Autism is a disorder characterized by difficulties with communication, sensory processing and social skills. Although a baby cannot speak, he can communicate with body language and eye contact and socialize by smiling and playing imitation games. During the first three months of life, many babies are fussy, but they should gradually develop regular sleep patterns and become easier to calm. Delays in developing these skills may be an early indication of an autism spectrum disorder.
Sensory Processing Disorders
Difficulties with sensory processing can be observed within the first few days of life, as the parent struggles to comfort a baby by cuddling and providing movement, such as rocking and swaying. Babies with sensory sensitivities may find touch and/or movement aversive. Others may crave being held and moved to the point where they cry when put down. They may have difficulties sleeping and learning to nurse. These babies are often ultra-sensitive to noise, new people and places, and parents quickly learn how to adapt the environment to avoid overstimulating the baby.
Communication Difficulties
Babies typically develop communication skills during the first months of life. The one-to-three-month-old baby will look at people and objects for up to a minute and intently study the parent's face and voice while being fed, changed and played with. Between three and six months of age, babies respond to the parent's speech with their own sounds. They start to vocalize to express emotions such as happiness and respond when they hear their own names. Children with autism may not imitate sounds that lead to speech. Difficulties with learning to look at the speaker and playing vocal games, such as taking turns making babbling sounds, may also indicate a communication disorder seen in autistic children.
Developing Social Skills
Communication and social skills are closely related and appear to be one and the same as a baby begins to smile, establish eye contact and express feelings by crying, laughing or making other sounds. The baby with autism may also demonstrate difficulties with social play, such as playing peek-a-boo, anticipating actions while playing pat-a-cake or skills to imitate movements, such as clapping after a parent says "Hooray!" These early skills teach babies about social interactions. When babies have difficulties developing these types of social exchanges, a red flag that suggests autism should go off.
Motor Delays
Babies may demonstrate delays in motor-development milestones, such as sitting, crawling or walking, for many different reasons. However, children who have sensory processing disorders may avoid the movement experiences that develop strength, muscle tone and coordination. Some babies skip the crawling stage, moving right into running and then never seem to stop moving. Although early signs of autism center on delays in communication and social skills, parents should take note when the baby is unable to sit down to learn early fine-motor tasks, such as placing a ring on a stack or one block on top of another.
References
- "Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide to Understanding Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Other ASDs"; Chantal Sicile-Kira and Temple Grandin; 2004
- "Sensory Integration and the Child"; A. Jean Ayres; 2005.
