Do You Think Your Child May Have Autism?
Possible Signs of Autism
By 6 Months
- Few or no big smiles or other warm, joyful and engaging expressions
- Limited or no eye contact
By 9 Months
- Little or no back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expressions
By 12 Months
- Little or no babbling
- Little or no back-and-forth gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving
- Little or no response to name
By 16 Months
- Very few or no words
By 24 Months
- Very few or no meaningful, two-word phrases (w/o imitating or repeating)
Possible Signs of Autism at Any Age
- Loss of previously acquired speech, babbling or social skills
- Avoidance of eye contact
- Persistent preference for solitude
- Difficulty understanding other people’s feelings
- Delayed language development
- Persistent repetition of words or phrases (echolalia)
- Resistance to minor changes in routine or surroundings
- Restricted interests
- Repetitive behaviors (hand flapping, rocking, spinning, etc.)
- Unusual and intense reactions to sounds, smells, tastes, textures, lights and/or colors
Symptoms of Autism are usually first noticed at around ages 2-3. Some associated development delays can appear even earlier, and often, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Research shows that early intervention with ABA therapy can lead to very successful outcomes later in life.
