Autism is a general term for a spectrum of developmental disorders that hinder a person's ability to communicate and interact socially. Signs of autism may begin to emerge during the first year of life, but most doctors will wait until a child is at least 2 years old before making a definitive diagnosis. For this reason, the Autism Speaks advocacy organization emphasizes the importance of well-child visits, so your pediatrician can ensure that your child is achieving developmental milestones.
Impaired Social Interaction
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke describes impaired social interaction as the hallmark feature of autism. Even in early infancy, a child with autism may not make eye contact, flash a big smile, wave goodbye or respond to her own name. Hugs and cuddles may be met with outright resistance. Over time, parents may notice that their child has difficulty interacting with other children because he does not understand such social cues as body gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice. A child with autism may seem overly self-centered, showing little regard for others' interests or emotions.
Delayed Development of Spoken Language
The spoken word generally comes slowly to the autistic child. The National Autism Association reports that most children with autism do not babble or coo in the first year. While other children are using single words by 16 months of age and creating their own two-word phrases by the age of 2, toddlers with autism are noticeably quiet and usually do not even try to compensate by using gestures or miming to communicate.
Repetitive Body Movements
Although a child with autism may not use gestures to communicate, she may engage in repetitive body movements that seem almost ritualistic. Rocking, twirling, arm flapping or walking on tiptoes may be a sign of autism if the child obsessively repeats these behaviors or becomes highly stressed when asked to stop.
Lack of Spontaneous Make-Believe Play
Imitating adults and engaging in make-believe play are important learning devices, but children with autism are often too preoccupied to be able to unleash creativity in this way. As some toddlers begin to build their own railroad lines and cook meals in toy kitchens, the autistic child might obsessively align his trains by size or repeatedly flush the toilet to see where the water goes.
Loss of Language or Social Skills
Autism is generally associated with delayed social communication, but parents and caregivers should also be concerned if a child's language and social skills develop normally but then seem to regress. Dr. Tony Charman, professor of autism education at the Centre for Research in Autism and Education in London, reports that children with autism appear to lose age-appropriate social responses around the age of 1 year and may become increasingly withdrawn over the next 2 years.
