Signs of Autism in Infants

Autism is a neurological disorder that affects 1 in 150 children. Sometimes it can be detected in infancy, while other times it doesn't develop until the child is between one and three years of age.

Babies develop social skills in their first year. They aren't always obvious, unless you know what to look for. Smiling when smiled at and turning towards someone speaking to them are two skills that babies with autism may not exhibit.

Babies should babble and by six months of age try to imitate or babble back when spoken to. This is a skill that babies with autism might lack.

Babies are naturally curious about their surroundings. Babies with autism often won't look towards sounds or new things. They often don't show interest or anxiety around unfamiliar people or things like typically developing babies.

By three months of age babies should be grasping toys and opening and shutting their hands. Babies also try to swat at moving objects, like mobiles above the crib.

In addition to the skills mentioned above, the Centers for Disease Control say that parents should consult with a pediatrician if their baby doesn't do these things: doesn't notice hands, doesn't follow moving objects with eyes, babbles but doesn't imitate, doesn't pay attention to new faces or undergoes a dramatic loss of skills.