Signs and symptoms of autism
The first signs of autism can appear before the age of 3. However, it happens that already in infancy parents notice that their child develops differently. There is no overall pattern of the disorder, but parents should pay close attention to certain behaviors of the child.
How to recognize the first signs of autism?
Your child:
- Does not speak or has trouble speaking.
- He doesn't interact and interact with other people.
- Manifests stereotypical behavior and play (e.g.: waving hands, using unusual objects to play with, arranging toys in long rows).
- He does not make eye contact.
- It does not imitate.
- Does not follow simple commands (e.g., sit, give).
- He has difficulty focusing attention.
Signals of autism associated with speech and communication disorders
The symptoms of autism largely involve the sphere of communication. The child may have trouble making friends and simply talking to others.
The first of the signals that a parent should pay attention to is the lack of babbling. In addition to the lack of speech onset, it can also be poor facial expressions and infrequent displays of emotion.
Difficulties in establishing contact with the child
Parents of children who are later diagnosed with autism often mention that even in infancy there were times when the child would wander with his eyes and appear absent-minded.
Symptomy stanów w spektrum autyzmu mogą być widoczne podczas prób zaangażowania dziecka w zabawę lub inne wspólne aktywności, zarówno przez rodziców, jak i rówieśników. Może być to brak reakcji dziecka na podawaną zabawkę lub pokazywany przedmiot. Powtarzająca się sytuacja, gdy dziecko nie będzie zainteresowane, powinna skłonić rodziców do zbadania, z czego wynika brak entuzjazmu u dziecka.
Pay particular attention to the child's reaction after attempting to make contact with a smile or saying his name. Repeated lack of response to these messages, can be considered alarming.