Early Warning Signs of Autism

Some early signs to be aware of...PLEASE let me know if you have ANY questions!

1. Social interaction

Poor social interaction
Lack of interest in other children
Lack of seeking to share own enjoyment
Failure to develop peer relations
Failure to join in activities of others
Failure to direct adult’s attention to own activity
Does not direct the attention of others
Does not hold up arms to be lifted up
Does not show affection
Does not seek or offer comfort
Dislikes social touch and being held
Lack of social responsiveness
Ignores people
Lack of social play
Being in own world
Prefers being alone
Indifferent to others
Does not differentiate between people
Lack of attention to voices
No social smile
Lack of eye contact
Lack of gesture
Lack of facial expression
No greeting behaviors

2. Communication

Lack of verbal communication
No social chat
Lack/limited range of facial expression
No/abnormal eye contact
No or “empty” smiling
Loss of previously acquired words
Problems with language comprehension
Does not express emotion
Poor imitation
Use of others body as a tool
Lack of infant babble
Echolalia (echoing what he hears)
No gaze monitoring
No pointing to express interest
No use or understanding of gestures

The features listed under the categories of Stereotyped and repetitive routines, behaviors and interests (3), Play and Sensory (4) and Other behaviors (5) are not necessarily present in very young children. This may be because there is a developmental process in the emergence of these autism symptoms.

3.Stereotyped and repetitive routines, behaviours and interests

Verbal rituals
Hand and finger mannerisms
Whole body mannerisms
Unusual/repetitive preoccupations
Unusual/repetitive attachment to objects

4. Play and sensory

Lack of spontaneous play
Lack of imitative play
No pretend play
Sensitivity to noise
Insensitivity to pain/cold
Unusual sensory interests
Deafness suspected
Mouthing of objects
Unusual looking at objects/patterns/movements

5. Other behaviors

Distractibility
Behavioral variability
Sleep problems
Self-injury
Food fads (EXTREMELY picky eaters)
Unusual fears
Lack of curiosity
Lack of response to name
Running away
Overly quiet
Indifferent to animals
Having an intelligent looking face
Overexcited when tickled

**If you notice any signs of autism in your child, SEEK HELP NOW!! The sooner the better!! Jack IS the poster child for Early Intervention!!**