Autism, or autism spectrum disorders (ASD), as it is medically referred, affects one in every 110 children in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates. ASDs are a group of developmental disabilities or conditions that pose significant challenges on communication, social and behavioral front to the affected child. Symptoms and their severity differ from child to child, and in absence of a single best treatment, early detection and medical intervention will help children lead normal lives, the CDC states.
Communication Problems
Dr. Jeanne Segal, author of the book Raising Your Emotional Intelligence, states in the article "Autism Signs, Symptoms and Causes" on the Help Guide website that the verbal and nonverbal communication skills of autistic children are poorly developed. Delays or constant mistakes in the verbal communication of autistic children can also occur. Children with autism use unusual or repetitive language and often become confused with pronouns. Your child can also exhibit difficulties in comprehension. Symptoms such as peculiar face expressions or gestures also indicate that a toddler has autism.
Reduced Social Skills
Toddlers who have autism child could shy away from their surroundings and like to remain left alone in their own world. They may also show a lack of interest in interacting with others. They usually avoid looking in the eyes of others and hate cuddling and touching, preferring to play alone and having no anxiety when left alone for long periods of time. Having autism keeps children from sharing their feelings and emotions with others. Thus, children with autism will not develop friendship or closeness with children of a similar age. An autistic toddler may also have violent outbursts, clumsiness or avoidance of the social gaze altogether.
Repetitive Behavior
The behavior of toddlers with autism often resembles a repetitive format or appears choreographed. They may show a lack of interest in many subjects and hence cannot concentrate like their peers. Autism has an element that forces children to resist even subtle changes in routines, and they may also have obsessions with unusual objects or things. Children with autism may also do repetitive bodily gestures or movements like hand rocking, flapping and hair twirling.
Sensory Symptoms
You can also observe changes in the sensory symptoms of toddlers with autism. They may be hypersensitive to certain things or may have a reduced sensitivity when they should feel pain. They can also exhibit hypersensitivity to simple and common stimuli like taste and sound. Self-mutilation, learning disability, epilepsy kleptomania, and mental disturbance also become noticeable in toddlers with autism.
