Autism usually appears before the age of 3 with symptoms relating to communication and social interaction. This neurodevelopmental disorder affects approximately 1 in 110 children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Boys are affected 4 to 5 times more often than girls are, and autism occurs in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, autism ranges in severity, with mild social and communication impairments at one end of the spectrum, to a severe disability at the other end, requiring lifelong support from family, schools and the community.
Social Symptoms
A baby, toddler or young child with autism, unlike a normally developing child, often appears uninterested in interacting with others. Children with autism often prefer to play alone, do not respond to their name and avoid eye contact. When they are interacting with other children or adults, they may display unusual facial expressions that don’t seem to fit the situation. A young child with autism may not point at pictures in a book when someone is reading to him. The Mayo Clinic describes these early social skills as critical to later social and language development.
Communication Symptoms
For a toddler or young child with autism, language may be delayed or absent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between 25 and 30 percent of toddlers with autism speak some words between 12 and 18 months, and then lose their language ability. Other autism communication symptoms include a singsong voice, repetition of words or phrases, misuse of pronouns and odd, unrelated answers to questions. The absence of gesturing, including pointing, may also be an early sign of autism.
Developmental Symptoms
A toddler or young child with autism may develop normally during the first years of his life and then start to show delays relating to language, learning and social skills. Another early sign of autism might be out-of-order learning, for example, reading difficult words before being able to identify letter sounds.
Repetitive Symptoms
An early sign of autism might be repetitive motions and behaviors. A child with autism might play with the same toy repeatedly, or continually play with only one part of the toy. An autistic child might flap her hands, spin in circles or rock back and forth, especially in stressful situations.
Other Symptoms
Other potential early signs of autism include temper tantrums, self-injury, unusual sleeping or eating patterns and hyperactivity. Some autistic children also suffer from sensory issues including being under- or over-responsive to textures, smells and sounds.
About this Author
Susan Ward, M.A., writes about family, parenting, and children’s mental health issues for multiple publications. She has been published in various special interest publications, both in print and online, in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the U.K. since 1989. She’s also authored two books and numerous booklets.
