Warning Signs of Autism
With a parent’s help, diagnosing autism can be completed by a medical doctor and trained medical staff. Shortly after your child is born ,this assessment can be completed. The following list may be used as a starting point to determine if your child’s development warrants further autism assessment. Remember: Don’t panic if your infant exhibits a symptom or two listed below. It is important, however, to alert your pediatrician if you notice any of the following:
- 2 to 3 months: your child is not making frequent eye contact.
- 3 months: your child is not show facial emotions (i.e. smiling at you and the sound of your voice).
- 6 months: Your child does not laugh or make positive expressions.
- 8-9 months: Your child is not following you when you look away from him towards something else. Your child is not starting to make verbal sounds or beginning to babble.
- 1 year: Your child is not consistently turning to you when you call his or her name. Your child shows a general disregard for sounds or vocalizations even though he or she has an awareness of other environmental sounds. Your child is not engaging in back-and-forth exchange of sound and noises with you, or making responses to your gestures (wave bye-bye).
- 16 months: Your child uses no words.
- 18 months: Your child is not pointing or reaching to items of interest.
- 2 years: Your child has no two-word meaningful phrases.
- At any age: Your child shows a loss of any of previously demonstrated or mastered skill.
