Autism is a condition many parents worry about. Autism is a significant diagnosis, because it can mean that a child will never really experience the world the way his parents thought he would. An autism diagnosis can also mean the need for special education, treatments and living arrangements. Knowing autism signs in young children can help parents bring their concerns to the attention of their doctor sooner so that treatment, if needed, can begin.
Lack of Speech Development
One of the more common symptoms of autism in young children is the lack of babbling or cooing by the age of 12 months. This is not enough for a definitive diagnosis of autism, but it is a concern when a baby is not making babbling and cooing noises by this age, as this is time of the beginning of speech development.
Lack of Gesturing Ability
By the age of 12 months, a baby should be able to demonstrate some basic gestures, including pointing, waving, and grasping. Autistic children usually cannot independently follow through with these gestures.
Little Speech Development
By the age of 16 months, most children are able to say single words. An autistic child is often not able to say single words, and lacking this ability will usually cause at least a small amount of concern with a medical provider. In addition, by the age of 24 months, most children are saying two-word phrases on their own, but autistic children do not.
Loss of Language Skills
Many autistic children start out learning to speak and interact normally and then suddenly lose these language skills. This is a common symptom of autism; any loss of any language or social skill at any age should be cause for concern.
Lacks Name Recognition
Autistic children often do not recognize their own names even though they have heard it used repeatedly since birth. Not responding to one's name is a common sign of autism in early childhood.
Inability to Follow Directions
Autistic children have a difficult time following directions. In some cases, when directions are given, the child will respond as though she has not even heard any directions. This is often because of a lack of language skills and/or understanding of the language that is being spoken.
Socially Uninterested
Young children don't necessarily play with one another, but they take interest in one another. They may stare, wave, point or just study one another intently. This is a socialization process; as they age, children will begin playing side by side and eventually will begin playing together. Autistic children often do not show any interest in other children or adults who try to engage them in play. Autistic children often appear to be in their own world and may seem to tune others out completely.
