Early Signs of Autism in Babies and Toddlers speech

 
Toddler Holding Parent’s Finger | Early Signs of Autism in Babies and Toddlers

Today’s post outlines the early signs of autism in babies and toddlers, broken down by age. Many parents have questions about what autism looks like and whether or not their child could be autistic. We know autistic children learn and develop differently from neurotypical children. So, it can be helpful for families to have support from professionals to help guide their child’s development. This post will give you a baseline understanding of what to look for with autism, and it will help you identify the steps you should take.

 

The Importance of Early Intervention

One goal we have here at Wee Talkers is to help share the message about the importance of early intervention: specialized, publicly-funded services that are available to young children who need support in their development.

Early intervention exists to help children who have (or are at risk of having) developmental delays, disabilities, or health conditions that affect development and learning, like autism, to improve their abilities and develop new skills. It’s a fantastic program that strives to make the services children and families need as accessible as possible.

And since the first step in accessing early intervention services is recognizing that your child may need extra support, that’s where we’re starting today.

Baby engaging with father on change table | The importance of early intervention with babies and toddlers who show signs of autism
 

Signs Of Autism Broken Down By Age

The two main areas we see differences:

  1. Social communication challenges

  2. Restricted, repetitive behaviors

In young children, one of the first signs may be delayed talking. Oftentimes we notice the lack of use of gestures such as pointing, too. Beyond this, possible signs of autism broken down by age are:

6 Months

  • No social smiles or other warm, joyful expressions directed at people

  • Limited or no eye contact


9 Months

  • Does not show facial expressions like happy, sad, angry

  • No response to their name when called


12 Months

  • Limited or no use of gestures to communicate (waving)

  • Uninterested in playing simple interactive games (pat-a-cake)


15 Months

  •   No single words


18 MONTHS

  • Does not share interests with others (showing others toys they like)

  • Does not point to show you something interesting

2 years

  • No meaningful, two-word phrases

  • Any loss of any previously acquired speech, babbling, or social skills


At Any Age

  • Performing repetitive behaviors such as flapping, rocking, or spinning

  • Limited eye contact and/or unusual use of vision (looking at unusual angles)

  • Difficulty or uninterested in interacting with other children

  • Struggling to understand other people’s feelings

  • Remaining non-speaking or having delayed language development

  • Repeating whole phrases, such as lines from shows (echolalia)

  • Getting upset by minor changes in routine or surroundings

  • Deeply interested in certain activities or topics

  • Highly sensitive to sounds, smells, tastes, textures, lights, or colors

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Professional Evaluation Is Key

According to the CDC, not all children with autism show all the signs. And, many children who don’t have autism will still show a few signs. A list of possible signs just isn’t enough to know for sure on your own. This is why a professional evaluation with someone who specializes in autism is so important!


If your child demonstrates some of the signs on this list and/or you have concerns about their development, it’s a good idea to see a professional. We know learning your child may be autistic can be overwhelming and maybe scary— but it’s important to remember that every child develops differently and whether or not your child receives an autism diagnosis, they are still the same amazing and wonderful child they were before the diagnosis.

 

How To Get Support

If you notice your child’s development includes many of the signs listed above, we recommend talking with your child’s pediatrician. They can use a screening tool in the appointment or help by providing a referral to someone who specializes in development and autism.

If your child is over age three, you can call your local school district and ask for an assessment. This is a no-cost early intervention option, so it’s the best route to take if it’s available to you.

If your child is under age three and you live in the USA, the CDC Early Intervention website can help you find services near you.

 

Support From Wee Talkers

If your child responds well to songs and rhymes and enjoys music, consider joining our Songs+Stories membership. This monthly subscription is a fun, low-pressure way to gently encourage language, communication, and connection. It can be a great resource to include in addition to or while you wait for professional support.