Autism is a disorder that usually becomes very apparent in children by the time they are 3 years old, but it can be diagnosed at earlier ages. If a child is displaying signs of autism, her doctor should be consulted right away. The earlier treatment begins, the better the prognosis.
Avoiding Eye Contact
If a child fails to make eye contact with people, this may be an early sign of autism, reports HelpGuide.org. A baby tends to look at the faces of those around him in order to learn social cues and how to get what he wants, but a baby who has autism will tend to divert his eyes and look away even if eye contact is forced upon him.
Not Responding to Name
According to a study published by the "Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine" and described at HelpGuide.org, one of the earliest warning signs of autism in a baby may be a lack of response to hearing her name. If an older baby fails to respond when his name is called, he may be at risk for developing autism.
Not Tracking Objects
A baby with autism may avoid following objects with his eyes, reports HelpGuide.org. As objects and people move about the room, a healthy baby will tend to follow things he is interested in with his eyes, but children with autism tend to lack this behavior.
Lack of Social Smile
Babies should sometimes display big smiles and joyful expressions, which some children with autism do not do. The lack of such a social smile could be an early sign of autism, according to AutismSpeaks.org.
Unusual Quietness
When people think of quiet babies, they tend to think of "good babies," but a quiet baby might be giving you a sign that he is autistic. According to the HelpGuide.org, lack of babbling or other noises at the appropriate age might mean that a child should be screened for autism.
Lack of Social Imitation
Most children learn through imitation. They watch other people and imitate these behaviors, in order to learn new behaviors and social rules. If a child is not imitating behaviors, this may be a red flag for autism, according to HelpGuide.org.
Lack of Pointing, Showing and Reaching
A baby with autism might not engage typical gestures such as pointing, showing and reaching, reports AutismSpeaks.org. Healthy babies tend to engage in these gestures at an appropriate age, in an effort to get something they want.
