Symptoms of Autism in Infants and Toddlers
- Difficulty making eye contact.
- Not responding to given name when called by 9 months old.
- Lack of emotive facial expressions by 9 months old.
- Problems following a gaze.
- Not using basic hand gestures (ex. Waving, blowing kiss) by 12 months old.
- Does not point to something they are interested in by 18 months old.
- Not noticing when others are sad or hurt by two years old.
- Not using pretend play or mimicking play of friends by 3 years old.
Behaviors Linked to Children With Autism, but Not a Direct Symptom
- Lining up toys or objects in a specific or straight way.
- Repetition of the same phrases.
- Playing with objects and toys in a repetitive manner.
- Obsessive about interests.
- Upset by minor changes in routine.
- Repetition of bodily movements such as rocking their body, flapping hands, spinning, jumping, etc.
- Specific or severe reactions to tastes, smells, and textures.
When to get an Evaluation for Autism
- Can’t work basic toys.
- Cannot speak in short sentences.
- Does not understand basic instructions.
- Can’t pretend play.
- Does not want to engage with or play with other children.
- Only wanting to engage with a single toy.
- Does not make eye contact.
- Regresses or loses skills child used to have.