What is Autism?

One of the most important things you can do as a parent or caregiver is to learn the early signs of autism and become familiar with the typical developmental milestones that your child should be reaching.

What are the signs of autism?

The autism diagnosis age and intensity of autism’s early signs vary widely. Some infants show hints in their first months. In others, behaviors become apparent as late as age 2 or 3.

Not all children with autism show all the signs. Many children who don’t have autism show a few. That’s why professional evaluation is crucial.

The following may indicate that your child is at risk for an autism spectrum disorder. If your child exhibits any of the following, ask your pediatrician or family doctor for an evaluation right away:

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 the name

By 16 months

• Very few or no words

By 24 months

• Very few or no meaningful, two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating)

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 (flapping, rocking, spinning, etc.)

• Unusual and intense reactions to sounds, smells, tastes, textures, lights and/or colors

 

 

The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R) is a screener that will ask a series of 20 questions about your child’s behavior. It's intended for toddlers between 16 and 30 months of age. The results will let you know if further evaluation may be needed. You can use the results of the screener to discuss any concerns that you may have with your child’s healthcare provider.