Common Signs of Autism in Infants and Toddlers

Common Signs of Autism in Infants and Toddlers Autism spectrum disorder is a disorder that primarily affects the cognitive abilities of an individual that is reflected strongly in his or her developmental skills. It is a condition that is characterized by difficulties with behavioral challenges and social interactions. It is possible to detect the early signs of autism in infants and toddlers.

Kids with autism usually develop the signs before the age of two; however, some develop the symptoms even earlier. What matters most is to understand the signs and diagnose that either the child is suffering from it or not. It is essential for each parent to have some understanding regarding the early signs of autism in infants and toddlers. This understanding can help them to analyze the disorder in case their child will make any sign. Here is a list of some signs that generally the infants and toddlers with such conditions show.

Lack of eye contact:Lack of eye contact is a common sign that infants and toddlers with ASD usually show. Such kids rarely have any interest in others activities. When the parents or any family member call their name, they don’t pay attention to it or make any eye contact with them. If your infants and toddlers do not make eye contact with you when you talk to them or call his/her name, then it can be a sign of autism spectrum disorder.

Lack of joint attention:Lack of joint attention is another sign of ads in infants and toddlers. It refers to two persons sharing a focus on the same object, when one alerts the other with verbal or nonverbal cues, to the item. Joint attention is one of the best ways to connect and interact with other persons. If your child doesn't respond to your point or voice, when

you ask them to look at something, then it can be a sign of ASD. This results because autism is a disorder that affects the social as well as emotional skills of a child along with his or her ability to communicate.

Difficulty with nonverbal communication:Infants and toddlers with autism usually find it tough to communicate non-verbally. As per the experts, after the age of 9 months, a baby should start pointing things out. This is the age, where they should start copying the gestures and sounds of other people. If your child does not do so or pointless between the age of 9-18 months, then it can be a sign of autistic.

Response to loud noises:Infants with autism usually don’t respond to loud noises. By the age of 3 months, they don't hold and grasp objects, don't babble, and don't smile at people. Some infants also don't pay attention to new faces. By the age of 7 months, they don’t turn their head to locate that where a sound is coming from. They also don’t show affection to the parent. Along with this, they neither laugh nor make squealing sounds, nor have any interest in any type of activity or games.

Crawling:The symptoms of autism range from mild to very severe. Toddlers with such disorder don't crawl and say single words. Some also don’t use gestures like waving or shaking the head. Some also find it tough to stand even when supported. As this disorder affects the cognitive abilities of a child so explaining autism to a child is usually tough for the parents. The early treatment of autism at the first signs of it often considerably improves the long-term outlook of a child. Being aware of the early warning signs helps a lot in making sure that the child will get the help he/she needs.