Regular Doctor’s Visits
When you need medical advice, the best person to consult is a professional in the field. Be sure that your child is going to the doctor on a regular basis, and do not be afraid to call to ask for questions. Making assumptions about your child’s state of health could lead to more stress and aggravation for the both of you.
Verbal Development
So many different factors are signs of autism, but issues with verbal development is definitely a large one. Remember, all children are not going to start speaking at the exact same time. However, if your little one has not uttered at least a few words and you are starting to get worried, it could be a sign of autism, a speech delay or other condition.
Regression Issues
Let’s say that your child started to speak and then he or she suddenly stopped. Whenever a child has this type, or any type, of regression issues, he or she may have autism. In sum, regression basically means that your child has moved backwards. At some point, he or she had a particular skill. However, instead of continuing to build upon that skill, it actually went away in part or entirely. This is often a major indicator of autism.
Lack of Interaction
Consider the ways that autism affects children as they develop, and you’ll start to recognize how these issues are manifested in early symptoms. Perhaps your baby does not seem to respond to touch or does not appear interested in engagement and interaction. Many youngsters with autism struggle with their social skills and interactions, so this can be a major indicator of that.
Sensory Issues
You have probably heard of sensory issues as a major sign of autism before, and you can look for these types of occurrences in your little one. Of course, no one likes a loud noise, but children with autism are often extremely sensitive to these types of occurrences. Sensory issues can manifest themselves in other ways as well; your baby might not like the texture of certain foods or the feel of certain objects.
Trusting What You Know
Above all else, you really need to trust your gut when you feel like something is wrong. No book or guide knows your baby as well as you do, and you can likely tell when something is not quite right. Again, do not be afraid to call your doctor. If early signs of autism or another condition are noticed, early intervention can be an excellent way to help your child cope and acclimate.
Realizing that any of these signs is not an immediate indicator of autism is important. Many other conditions can cause these signs, and some of them are just related to different personalities and speeds of development.
