While many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) do not show symptoms in infancy, there is good evidence that some symptoms are present even before their first birthday. Other symptoms may appear before the age of two. Although these behaviors are not necessarily indicative of autism, they may help parents and caregivers receive early diagnosis and treatment. This is important for the child's overall development and function.
Early Signs Lack of social interaction is one of the early signs of autism in babies. If not, it may indicate a problem.
As early as 9 months - this is the first visit I pick up the following. B. Unresponsive to names, poor eye contact. By age 1, children should initiate communication with hand gestures such as: B. Wave your hand or reach for an object. Chattering — making sounds that mimic adult speech patterns — is also typical at this age. Lack of either could be a sign of autism in a 1 year old. "If they don't speak after nine months, or if they don't say a single word after a year, their speech is considered delayed.
If you call your child by name at this stage and it does not respond, this is also a cause for concern. Don't worry if you don't react to an unfamiliar face. However, another possible clue is a decline in joint attention skills. When an 8- to 10-month-old baby discovers something appealing, it uses gestures to get its attention and communicate what it has found. They will watch you closely to see if you are paying attention and will follow your appearance and gestures. These are social interactions that children with ASD show little interest in, and their absence is considered a hallmark of the condition, especially in the second year.
Signals after the first year of age – Between 12 and 24 months of age, previous early signs of autism, such as lack of interaction, may become more pronounced and other new cues may emerge. This includes:
- No language development - By 16 months words are gone and by 24 months simple sentences convey meaning.
- Unusual body or hand movements, such as rocking, hand flapping, or excessive clapping
- Babbling, such as whining and grunting.
- Abnormal staring at certain objects, such as toys loss of acquired skills such as language
Disproportionate tantrums in response to changes in routine, overwhelming surroundings, or sounds that do not disturb other children, such as background noise in a restaurant.
However, you can always contact your child's pediatrician if you have any concerns about the possibility of ASD. They conduct screenings and recommend a formal evaluation if there are signs of potential problems. Pediatricians should also look for conditions such as speech and feeding delays and gastrointestinal problems that are common in autism. Autism can be reliably diagnosed by her age of 2, but most cases are not identified until her age of 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Early diagnosis of autism means early intervention. This is the most effective way to improve outcomes for children. “Early interventions are available in all states to help children under age 3 address developmental delays, including in the areas of language and communication, fine and gross motor skills, cognitive skills, social skills, and emotional skills.
A pediatrician should discuss a child to involvement at the first sign of a problem, even if she is under 2 years old.
ZS DMO II Karla P. Calapardo, RND
Reference:
