1. Observe Social Interactions
Difficulty with social interactions is a primary symptom of autism. If your child consistently fails to make eye contact with you or respond to his name, he may be presenting an early sign of autism. Resisting affection, preferring to play alone and retreating into his "own world" are other common symptoms of the disorder. Evaluating whether your child has a developmental problem can be difficult, however, because some social skills are learned with age and children mature at different rates. That's why it's important to have your child evaluated for autism professionally if you suspect a problem.
2. Note Atypical Language Development
People with autism exhibit a wide range of language skills. Those with mild autism may have little discernable language impairment. Those with severe autism may be completely non-communicative. The majority fall somewhere in the middle, with some type of language delay or impairment. Children with autism may not start talking at the same age as other children, or they may start talking and then lose language skills shortly thereafter. Some children with autism will repeat words or phrases without any comprehension of what they are saying.
How a child speaks can also be an sign of autism. If your child avoids eye contact when speaking, presents an unusual cadence or tone, or cannot hold a conversation, she may need evaluation. You can gauge your child's language development by comparing her with other children of the same age. In many cases, speech delay is not an indicator of autism. Your child may be a slow learner or have a specific speech disorder.
3. Pay Attention to Repetitive Behaviors
Some of the more obvious symptoms of autism are behavioral. Of these, stimming, or repetitive body movements, are often the most obvious. These movements typically include flapping the arms or hands, walking on tip-toe and rocking from side to side. These behaviors are called stimming because they are a type of self-stimulation.
Obsessive behaviors such as fixating on an object, lining up toys in order or requiring specific routines are also common to autistics. Disturbances to those routines can be extremely disconcerting to someone with autism. Some parents can confuse these obsessive behaviors with simply having an orderly child, but it's wise to get a professional evaluation just in case. This is particularly true if your child has more than one autism symptom.
