Symptoms of Autism
Let us start by saying that you shouldn’t self-diagnose yourself or your child with autism from reading about its symptoms online. “Knowledge is power,” but you need to be mindful of the sources. Research as much as you are compelled to, and find comfort in learning; but, don’t limit your findings to unfamiliar sources. If you are concerned that your child is showing signs of autism, seek out a medical professional who can order the right evaluations.
Also, understand that you may discover contradicting information. Autism is a developmental disability that is not well-defined. While even experts disagree on a wide range of aspects of autism, most do agree on its symptoms. Seeing that it’s a spectrum disorder, these symptoms vary in severity from person to person. We’ve compiled a few for our readers, but have not included every possibility, nor are they exclusive to autism.
The main problem areas that affect all children with autism are, as follows: communication, interaction/ relations, and behaviors. Now from here, we can break these spheres down into specific exemplifications, but this is where the differences appear. A 12-month old who doesn’t respond when his/her name is spoken, a child who doesn’t point out objects of interest by around 14 months of age, a child whose play involves mostly lining things up or ordering toys, a child who appears to be overly-sensitive to noise or other sensory stimulants, and a child who seems to tune others out – these all serve as red flags for autism.
At the same time, you’ll want to consider these in comparison to your child’s age-specific milestones. Individually, these are not conclusive symptoms of autism. Even if you recognize the majority of the aforementioned signs, the jury is still out (until a professional says otherwise). Innovative Behavior Options does encourage you to contact your doctor if you suspect your child falls on the autism spectrum. In this case, we will be here for you and your child to help you treat and live with it.