should I Tell My Child They Have Autism

1) Integrate autism into everyday conversation;

If your child is diagnosed young, say as a toddler or preschooler, the experts recommend integrating autism into everyday conversation right from the start. Smith says parents can do this when the child is receiving autism interventions, attending social events for children with autism or watching TV or reading books that feature autistic characters. Its as simple as saying, Were going to the doctor today because you have autism, or Julia from Sesame Street is autistic like you.

Rather than avoiding the A-word, its just a matter of fact in family life, Smith says. There often isnt a need to be direct about telling them because theyll grow up knowing that word, and that its something characteristic of them.

Some families prefer talking about the differences in how their child thinks and perceives things before introducing the word autism, says Dundon, and thats totally fine. She recommends mentioning differences or autism in the context of a childs strength and challengesor by highlighting similarities and differences to others. For instance, Your autistic brain is really sensitive to those noises, or, Your brain works a bit differently than your brothers because you are autistic.

2) Set the stage for a positive conversation;

Arnold suggests thinking about where the great conversations in your family happenwhether its around the dinner table, on a long car ride or curled up in bedand doing it there.

Also Check: What Is The Life Expectancy Of People With Autism

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.

What Are The Causes Of Autism

The exact cause of autism is still under research, although the following factors predispose an individual to the development of autism

• Gender: Autism is four times more common in boys than in girls.
• Children born to older parents are at high risk of autism spectrum disorder .
• ASD is often seen if a parent or sibling suffers from autistic disorders.
• Genes: People suffering from genetic diseases such as fragile X syndrome or tuberous sclerosis have a higher risk of ASD.
• Medication: Certain drugs such as valproic acid and thalidomide taken by the mother during pregnancy may cause the development of autistic characteristics in the child.

It must be noted that autism is not contagious. It does not spread by playing with or having contact with an affected child. Additionally, there is no relationship between vaccinations and autism development.

• Not responding to name by 12 months
• Not pointing to distant object by 14 months

Symptoms of autism in a child around five years

Symptoms of autism in an adult

• Difficulty in interacting with other people.
• Unable to pick up on body language and emotional subtext in conversations.
• Avoid eye contact while speaking.
• Extreme anxiety in various social situations.
• They may make friends but are unable to maintain friendships or relations.
• Extreme distress at even a minor change in routine.
• Stubborn adherence to rules.

• ivermectin

You May Like: Average Life Expectancy Of Someone With Autism

Common Signs Of Autism

Some of the more common signs that may indicate a person has autism include:

• Avoiding eye contact
• Delayed speech and communication skills
• Reliance on rules and routines
• Being upset by relatively minor changes
• Unexpected reactions to sounds, tastes, sights, touch and smells
• Difficulty understanding other peopleââ¬â¢s emotions
• Focusing on or becoming obsessed by a narrow range of interests or objects
• Engaging in repetitive behavior such as flapping hands or rocking
• Children not responding to their name by 12 months
• Children not pointing at distant objects by 14 months

Worried you or someone you know might have some of the signs of autism? The Ada app can help you check symptoms. or find out more about how it works.

What Can Mimic Autism

Developmental delays such as language, speech, or hearing problems can often be mistaken for autism. There are also a number of specific disorders that are characterized by similar behavioral symptoms to autism. According to the Autism Research Institute, Williams Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, and Landau-Kleffner Syndrome, are all closely related to autism.

Read Also: How To Make A Visual Schedule For Autism

Free Autism Signs Printable Cheat Sheet

I know that we just covered a TON of information, and I want to make sure that you have a simple way to check the important signs that your child may be autistic, so I created a free printable cheat sheet just for you!

With all of the signs listed and broken up by category, you can easily use this and highlight those that fit your child.

Bring this to the pediatricians office, your IEP meeting, or to a therapy evaluation so that you have a visual reminder of what youve noticed at home with your child.

To , you just need to click the image below, answer a few super simple questions and your cheat sheet will hit your email in no time!

About Kaylene

Use Your Hand As A Tool

Babies learn to use a variety of gestures from 9-16 months, like giving, reaching, raising arms, showing, waving, and pointing.

Because children with autism may have limited use of these early gestures, they may develop unusual ways to communicate, like using your hand as a tool.

If your baby is moving or pulling your hand or body part as if its a tool, this can be an early sign of autism, particularly if they are not looking at you.

Don’t Miss: Does Autism Affect Life Expectancy

Develops Rituals And May Get Upset Over Change

Babies learn morning and nighttime routines with your help. Making activities predictable can provide opportunities for learning.

Babies usually flow with changes in routines such as ending an activity early or adding a new step.

Children with autism may develop rituals and be unwilling to complete a series of behaviors a different way.

If your child insists on certain things being the same and gets very upset over unexpected change, this may be an early sign of autism.

Early Signs Of Autism In Boys

Autism is seen more prevalently in boys than in girls. Therefore, the core symptoms mostly coincide with the symptoms we have mentioned to be seen in children with autism in all ages.

Here are some of the early symptoms in autistic boys:

• Doesnt make eye contact
• Has repetitive behaviors
• Doesnt like physical contact

Also Check: How To Make A Visual Schedule For Autism

Early Signs Of Autism In A 2 Year Old

If you feel like your 2-year-old doesnt seem to be catching up with their development milestones, you may start looking for certain signs of autism spectrum disorder for any delays.Mild symptoms can be mistaken for being shy or the terrible twos.

