Signs of an Autistic Baby
Autism very common these days, there are still many studies being done on what causes it or how it has happened. Luckily for me I have a healthy baby, but I work with two autistic childrren and it is very sad to see how behind they are and dont act the same as the other children in the class. Here are some signs to look for in babies to find out if they may be autistic.
What are the signs of autism in your child? How does one detect autism?
If your child is experiencing difficulty in the following aspects, it would be helpful to consult a doctor or an expert:
Some babies can actually manifest signs of autism
An autistic baby does not respond to your presence – will not make eye contact with you and appears to be more interested in staring at some other moving inanimate object. Babies that do not look in the eye can be displaying signs of autism, especially if they would rather stare at moving mechanical objects or parts of it.
An autistic baby will often appear too calm and may lie still for hours. Too calm babies should also be observed. Are they able to lie for hours without crying?
An autistic baby may not play or interact with other babies.
18 months – 3 Years old
An autistic child may appear distracted and not look you in the eye when trying to communicate with them.
An autistic child may have difficulty picking up the sounds of words and will need repeating many times. Are there words that he or she cannot say or will have to be said over and over before he or she can grasp it?
An autistic child may have unusual mannerisms which they like to repeat many times. Are there mannerisms or motor movements that he or she keeps repeating for no apparent reason or purpose?
An autistic child may lack imagination and not like role play, make-believe, or pretend games.
An autistic child may be disturbed by a change in routine. Is he or she inflexible to changes? Does he or she get alarmed when you change a certain routine, like waking up while it is still dark?
An autistic child may show a lack of interest in other children and not want to play with them.
This is not an exhaustive list by any means and we should be aware that some of these symptoms can be detected in ‘normal’ children.
However, if your baby or child exhibits some or all of these symptoms then you are advised to seek advice from a doctor or child specialist. They will carry out some simple tests to either confirm your fears or hopefully in most cases ease your concerns and allow you to enjoy the ongoing ‘normal’ development of your child.
