Autism spectrum disorder is not merely one disorder; it is a group of developmental disorders that begin in childhood. The term "spectrum" refers to the variety of ways autism can affect children. According to HelpGuide.org, some suffer from only a mild form, while others suffer from severe symptoms. According to a report issued by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), autism affects one out of every 150 children each year. Though typically not diagnosed until the age of three, symptoms can present themselves during infancy. The sooner these symptoms are recognized, the more effective treatment may be.
Social Skills
You may have cause for concern if by the age of three your child is not engaging in play with other children or his family. A common symptom of autism is social detachment. According to Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., this is not because your child does not want friends, it's because he doesn't understand emotional connections with others.
He may also become rigid or pull away when you try to hug or cuddle him; this is again due to a lack of emotional comprehension. In addition, while many three-year-olds find it hard to detach themselves from parents, your child may show no emotional reaction when you leave the room or take him to a sitter.
Verbal Skills
By the age of three, many children are forming words and short sentences. However if your child is autistic, he may not speak at all. In some cases, children with autism will begin to babble and talk and then stop suddenly--if this occurs, it should be a red flag for you and a doctor's appointment should be made immediately.
She may also have a difficult time expressing her needs or wants, which can easily lead to frustration. Instead, she may simply repeat a certain sound or word over and over for long periods of time.
Non-verbal Skills
Just as there are verbal deficits that may indicate autism, there are also non-verbal delays in her development that should not be ignored.
One of the most serious symptoms is not responding when you call her name. By three, children will turn their heads when their name is called; autistic children appear as if they do not hear you or are ignoring you. Again, this is lack of comprehension that you are speaking to her.
Lack of eye contact is another red flag for you. When you are speaking to your child or trying to engage him in games or conversation, he will appear as though he is in his own world, paying no attention to your attempts. When you do get his attention and try playing the much-loved game of peek-a-boo with him, you will most likely have an expressionless face staring back at you rather than one with smiles.
Behavioral Skills
Under this category are a number of symptoms that should alert you to a serious problem. The first is a repetitive rocking motion or a constant flapping of her hands. These are common for a three year-old with autism.
Many toddlers with this disorder may also display a fascination or obsession with one particular toy. While three year-olds without autism may have a favorite toy, they are inclined to become bored with the same item after a short while. Children with autism have a tendency to pick one item or type of item and play with it non-stop. She may even sit for hours with her blocks, placing them in perfect order; if this is disturbed, she may begin screaming or become inconsolable.
Routine
Finally, children with autism like routine; they thrive on it. When this routine is disturbed, it can cause serious behavioral problems such as tantrums or self-inflicted injury such as biting themselves. You may find that your three-year old wants his meals the same time each day, or his bath the same time each night. Though he can't tell you this is what he wants, he will let you know when he's not happy that his routine has been broken.
