Recently,
I’ve been finding myself talking about Autism with an increasing frequency.
Whether it’s about epidemiology, symptoms, perceived increases in
prevalence or very early warning signs. Often we hear parents describe the
onset of symptoms at about the age of 2.
A close friend with a one-year boy asked me just the
other day if I thought her child’s head size was bigger than average because
she was told that he’s too young to make assess for Autism. She was told for
example to look for delays in language and/or the child’s ability
to respond to his name, etc. I am over simplifying this particular case because
I wanted to contrast these with the subtle and earliest signs, like lack of
joint attention, gestures, or social reciprocity.
It is therefore imperative that parents chronicle the developmental milestones
and share them with their pediatrician. The following are by no means
definitive markers for Autism but signs that can be examined and discussed with
practitioners.
At 4 months, is your child
• Following and reacting to bright colors, movement, and objects?
• Turning toward sound?
• Showing an interest in watching people's faces?
• Smiling back when you smile?
Other early red flags
•
No big smiles or other
warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter
•
No back-and-forth
sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by nine months or
thereafter
•
No babbling by 12
months
•
No back-and-forth
gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving by 12 months
• Loss of speech
•
Any loss of speech or
babbling or social skills at any age
In the second year of life common
signs for autism may include
•
Lack of showing
•
Lack of gestures:
pointing, reaching, waving, showing
•
Lack of sharing
interest or enjoyment with others
•
Repetitive movements
with objects
•
Lack of appropriate
eye gaze
•
No words by 16 months
• Lack of warm, joyful expressions
• Unusual prosody (rhythm and intonation of language)
• Repetitive movements or posturing of the body
•
No two-word meaningful
phrases (without imitating or repeating) by 24 months
