Early signs of ASD will vary from child to child. Early intervention, which we offer is important because it drastically improves outcomes for children with autism.
The following signs can help you identify whether your child might have autism:
- Six months. No social smiles directed at people and limited or no eye contact
- Nine months. No sharing of smiles, vocal sounds or nonverbal communication
- 12 months. No babbling, response to name or use of gestures to communicate
- 16 months. No words
- 24 months. No meaningful, two-word phrases
- Any age. Loss of any previously acquired babbling, social skills or speech
- Any age. Avoids eye contact and prefers time alone
- Any age. Struggles to understand the feelings of others
- Any age. Nonverbal or delayed language development
- Any age. Becomes upset by changes in routine
- Any age. Has restricted interests
- Any age. Performs repetitive behaviors
- Any age. Unusually strong reactions to sensory input
A child may present with some or all of these signs. Seeing them appear over a period of time can be a red flag that your child has ASD. An early diagnosis means your child can begin early intervention and quicker skills development can occur.