Early Signs of Autism in Children

Are you the parent of a young child and concerned that they might have Autism? It can be hard to know what to look out for and when to seek help, but it’s important to understand the signs. In this blog post, we’ll break down some of the common indicators of Autism in young children so you can make an informed decision.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition that affects early brain development. This wide range of disorders and symptoms can cause difficulty in communication, social interaction, and behavior and can be difficult to diagnose in young children. Here are some signs to look out for when it comes to autism in young children:

Lack of Social Skills and Communication Difficulties

A child with autism often has difficulty making eye contact, seems uninterested in other people & has difficulty initiating or responding to conversations. They may also struggle with understanding tone of voice & body language and may have an unusual use of words.

Behavior Issues

An autistic child may overreact to specific types of sounds or lights and have difficulty following directions, leading to frequent tantrums or outbursts. They may also exhibit repetitive behaviors such as hand-flapping, spinning, interjecting phrases from TV shows or movies into everyday conversation and repeating the same actions over and over.

Unusual Interests or Preoccupations

Many children on the autism spectrum will become preoccupied with certain topics or objects. They may memorize maps or facts about trains they’ve seen on TV. They may also focus heavily on certain parts of toys rather than playing with the toy as a whole – like manipulating one part of a fire truck but not connecting it to scenarios that involve imaginary playmates.

Sensory Issues

Children with Autism often have heightened sensitivity when it comes to things like sound, light & texture – so much so that it makes engaging in everyday activities difficult for them. It's important for parents paying attention to these aspects: does your child seem overly sensitive regarding loud sounds? Do you notice your toddler flinching away from bright lights? These could be warning signs for ASD in children.

Impaired Motor Skills Development

Autism affects physical coordination, which can lead to clumsiness & delayed gross motor skill development such as crawling, walking and running; fine motor skills; handwriting; & organizing objects by shape or size/color/function which is known as praxis skills could develop more slowly than normal as well due to Autism Spectrum Disorder.