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Eye on the Signs – Recognizing Autism
Children who are developing autism spectrum disorder will express a variety of signs. While these behaviours are all part of the condition, it’s important to remember: No two children with ASD will have the same symptoms. The nature of the condition can be vastly different between children. Due to this complexity, here are some of the social, behavioural, and communication difficulties that a child developing ASD may begin to exhibit. Medical professionals are clear; however, some of these alone can simply be a child developing normally, which is a path of many pitfalls by nature. Remember, do not take a single sign of autism as a diagnosis. Instead, use it as a signal to pursue a physician, perhaps if you believe your child is developing ASD.Behavioural Difficulties
- Doesn’t acknowledge pain as much as other children.
- Likes to keep within a routine, and have a sense of order in their life. That can cause the child to be very upset if this order is affected.
- Can develop a sensitivity to smells, bright lights, certain textures, and touch.
- Often will use their vision in peculiar ways, such as not looking directly at objects or staring at a spot for a long time.
- Has a habit of rocking, swinging, fiddling with their hands, walking on their toes, or even flapping. These are considered some of the most stereotypical signs that develop in children with ASD.
Communication Difficulties
- Will rarely point at objects, and can often get frustrated when their needs are not met despite not communicating correctly.
- Can have a hard time sharing with other children, especially with objects the child may own. It’s not uncommon for children to struggle with this. However, ASD can cause this learning experience to be prone to massive outbursts.
- Difficulty learning words, most notably past 16 months of age.
- Will not respond to their name, but will still be seen responding to the sounds around them (Such as cars on the street, or the TV.)
- Will often parrot other adults, repeating the exact words they just said with no understanding.
- Has trouble wanting to communicate with others, and will often search out solitude.
- Will not hold a conversation, and attempt to simply drift away or immediately lose interest if someone tries to engage them in one.
- Does not use toys, or other objects, as people in their pretend play.
- Will often mix pronouns up, such as not correctly identifying themselves as “I” and others as “You.”
Social Difficulties
- Has trouble with eye contact and will often avoid it if they can.
- Will not show concern for things that other children will emotionally respond to quickly. Such as a child getting hurt or a person is yelling around them.
- Isolated, with no effort, or interest, in making friends.
- Will often not use the right facial expressions, and not respond to facial expressions shown to them. Such as a parent smiling, or being upset.
- Will not look at things pointed at, often appearing to ignore what people want them to look at.
- Is unable to understand what others are feeling, or respond to heightened emotion directed at them.
- Will not bring objects of interest (Such as a favourite toy, or nice rock they found) to anybody else to show.
The Development of Autism in Children
It can be difficult for parents to know if the development of their child is normal or beginning to show signs of ASD. With the nature of a child’s development, it’s not always easy to see what is a normal hurdle of development or a sign of something more.
Here we explore what the development of a child with ASD may look like in the early months.
Between 0 – 12 Months of Age
- If the child is developing normally, they will exhibit no problem responding to their name being called.
- A child developing ASD may not respond, and you could begin to have difficulty getting the attention of your newborn.
- Will ignore repeated calls of their name, even if it’s within their line of sight.
Between 12 – 18 Months of Age
- Your child may be behind on their language skills, and not showing an interest in picking up new words and using them.
- Will point and gesture at things, often getting upset, as they do not possess the language skills to communicate their needs.
- May begin to parrot the words on TV or other media, and not pay much attention to delayed speech directed at them.
Between 18 – 24 Months of Age
- At this age, it is normal for children to begin to bring objects to their parents. That is a social skill of sharing, and shared enjoyment, that most children develop at this age.
- A child developing ASD will be reluctant to show anything to their parents, and will often be seen quietly and privately playing with their toys alone.
- If a parent might include themselves in their child’s playtime, the child will not make eye contact and begin to grow upset with an invasion of their play space.
Your Child and ASD – When Not to Worry
For all parents, it’s impossible not to compare the development of your child to others eventually. If it doesn’t come up in conversation, parents will subtly be looking at others to make sure their kid is developing along the same tracks. It’s important that all parents understand that the growth of a child, especially in the first two years, can be vastly different from child to child. The nature of this development is often not a reflection of the parent, but instead simply the child’s normal growth. One symptom of ASD, a lack of communication at 18 months, can also be a hurdle that children without ASD may struggle with. The same can be said for many signs, such as not sharing, ignoring their parents, isolating themselves, and growing confused about adult facial expressions. So, when is the time to worry? With so much uncertainty, it may feel impossible to know if your child is developing ASD.Trust in Your Doctor
If you are beginning to worry that your child may be developing ASD, then it’s important to talk with your child’s pediatrician. There is never any harm in making sure, and you shouldn’t keep your children at home under the misguided assumption that they may not have the answers for you.
There are a variety of ways a pediatrician can confirm or deny your concerns. With an arsenal of scanning equipment and tests, they can work to find out if your child is beginning to develop ASD.
Even if they cannot provide you with clear answers, they can begin to work with you to find the best way to care for your child and help you keep an eye on any symptoms that may develop.
Thanks for sharing!