Autism, a brain disorder, can inhibit toddler development. This disorder can impede a toddler's ability to communicate or interact with others. The signs can vary from one child to another; some may have more prominent signs, while others have subdued traits. FamilyDoctor.org describes this as low-functioning or high-functioning autism. The two categories depend on the symptoms combined with the results of an intelligence test. A child with more significant symptoms falls into the low-functioning category.
Eye Contact
Most infants begin making eye contact toward the end of the first year of life. Autism can appear sometime after the first or second birthday, suggests FamilyDoctor.org. A child with autism may no longer make eye contact or even seem uncomfortable when others attempt to peer into her eyes.
Relationship
An autistic child doesn't respond to voices and some sounds. This includes not responding when his name is called. Sounds, including loud or abrupt noises, may not get a toddler's attention if he has autism. The toddler may startle easily at such abrupt sounds because of being in his own world, suggests HelpGuide. An autistic toddler has little interest in other people or the surrounding environment. Emotions are flat and sometimes nonexistent. This makes bonding difficult, as the toddler does not understand how others think or feel.
Communication
Language development may be inhibited or regressive, meaning a toddler may stop communicating the way she did in the past. She may also be slow to learn new words or form proper sentences. Body language and gestures, including sign language, may be difficult for a toddler to understand. Autistic children may speak in a monotone voice or exhibit few or unusual facial expressions when communicating. HelpGuide notes that a toddler with autism may repeat unusual sounds and struggle to comprehend what others say.
Repetitive Behaviors
Repetitive behaviors are characteristic of autism but are not a requirement or a definitive symptom of the disorder. Autism may lead a toddler to become overly obsessed with routine, ritual or order, suggests FamilyDoctor.org. A disruption of such routine can cause an outburst or serious tantrum in a toddler with the disorder. The child might rock back and forth, spin or even bang his head frequently. Each toddler can develop his own preferred repetitive actions, such as hand flapping, suggests HelpGuide.
Play
Autism can lead a child to fixate on certain objects, such as spinning toys or flashes of light. Autistic children typically are not capable of imaginative or make-believe play.
Sensory Signs
Pain and a fear of danger play a small, if any, role in a toddler's life if she is impacted by autism. Actions such as pulling her hair or slapping herself seem to cause little discomfort. Lights and sounds can bother certain toddlers with the disorder. For example, static sounds or a cheering crowd can lead a toddler to throw a fit or act out in rage.
