For most parents, the experience of watching their baby grow brings joy and excitement as each new milestone is reached. It seems that your baby or toddler learns something new every day. He smiles when Mom sings to him or she babbles when Mom walks in the room. However, many parents worry that their child may not be developing in a typical way and they become concerned that their young child is not reaching important milestones in the same way as other children. Some parents read or hear about autism and worry that their child may show some of the early signs. Other parents are not familiar with the early signs of autism and may be unaware that their baby or toddler is showing early signs. While we have seen an enormous rise in rates of autism with current estimates as high as 1 in 110 and affecting boys four times more than girls, many parents are asking what to look for as possible early signs of autism. The three areas that are affected by autism include social interactions, communication, and behaviors.
For most parents, the experience of watching their baby grow brings joy and excitement as each new milestone is reached. It seems that your baby or toddler learns something new every day. He smiles when Mom sings to him or she babbles when Mom walks in the room. However, many parents worry that their child may not be developing in a typical way and they become concerned that their young child is not reaching important milestones in the same way as other children. Some parents read or hear about autism and worry that their child may show some of the early signs. Other parents are not familiar with the early signs of autism and may be unaware that their baby or toddler is showing early signs. While we have seen an enormous rise in rates of autism with current estimates as high as 1 in 110 and affecting boys four times more than girls, many parents are asking what to look for as possible early signs of autism. The three areas that are affected by autism include social interactions, communication, and behaviors.
Autism Spectrum
Many of the behaviors that children with autism display are typical in very young children. However, for the toddlers who end up receiving a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, they may exhibit the behaviors more frequently, more intensely, or for longer periods of time. It is also important to note that the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders can be applied to children who look and act very different from each other. For example, some of the children will begin to talk at the same time as typically developing children while others will not learn to talk at all. Some of the children may show very little eye contact and social interest while other toddlers enjoy playing interactive games with familiar adults. If you think that your infant or toddler may show these early signs, I would encourage you to ask your pediatrician during a visit and be specific as to why you are concerned. You can also contact Regional Centers in California which conduct assessments and provide support for young children before they are school aged. Below is a list of behaviors that we look for in a preliminary assessment.
"Normal" Behaviors
The following behaviors are signs that your infant is doing ok and you do not have to be concerned: Infant shows interest in items and activities that caregivers present. Pointing to items and making eye contact to communicate a request Pointing to items of interest. Making eye contact with familiar adults. By her first birthday, she is saying single words. By his second birthday, he is putting words together in a variety of different ways. Waving bye bye.
Behaviors That Cause Concern:
Some of the behaviors below might be normal, yet others might be cause for concern. Of course, always visit or talk to your pediatrician if you have any questions: Your infant does not respond to his or her name, smiling in response to inanimate items and objects, but not in response to faces. Play is repetitive; for example, the child lines up objects or keeps pushing the same button on a toy. Play is limited to one or two items and they are not interested in new items when presented, self-stimulatory behaviors (e.g., rocking, twirling, flapping, vocalizations that are not meant to communicate, spinning items).
Be proactive
If your toddler is exhibiting many of these behaviors of concern, the best thing to do is to be proactive and call for an assessment. While there is no known cure for autism, research has repeatedly shown that children who receive interventions early (under the age of three) have the best outcomes for success!!!!
About the Author
Jennifer Symon, Ph.D. BCBA-D is an Associate Professor in the Division of Special Education and Counseling at California State University, Los Angeles. She is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and consultant for early intervention preschool programs. Dr. Symon coordinates the autism programs at CSULA and is the Project Director for a federally funded grant to train general and special education teachers, speech therapists, and related professionals how to support students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Dr. Symon's background includes work in homes, schools, and community settings with individuals with mild to severe disabilities and across the age ranges. She publishes her research findings in peer-reviewed journals and in texts and also presents at local and national conferences. Her research interests include parent education, early intervention, teacher and paraprofessional training, and program evaluation for individuals with special needs, particularly those on the autism spectrum.
