Signs Of Autism You May Not Be Aware Of

While experts in the field are not in agreement on the cause of this rise -- with some attributing it to an increase in reporting by healthcare professionals -- there is one thing that most agree upon. Coping with autism is a life-long journey, but the earlier a child starts to receive therapeutic interventions, the better. So, how do concerned parents know if their child may be at risk? What are the warning signs of autism?
Some signs parents may find frequently mentioned are: difficulty in social engagement; avoidance of eye contact; odd, repetitious movements; lack of babbling in infants; lack of words spoken by 16 months or two-word sentences by 24 months; and lack of imaginary play.
I remember looking at these red flags when I was worried about our daughter, but still found it hard to determine whether I should be concerned. Some things seemed okay with her: she did babble, she was very attached to me and she even had some words. Still, my motherly instinct told me something was very wrong. I needed more information.
Now, after years of learning and experience, I would like to share few other signs for parents -- ones you may not be aware of -- that would have been very helpful to me:
1) Not seeking joint attention: Its a natural human tendency to share experiences with others. If you see a rainbow, you call a friend over to see it, too. Beginning around 9 months, children start to seek out others interest in their activities. This continues in their toddler years as they seek people to witness what they are building, singing, or drawing. This natural desire, however, is lacking or absent in children with autism. So, a warning sign might be if your daughter enjoys happily dancing around in circles, but never cares if you are watching her dance. Or, maybe your son builds a tall tower and never looks for your approving eyes. Joint attention is also important to the skill of pointing. Pointing is something children with autism have a hard time mastering since it normally stems from a desire to share information, ideas or experiences with others.
2) Not receiving language: There are actually two types of language in a childs development. One is receptive (whether the child understands what is said to him) and the other is expressive (whether she speaks and expresses herself). I cant tell you the number of times a well-meaning person told me not to worry that my child was slow to talk as their child didnt speak until the age of 4. Later, I learned that our daughters lack of spoken language (expressive) shouldnt have been the biggest red flag. The key was that she didnt understand things I said to her (no receptive language). She couldnt even follow a one-step command at age 2, an important milestone which normally occurs between 7 and 11 months.

3) Losing skills: Typical children dont go backwards. But for many children with autism, there is a period of regression which frequently occurs between the ages of 18-24 months. For instance, the 10 words our daughter spoke eventually dwindled down to nothing. My friends son had many social skills and he became totally withdrawn. Since many of the theories of autism involve increasing neurological problems as the child grows, this regression may be understandable. The bottom line is that any loss of words or skills should be brought to the attention of your childs pediatrician immediately.
Of course, the biggest red flag is a parents feeling that something is amiss. If you have concerns, voice them clearly and be your childs best advocate. Find out about the free early intervention diagnostic screenings provided by your state and dont hesitate to get the help your child needs.

About the Author:
While experts in the field are not in agreement on the cause of this rise -- with some attributing it to an increase in reporting by healthcare professionals -- there is one thing that most agree upon. Coping with autism is a life-long journey, but the earlier a child starts to receive therapeutic interventions, the better. So, how do concerned parents know if their child may be at risk? What are the warning signs of autism?

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