Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is presented when a child’s social skills are challenged, they have repetitive behaviors and when they face difficulty with speech and nonverbal communication.
Autism can present itself at different stages of a child’s life, even up to age 3. It is important for parents or caregivers to learn the signs of Autism to seek professional help if necessary.
***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.***
â— SIGNS OF AUTISM
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 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
[Source:Â https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism ]
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