Signs of Autism in Children Under One Year Old

Is it possible to see signs of autism in children under a year old? As a parent to an autistic child, I would have to say yes. It was amazing the signs my child showed me. All children are different and sometimes autism is not detectable until the child is over two years old. Some children with autism progress normally and then, in an instant they withdrawal. If you have a toddler or baby and are worried, here are a few signs to look for.

Eye contact is important. Some children's eyes develop slower than others, but there should be an attempt at eye contact. Lack of eye contact is not the most important symptom of autism and can sometimes just be a normal development of children. My son did not lack eye contact, but you could see him withdrawal when he looked at you. It is hard to describe, but if you have children and are used to typical behaviors of children, you do see a difference in the look.

Autistic children usually do not want to be touched. Some will pull away or even move out of reach. Touch is felt differently to an autistic person. Sometimes a light brush of the hand feels like an agonizing beating. A hard smack can feel like a tickle. Autism has strange affects on sensory skills. My son is not fond of others touching him. It took him three years to willingly hug or kiss me. The affection was rare, but such a blessing. As a baby, my son would rather sit in an infant carrier that cradled him than be held by someone. If you held him, he would squirm. You got the feeling he was uncomfortable being held.

Most autistic children will not engage in play nor play with toys correctly. If they do play, they play by themselves and they line things up, look at toys, or watch wheels of toys spin. A baby will do the same. The baby when playing peek-a-boo will not reciprocate and if another adult besides the one the baby is most comfortable with tries to play the child will ignore him or her. It has nothing to do with the other person.

Most babies babble and point, somehow trying to communicate. Autistic children will not do this. If they see something of interest to them, they do not point showing you their magnificent find. Autistic children will not grab your hand or clothing, exclaiming what they have found. This is a tremendous sign that something may be wrong with your child. Socialism is important in human nature. If your child does not display social acts, you should consult with your pediatrician.

Another sign there may be something wrong with your precious baby is he or she does not meet milestones. Milestones are a good indicator with other information to help a doctor determine whether or not something is wrong. If your child has not met any of his or her milestones, you should take your child to the pediatrician and see if there is a developmental problem. Not all autistic children miss their milestones. My son hit some of his. When it came time for speech he was extremely late. Other autistic children have been slow developing since birth. All children are different. Doctors will take into consideration how your baby has been developing in regards to the milestones when diagnosing your child. If your child is just a little late developing, it may be normal for your child. The doctor will let you know.

It is always best to know early if there is a problem with your child. Your child can receive the help he or she needs and may be able to function normally. Diagnosing a child with autism under the age of one is unlikely, but watching for these signs may help you handle the diagnosis better because no parent wants to hear something is wrong with their child.