Although doctors may make a diagnosis of autism as early as 18 months of age, the median age of children diagnosed with autism is between 4.5 and 5.5 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A late diagnosis increases the length of time children with the disorder needlessly struggle, not receiving the help they need. Parents who notice that their infant or toddler is not meeting developmental milestones, or notice their child struggling with social matters or communication skills, should talk to a doctor about their concerns as soon as possible.
Social Impairment
Infants typically begin to gaze at faces, turn towards voices, smile and respond to physical touch from a very early age. Infants with autism, on the other hand, often seem indifferent to others. Unlike their peers, they typically do not smile by the age of six months or make other meaningful facial expressions by the age of nine months. Toddlers may resist attention and eye contact, and rarely respond to hugs or cuddling. They often seem unattached to their parents, and often seem to prefer being alone. Children with autism often find it difficult to interpret social cues, such as smiles, winks or narrowed eyebrows.
Communication Impairment
While infants without autism generally babble, point or make meaningful gestures by the age of one, infants with autism may not. Unlike their peers, they also may not respond to their name by one year of age, have no spoken words by the age of 16 months and do not use meaningful two-word phrases by the age of two years. Some children with autism remain mute their entire lives, while others may experience a delay in developing language. Those children who do develop language often use language in unusual ways, such as only speaking in monologues instead of conversations or repeating a phrase over and over. Non-verbal communication, such as facial expressions, gestures and body movements, generally are not meaningful and may not match what they are saying or what others are saying to them.
Unusual Behavior
Repetitive behavior also may be seen from early ages in children with autism. Toddlers may spend hours lining up their toys instead of playing with them, and may seem to overreact if a parent or family member moves the toy out of place. Young children with autism often depend greatly on routine, and any slight change may greatly disturb them. Some children develop obsession or intense fixation on specific objects or subjects.
