6 Early Warning Signs that a child may have Autism

Today I want to talk about Autism. That way, if I meet someone with questions, I can refer them to my blog so that I do not forget to mention some of the most important warning signs. Sometimes one sentence spoken to someone can make all the difference in the world for them. SO here we go...

Lack of basic information about Autism can lead you down years of doctor appointments and tests with no real answers. Even worse, you may take no action at all because the things your child is doing that set off warning bells in your head, you assume, they will eventually grow out of it or maybe they are just "misbehaving". Then years pass and you find yourself in a position where if you would have known what the warning signs are for Autism way back when, then you could have had an early diagnosis and received early intervention years before. It turns out that brains can heal if aggressive treatment is sought early for Autism. Children who are on the Autistic Spectrum who have early intervention have much more successful outcomes as they mature into adults. The American academy for pediatrics now gives six things to look out for in a child that may determine if they are the 1 in every 105 children who are diagnosed with Autism. The following are BIG red flags for you or a friend or family member to look out for.

1. Little or no eye contact.
(in their own world)

2. Lack of social engagement
(if you smile at your baby and they don't smile back)
(if 6-9 months they don't understand peek-a-boo)

3. Speech delay or any lack of speech.
(by 7 months baby should respond to their name being called)
(12 months baby should say a few words like mama dada or baba)

4. Lack of pretend play.
(don't zoom cars around, just flick the wheels - don't play tea party etc.)

5. Unable to point with index finger.
(kids with autism don't point at things, by 12 months they should point if they want something.)

6. Regression or loss of skill - Most important sign
(Any going backwards in development, they were making eye contact - now their not, they were talking - now their not, they were smiling - now their not.)

If you have a feeling in your gut that something is wrong, talk to your doctor about it and ask to see a specialist. Make sure your pediatrician does the screening for Autism that they are suppose to do as the child develops. You are your child's best advocate and you can't wait for other people, family or your doctor to discover this. You who are with your child 24-7 know what is best for your child. Have confidence and actively pursue educating yourself about autism. If you have a friend who you suspect may have a child with autism talk with your friend about it. Being polite and not saying anything about it to them can lead to years of treatment lost for that child.

If this information is helpful in even some small way to one family, then writing this here was well worth it. I am always available to answer any questions to the best of my ability on this issue.