Autism affects an estimated 3.4 of every 1,000 children 3 to 10 years old, says the National Institute of Mental Health. Autism spectrum disorders are neurological, developmental disabilities that impair normal development of the brain in the areas of socialization, language and cognitive functioning. The website Autism Speaks indicates that early signs that warrant discussion with a pediatrician may appear in children prior to diagnosis. Signs that would normally indicate a developmental milestone such as babbling prior to 12 months or joyful expression are lacking in children with autism. Identifying the signs of autism early can mean the child receives intervention earlier, with possibly a better long-term outcome.
Language Delays
Children with autism show significant delays in language use and development, beginning with early sounds such as babbling, normally displayed prior to 1 year old. Some children with autism remain mute throughout life while others tend to have difficulty acquiring and keeping language skills. Children who are able to create early sounds in infancy may lose this ability prior to becoming toddlers. MayoClinic.com notes that when language is acquired, it comes in the form of repeated words without understanding meaning, a lack of back and forth needed for conversation, or words spoken in unusual tones and rhythms. Children with autism often speak in a singing manner or use monotone robotic speech. Language difficulties tend to last throughout the autistic person's lifetime.
Problems in Social Development
Children with autism tend to appear disinterested socially, beginning in infancy. During the first months of life, eye gazing and attending to faces is common in development. Infants with autism avoid eye contact and do not respond to moving objects or facial gestures made from others.As the child grows he shows no interest in cuddling or being held, may not respond to his name and prefers playing alone. During childhood, the lack of social skills is displayed in the level of understanding the child with autism may have during a social encounter. This includes lacking empathy and understanding about the content of the interaction, inability to use or interpret non-verbal gestures and inappropriate social behaviors such as crying or breaking things while in class.
Behavior Displays
Rituals, repetitive behavior and odd gestures are characteristic symptoms of autism. Rituals in the form of mealtime routines or lining up toys commonly signal autism. Although this may appear similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder, the difference is the presence of language and social symptoms. Repeated behaviors such as the preoccupation with learning all about a subject and sharing this knowledge verbatim and incessantly can signal the disorder. Odd gestures also accompany this disorder, in the form of spinning in circles no matter the consequence, flailing the arms or suddenly standing still for a significant amount of time. With time, the maturing child may decrease the behavior displays or the behaviors transition into different forms of rituals and gestures.
