Autism is a complicated issue for which only an intense clinical assessment can lead to an accurate diagnosis. Since the first concerns usually come from the parents, it is necessary to pay close attention to your baby's movements and behavior as he grows and develops. Talk to your child's pediatrician if your baby seems to be developing more slowly than other infants your child's same age. While the average age for diagnosing autism is usually around three-years-old, parents often begin to notice that something might be wrong before a baby is 18-months-old. If left untreated, autism can affect a child's language skills, social interactions and ability to learn.
Common Symptoms
Research shows that children who have autism often begin to display different patterns of behavior within their first year. Babies with autism often do not make eye contact with others, even when a parent or other caregiver is directly interacting with them. Many autistic children have a tendency to withdraw into their own world, showing little if any interest in those around them. Exhibiting repetitive movements can be another sign of autism, in addition to being uncoordinated or displaying violent outbursts. While it may not be possible to confirm a diagnosis of autism in infancy, paying attention to these first signs and initiating early interventions may affect later development in a positive manner.
Developmental Symptoms
If your baby is not smiling by the age of six months, there might be a need for your child to be evaluated more carefully by his pediatrician, as smiling is a normal stage of development for babies. Another sign that there may be a problem is if you are unable to soothe and comfort your child by picking him up. At about the age of six months, your baby should begin laughing and making babbling noises in his first efforts to communicate. Failing to follow objects with his eyes, stiffening his muscles when you pick him up, and not developing simple language skills by the age of two can be other signs that a child might be autistic. Further screening may be required if your child behaves as if he is unaware of the other people around him as he gets older.
Less Obvious Symptoms
Some studies have suggested that children diagnosed with autism may have a smaller than average head size at birth. These children then experience a period of rapid growth at which time their head circumference measures normal size by the age of 14 months. However, this has not been proven to be the case for all children with autism.
Recognizing the Signs
Even doctors admit that it is not always easy to identify the signs that a child has autism even though in most cases, the disorder is probably present from birth. Many of the symptoms do not become obvious until a baby grows and develops past infancy. Many children with autism also have other learning disabilities for which some of their patterns of behavior may be attributed to these developmental delays. Then again, autism can be overlooked in children with average or above average cognitive abilities. Odd behaviors in these children are often dismissed as being related to their age.
Causes
There has been much speculation by the scientific community as to the causes of autism in children. While many medical researchers believe that some sort of damage to the brain before birth may be the cause, this theory has not been proven. Other theories suggest that genetic factors, metabolic disorders, viral infection, perinatal anoxia or immune deficiencies may be at work. But to date this only explains why some children with autism may have other medical conditions or learning disabilities.
What the Experts Say
While the parents of children eventually diagnosed with autism often have no concerns about a baby's early behavior, pediatricians say that more frequently parents report being worried about developmental delays. The problem is that for those children with autism who display normal learning abilities, other problems with development may not be recognized until later. This is especially true for parents who might not have older children or who do not find themselves in situations where they can compare their baby's development to that of other children the same age. If you are concerned about your baby's development, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides online information about a child's normal growth and any delays that could be a sign of autism (see Resources). Still another problem related to autism is that while some autistic babies may be undemanding and rarely cry, other babies can be difficult to calm and can display behaviors, such as rocking or banging their head. Another interesting factor is that even though some autistic children seem oblivious to what is happening around them, at the same time a shiny object may fascinate them. However, child development experts advise parents that normal babies can display these same behaviors. For these reasons, an assessment and diagnosis of autism should involve a team of different professionals, including a pediatrician, child psychologist, speech therapist, social worker and sometimes a child psychiatrist, community health nurse and social worker.
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