Every parent keeps a close eye on their baby to make sure they are developing as they should be. We track milestones and compare our babies with other babies. We look for the big milestones, like rolling over, sitting up, crawling and the first steps. Looking for signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is not usually front of mind, and it can be hard to see the early signs.
The earliest signs of ASD usually manifest in an absence of behaviours, rather than the appearance of certain behaviours. Typical ASD behaviours tend to emerge later into toddlerhood.
It’s important to remember that children develop at different rates so if your child isn’t doing something you think they should be, try to be patient, it may not be too long before they do.
But if you’re concerned, there are some red flags to watch out for.
Specifically, Raising Children suggests that the following signs are red flags:
Watching out for signs of social communication development, or lack of, is an important area to watch. Absence of regular smiling, eye contact, and the use of gestures, and general age-appropriate interaction would be something to keep an eye on in the first 12 – 24 months.
If your child doesn’t:
Restricted interest is another area that is considered a red flag. Specifically:
Sensory experiences are also considered to be a red flag. If your child:
Routines and repetitions are also important signs of ASD. If your child struggles with a change in routine and gets upset with variations, such as a change in sleep time or needs to do things in a certain order every day.
Repetitive or unusual body movements are also considered a sign of ASD. Usual behaviours such as arm-stiffening, walking on their toes and back arching are things to look for.
Regression of any milestones in the first 12 to 18 month is also a sign to look for. If your child has started using language, gestures, pretend play and strong interaction with you and other loved ones, then they suddenly stop, it is worth speaking to your doctor or MCH Nurse.
Again, to reiterate, it’s important to keep in mind that children develop at different rates, but if you are worried you should speak to your health care provider.