Recognizing Early Signs of Autism

Children can show signs of autism as early as 18 months, and can be diagnosed as early as 2 years. Here are a few tell-tale signs your child could be on the spectrum:

 

Limited to no speech

Children with autism often experience delayed speech. While neurotypical children are developing their vocabulary, autistic children may use very few words or be non-verbal. The severity of the child’s autism plays a role in how quickly their language development progresses. Often, children with autism will begin talking for a period of time, before reverting back to non-verbal communication.  

 

Repetition

Autistic children often use repetitive movements. Some of these include spinning, rocking back and forth, flapping their arms, and more. However, this desire for repetition is not exclusive to their motor movements. Autistic children thrive in a strict routine. Whether it be the order of tasks or a route they take to get to school every day, autistic children crave “sameness” and may even experience anxiety if their routine is broken.

 

Little to no eye contact

When interacting with an autistic child, you may notice that they make little to no eye contact. It is more common for an autistic child to look at your mouth, rather than your eyes. Additionally, it is not uncommon for autistic children to appear “zoned out”, as they often stare into blank space. 

 

Limited interests

Babies and toddlers grow bored quickly, typically moving from one activity to another in a short period of time. However, children with autism tend to fixate on one activity for longer periods of time. For instance, if a neurotypical child was attempting to stack blocks and was not successful, they would likely move on to another activity. In this case, an autistic child would attempt this action time and time again until it was successful — or become frustrated and aggressive if they couldn’t achieve the desired result. 

 

Few facial expressions

As an infant develops its facial muscles, you will begin seeing a variety of expressions, such as joy and amusement. However, children with autism have very few facial expressions. This does not mean they are incapable of experiencing strong emotions; they simply do not outwardly express these emotions, like a neurotypical child might.

 

At Geo Psychological Testing, our professionals specialize in Autism Testing. Through careful observation, our licensed psychologists can provide the diagnostic clarity you’re seeking. Interested in learning more about Autism Testing and Evaluations? Contact us today!

 

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