1. Identify Behavioral Symptoms
While every autistic child displays a differing set of symptoms, researchers have identified a list of telltale behaviors that can signal problems. These symptoms include repetitive abnormal motions, such as rocking back and forth in place, spinning aimlessly or making animated hand gestures. If you observe these signs in tandem with light, sound and touch sensitivity, a constant need to move about and strict routines the child doesn't like to deviate from, a pediatric behavioral specialist should be consulted.
2. Spot Telltale Signs of Autism in Language Development Difficulties
Language development is one of the three key developmental categories in which autistic children usually lag behind. Parents often recognize a child's inability to engage in interactive play or learning as one of the first hints that autism may be present. For example, autistic children tend not to look at pictures when they're being read to. They also have difficulty initiating and continuing conversations, tend to avoid eye contact when talking and have an impaired ability to remember and apply newly learned words and concepts. Speech-related symptoms of autism may include delayed development of speaking ability and the use of unorthodox tones of voice or rhythms of speech.
3. Social Abnormalities May Signal Autism
Autistic children usually display social development dysfunctions. Despite the fact that many autistic children display intelligence levels that are normal, or even high, they have difficulty communicating and generally lag in the acquisition of many developmental skills. Specific social dysfunctions displayed by autistic children include a failure to respond when called by name, a preference for solitude and an aversion to touching and affection. Autistic children may also have trouble empathizing with the feelings of other people, which also tends to lead to social isolation from their peers.
