What are the signs of Autism?

 Signs of Autism:

•    Difficulty in expressing needs; gestures or points instead of speaking;
•    Not responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf;
•    Little or no eye contact;
•    Prefers to be alone; difficulty mixing with others;
•    Not wanting to cuddle or be cuddled;
•    Repeats words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language;
•    Persistent “odd” or repetitive play including lining up toys or spinning objects;
•    Obsessive attachment to objects;
•    Resists changes in routine; an insistence on sameness;
•    Laughs/cries/shows distress/tantrums for no clear reason;
•    Unresponsive to normal teaching methods;
•    Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain;
•    No real fear of danger;
•    Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity;
•    Uneven gross/fine motor skills (may not kick a ball but can stack blocks).
Time-Related Red Flags:
•    Does not babble or coo by 12 months;
•    Does not gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 months;
•    Does not say single words by 16 months;
•    Does not say two-word phrases on his or her own by 24 months;
•    Has any loss of any language or social skill at any age.

Please note: individuals with autism may exhibit many but not all of the above symptoms. Also, this list is not a substitute for a full-scale diagnostic assessment.

If you are concerned about your child’s development consider arranging a screening.