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What Are Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorders?
Most parents notice that something is not right with their children when the children are two or three years old. In some cases, parents pick up signs even earlier, when their children are in infancy. They may notice that their babies don't look at them or seem to recognize familiar faces. Perhaps their babies don't cry when they leave the room, exhibit anxiety around strangers, make babbling sounds, imitate gestures such as clapping and pointing, or enjoy playing games like peekaboo--all signs of a typically developing infant.
There's no single personality type that represents the model of an ASD baby. Some parents of children with ASDs look back and describe their children as having been angels when they were babies, hardly making a peep and demanding very little attention. Others describe their children as screamers. Still others describe their babies' behavior as typical -- nothing out of the ordinary. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), some possible early indicators of ASDs include the following:
- Does not babble, point, or make meaningful gestures by one year of age
- Does not speak one word by sixteen months
- Does not combine two words by two years of age
- Does not respond to his or her name
- Loses language or social skills
- Avoids eye contact
- Doesn't seem to know how to play with toys
- Excessively lines up toys or other objects
- Is attached to one particular toy or object
- Doesn't smile
- At times seems to be hearing impaired
