Childhood: Early Traits of Autism

The CDC has a concise summary of autism for parents who are wondering if their child might be autistic. Generally, a child’s pediatrician will be the one to make the referral for testing, but this can also come from teachers, daycare professionals, or family members. Early diagnosis and intervention is critical for a child’s success with their diagnosis in the future, and testing can rule out more serious conditions like neurological diseases. 

More detailed information about the symptoms of autism and how they can be portrayed in different individuals is scheduled to be released here in early 2022, but there are certain indicators that can appear extremely early in childhood. Not responding to their name, avoiding eye contact, and not using gestures to communicate are all social indicators that would appear before the child is one year in age. Other traits include repetitive motions (stimming), delayed motor skills, and unusual emotional reactions. 

As a good rule of thumb, parents and other caregivers should be spending enough time with each child to be able to tell if any behaviors are new or recurring. This will assist any diagnosticians with evaluating the child for any conditions, not just autism. If your child is recommended for autism testing, remember that this is by no means a moral label on you or your child. As I have expressed many times on this page, autism is poorly represented in the media and your child is not doomed by an autism diagnosis. Your child is absolutely perfect just the way they are, and the best thing you can do for them is to love them unconditionally. 

Social, motor, and emotional differences are the most common early traits of autism. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, and you should also seek out the opinion of a professional who has direct experience with your child to be able to make the best decision for them.