Autism spectrum disorder presents early in life and it is important for parents to know what the initial signs of autism are. There are many areas to to watch, including: communication, social skills, and other areas of development. Some may be more obvious than others. So how do parents really know? How can parents be fully prepared? I’m sharing some tips on how to recognize some of the more common childhood signs of autism. Please note, however, this is not an extensive list.
Common Childhood Signs of Autism
At present, there is no medical or genetic test available that is specific to autism. There are diagnostic evaluations and tests, depending on the part of the world that you live in. But the actual diagnosis is determined by assessments and observing the child’s behavior.
Autism is a spectrum disorder and while there may be some similarities, no two children will ever be exactly alike. It’s just how it is with children in general, even in the same family.
However, there are some childhood signs of autism to look for:
- Delayed language
- Deficits in nonverbal communication (ex. pointing, eye contact)
- Failure to direct parent’s attention
- Underdeveloped imitation
- Repetitive toy play
From an autistic autism mom to you
The Autism Family Guide is your shortcut to autism parenting.
How do I know?
Because friend, the resources in this guide are lifechanging.
Create routines with ease, calming strategies at your fingertips, and more.
But again, it is important to keep in mind that not all children on the autism spectrum will have one of the above behaviors present.
Should I be concerned about these childhood signs of autism?
Some parents have said that they felt something was just not quite right about their child from the beginning. Other parents may say that their child was developing typically and then suddenly started to regress.
From an autistic autism mom to you
The Autism Family Guide is your shortcut to autism parenting.
How do I know?
Because friend, the resources in this guide are lifechanging.
Create routines with ease, calming strategies at your fingertips, and more.
Is it autism or is it something else?
The only way to be certain if it’s autism or something else such as Sensory Processing or ADHD is to have your child evaluated. Even then, there could be several other comorbid or coexisting disorders such as OCD, anxiety, ADHD, and sensory difficulties.
From an autistic autism mom to you
The Autism Family Guide is your shortcut to autism parenting.
How do I know?
Because friend, the resources in this guide are lifechanging.
Create routines with ease, calming strategies at your fingertips, and more.
Kori
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