There are few things in life that are scarier for a parent then finding out there may be something wrong with your precious child. Autism Spectrum Disorder can affect more than 1 in 60 children and can range from mild to severe developmental delays. The range of affliction, treatments and outcome can largely depend on early detection.
Although autism can be difficult to fully diagnose before the age of 2 years old, there are many signs that you can look for in your child’s development as early as 6 months that can help.
No one knows your child as well as you do, so stay alert and educated about the warning signs that your child may be on the autism spectrum.
Symptoms like communication delays, social awkwardness and difficulties with idea conception are just a few of the things that parents should be monitoring.
There are many clinics and specialists that focus all of their treatments on working with all children with autism, no matter where they are on the spectrum. Along with various treatments and routines, your doctors and health care workers can help you navigate the system when it comes to treating your child’s autism.
Make certain that you are dealing with a clinic or treatment center that uses the ABA Billing Codes system to ensure that your child’s treatments are properly covered and billed to your insurance provider.
If your child is diagnosed with autism, don’t lose hope. There are a wide variety of treatment options that can help your child function better and adapt more easily into the world. Take a look at some of the early warning signs of autism and remember that early detection is the key to a successful outcome.
Early Signs
- Minimal eye contact while feeding or cuddling
- Unable to follow gestures or objects in their line of vision
- Does not make noises to gain your attention
- Doesn’t use hand or body gestures to communicate
- Rarely initiates cuddling or physical touching
- Doesn’t respond to hearing their name or the sound of a familiar voice
Flags By Age
- 6 months
No smiling or joyful facial expressions - 9 months
No sounds or baby talk communication - 12 months
No response to being called by their name
No baby talk
Not using gestures like waving or pointing - 16 months
Hasn’t started speaking - 24 months
Is not using 2-word phrases that are not repetitive words
Social Issues
- Uninterested in others and what is going on around them
- No concept of feelings or desire to discuss them
- No initiation of touching or cuddling
- Are more comfortable in their own world instead of interacting with others
Language Issues
- May use an unusual tone of voice or word phrasing
- Repetitive phrases or words
- Difficulty understanding directions or answering questions
- Often answers a question with another question
- Difficulty understanding the concepts of humor and sarcasm
Non-Verbal Issues
- Very limited sustained eye contact
- Sensitivity to noise
- May have irregular body movements, posture or gait
- Facial expressions do not match with what they are saying
