Autism Signs and Symptoms You Should Know

Are you familiar with the many autism signs and symptoms? Most people aren’t, which isn’t too surprising considering that lots of parents and caregivers don’t begin to suspect anything is wrong until they notice that something just doesn’t seem quite right. But being aware of the many autism risk factors and symptoms is important, since it can mean picking up on signs earlier—and getting your child into appropriate therapy so that they can begin to develop essential tools and skills. The sooner that you can recognize autism, the sooner you can start on the right path for your child, regardless of what that looks like.

Here’s what to know about the common signs and symptoms of autism, as well as what we know about autism’s causes and most effective treatments.

When Does Autism Develop?

It’s believed that autism develops in utero, with research pointing to both gene mutations and changes in fetal brain development as signs that autism is something you’re born with, rather than something that develops later in life.

Because of this, the signs of autism almost always appear in early childhood. Some children may show signs in infancy, while with others the signs become apparent a bit later, such as around age two or three.

Here are some of the signs and symptoms that are most common, as well as the age range upon which parents and caregivers generally start to pick up on them.

Infancy

• Lack of eye contact.
• Lack of clear expressions of joy, including smiles.
• Lack of back-and-forth engagement with caregiver, including verbal echoing and responses to facial expressions.
• Lack of babbling.
• Lack of engagement with the outside world, such as failure to point at or reach for objects.
• Lack of response to name.

Toddlerhood / Early Childhood

• Lack of and/or delays in verbal development, including both individual words and meaningful phrases.
• Lack of desire for social interaction.
• Lack of ability to discern physical cues, such as bathroom needs.
• Loss of previous speech and social milestones.
• Lack of ability to pick up on or respond to others’ social cues.
• Persistent repetition of words or phrases.
• Repetitive behaviors (rocking, spinning, pacing, etc.)
• Strong reactions to certain sensory stimuli.
• Restricted interests and/or intense preoccupation with certain interests.
• Resistance to changes in routine.

Causes of Autism

We still have a lot to learn about the causes of autism, but what we do know is that there is unlikely to be just one single cause. Instead, there are a range of things that could ultimately lead to autism, including genetics, low birth weight, metabolic imbalances, parental age at conception, and exposure to certain toxins. Important to note is that research shows there is no connection between vaccines and autism.

Treatment for Autism

We have come a long way in our understanding of this disease, particularly when it comes to effective treatment for autism. Today, we have various tools at our disposal for assisting individuals on the autism spectrum, especially when it comes to the development of communicative, social, and cognitive skills—all of which can allow people with autism to have more independence and an improved quality of life.

One of the best treatments for autism is ABA therapy, a field of behavior analysis which involves a variety of evidence-based techniques for teaching new skills through positive reinforcement. Other widely used treatments include psychotherapy, speech therapy, play therapy, occupational therapy, and medication therapy.

Want to Learn More?

Our team at Autism Specialty Group is proud to be ranking among Miami’s leading behavioral organizations for treating children with autism. Learn more about our services, and visit our About page for more information on who we are and what our mission is.

We are always accepting new clients. Please contact us to schedule a consultation, which can easily be done virtually for your safety and convenience.