Here are some red flags that may indicate ASD:

• Doesnt speak more than 15 words,
• Cant walk ,
• Doesnt know functions of household items like fork,
• Doesnt imitate parents actions or words,
• Doesnt use items for their own purposes,
• Doesnt follow simple instructions

Unusual Reaction To Sounds Sights Or Textures

Babies with autism can show unusual reactions or be very sensitive to certain sounds, sights, or textures. They may get overly excited about a page in a book or hold their hands over their ears in response to loud sounds, squint or flap their hands to certain lights, gag when they eat food with certain textures, or get upset about a tag in a shirt or something sticky or gooey.

If your child shows unusual reactions to sounds, sights, or textures, this may be an early sign of autism.

Recommended Reading: Life Expectancy For Someone With Asperger\’s Syndrome

Early Signs Of Autism In A 5 Year Old

Once your toddler grows up, certain signs can be missed or confused with signs of growing up. You may want to consult your childs doctor if you see the following signs, which may mean your child has a developmental delay:

• Shows extreme behaviors like unusually aggressive, shy, or sad
• Doesnt show a wide range of emotions
• Usually isnt active
• Has trouble focusing on one activity for extended periods of time
• Doesnt respond to people
• Cant understand the difference between real and make-believe
• Doesnt play with peers
• Doesnt use grammar correctly
• Doesnt talk about daily activities
• Loses skills they once had

Excessive Interest In Particular Objects Or Activities

Babies readily shift their attention between people and objects creating opportunities to learn from social interaction.

Babies with autism may show excessive interest in particular objects or activities and can get stuck or overly focused on these.

This interest may be so intense that its difficult to shift their attention away from an object of interest to something else.

An intense interest can lead to skills that are advanced for their age, such as building with blocks, or learning the shapes of letters and numbers, and can be missed as a sign of autism.

If your child shows excessive interest in particular objects or activities, this may be an early sign of autism.

You May Like: What Kind Of Autism Does Symmetra Have

How Parents Can Spot The Warning Signs

As a parent, youre in the best position to spot the earliest warning signs of autism. You know your child better than anyone and observe behaviors and quirks that a pediatrician, in a quick fifteen-minute visit, might not have the chance to see. Your childs pediatrician can be a valuable partner, but dont discount the importance of your own observations and experience. The key is to educate yourself so you know whats typical and whats not.

Monitor your childs development. Autism involves a variety of developmental delays, so keeping a close eye on whenor ifyour child is hitting the key social, emotional, and cognitive milestones is an effective way to spot the problem early on. While developmental delays dont automatically point to autism, they may indicate a heightened risk.

Take action if youre concerned. Every child develops at a different pace, so you dont need to panic if your child is a little late to talk or walk. When it comes to healthy development, theres a wide range of typical. But if your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, or you suspect a problem, share your concerns with your childs doctor immediately. Dont wait.

Regression of any kind is a serious autism warning sign

Little Pointing Or Gesturing

Babies usually learn to gesture before they learn to talk. In fact, gesturing is one of the earliest forms of communication. Autistic children generally point and gesture much less than children with nonautistic development. Less pointing can sometimes indicate the possibility of a language delay.

Another indicator of a developmental difference is when an infants gaze doesnt follow you when youre pointing at something. This skill is sometimes called joint attention. Joint attention is often decreased in autistic children.

Don’t Miss: What Kind Of Autism Does Symmetra Have

Theme : Having Open And Honest Conversations About Autism

The first theme highlighted in Crane, Lui and Davies was Normalizing the conversations about autism symptoms.; Parents reported that by having frequent and frank discussions about the way that their lives are affected were important in creating an open dialogue. Conversations that began when the child was young helped the child avoid having preconceived ideas about what autism is. This allowed them to have their own experience without being weighed down by the ideas of others.;

Social Communication / Interaction Behaviors May Include:

• Making little or inconsistent eye contact
• Tending not to look at or listen to people
• Rarely sharing enjoyment of objects or activities by pointing or showing things to others
• Failing to, or being slow to, respond to someone calling their name or to other verbal attempts to gain attention
• Having difficulties with the back and forth of conversation
• Often talking at length about a favorite subject without noticing that others are not interested or without giving others a chance to respond
• Having facial expressions, movements, and gestures that do not match what is being said
• Having an unusual tone of voice that may sound sing-song or flat and robot-like
• Having trouble understanding another persons point of view or being unable to predict or understand other peoples actions

Don’t Miss: Life Expectancy Of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Communication Signs Of Autism In Children

We learned about my sons autism after begging our pediatrician for a speech therapy referral.

We knew he wasnt communicating like a typical child would, and we wanted to help him communicate to lower his frustrations.

See, autistic children often have significant communication struggles and delays, sometimes to the point of not speaking at all.

The first thing most people notice in autistic children is that they may not meet typical language milestones.

You may notice that your child often repeats quotes from books, songs, or movies that they have seen or heard.

My son used to quote the Tinkerbell Pirate Fairy movie constantly.

An autistic child may also struggle to begin or keep up with conversations.

Beginning a conversation takes several expressive language skills that many autistic kids struggle with, and keeping up with a 2-way conversation can be overwhelming and exhausting.

You might also notice that an autistic child may not respond to their name.

Sometimes this is because they are so engrossed in an activity that they block out other noises, and sometimes its because autistic children dont develop the same familiarity with their name that other children do.

Another common communication sign of autism in children is that they may seem completely unaware of the volume of their own voice.

A-Man is often yelling or whispering without realizing that hes doing it, or realizing how those different volumes affect those around him.