How Can I Identify The Early Signs Of Autism?
If your baby seems to be growing and developing normally, then he/she probably does not have autism. Among other normal developmental milestones that you would expect at this age include that your baby smiles, is usually comforted or soothed when she is picked up, follows objects past the midline of her face, make ‘ooo’ and ‘aah’ type cooing noises, and maybe has begun laughing. You should definitely discuss it with your Pediatrician if you don’t think your baby’s behavior is normal though. The symptoms you describe could also be seen in infants with high muscle tone, especially if her muscles usually seem extra stiff. This is something that you should also discuss with your Pediatrician, but it isn’t really related to autism at all.
Autism symptoms are usually apparent by 18 to 36 months of age and include developmental delays. Autism involves a multitude of developmental delays, so keeping a close eye on when—or if—your child is hitting all the key social, emotional, and cognitive milestones is an effective way to spot the problem early on. While developmental delays don’t automatically point to autism, they do indicate a heightened risk. Furthermore, whether the delay is caused by autism or some other factor, developmentally delayed kids are unlikely to simply “grow out” of the problem. In order to develop skills in an area of delay, your child needs extra help and targeted treatment. The following delays warrant an immediate evaluation by your child’s pediatrician: * By 6 months: No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions. * By 9 months: No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions. * By 12 months: No babbling or “baby talk.” * By 12 months: No back-and-forth gestures, such as p
