Early Identification of Autism

Research has shown that the earlier a child with autism begins treatment, the more effective that treatment is. Children who get at least two years of intensive intervention in the preschool years are often able to go to a regular school and attend regular classes. The Center for Disease Control in concert with the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities have recently launched a campaign called "Learn the Signs. Act Early." which focuses on helping parents to see the signs of common conditions for which early treatment can make all the difference. Autism and the Autism Spectrum Disorders are one of the conditions that is most responsive to early intervention and treatment.

Recognizing the signs of autism can help you alert your doctor that something is different about your child. One of the most pertinent signs of autism is the failure to reach certain developmental milestones - or the loss of skills once those milestones have been reached. You should talk to your doctor or health practitioner if:

In the first six months your child does not:
Respond to loud noises
Notice his hands
Follow moving objects with his eyes (tracking)
Smile at people by 3 months
Babble by 3-4 months
Reach for and try to grasp toys by 4 months
Try to imitate sounds that you make by 4 months
Pay attention to new faces or surroundings OR if he seems very frightened by new faces or surroundings

At around seven months, your child:
Refuses to cuddle or seems distressed when being cuddled
Shows no affection for the person who cares for him
Doesn't seem to enjoy being around people
Doesn't respond to sounds around him or her
Doesn't turn his head to locate sounds by 4 months
Doesn't smile on his own by 5 months
Doesn't laugh or make happy sounds by 6 months
Doesn't follow objects with his eyes by 7 months
Doesn't actively reach for objects by 7 months
Doesn't try to attract attention by 7 months
Doesn't babble by 8 months
Isn't interested in playing peek-a-boo by 8 months

At about a year, your child:
Isn't using single words like mama, dada or baba (for bottle)
Doesn't point to objects or pictures that interest him
Doesn't learn to use gestures like pointing or waving bye-bye

At two years, your child:
Doesn't have a vocabulary of at least 15 words
Doesn't use two-word sentences like 'go bye-bye' or 'drink juice'
Doesn't imitate actions or words
Doesn't seem to know what common objects like the telephone, a brush or spoon are for
Doesn't follow simple, one-step instructions by 2 (i.e. - Get the book or Sit here)

At three years, your child:
Doesn't use short phrases to communicate
Doesn't play 'pretend' - cuddling dolls, or pretending to drive a car, for instance
Shows little or no interest in other children
Doesn't make eye contact well
Shows very little interest in toys
Has extreme difficulty separating from primary caregiver

At four years, your child:
Isn't interested in games with others
Ignores other children
Doesn't play make-believe games
Has uncontrolled temper tantrums when angry or upset
Doesn't use sentences of more than three words
Doesn't use pronouns like you and me properly

At five years, your child:
Doesn't seem interested in playing with other children
Doesn't respond to people, or seems to barely acknowledge them
Doesn't often play make-believe or use fantasy in play
Doesn't seem to express many emotions
Seems very passive
Only is interested in one or two activities
Seems to avoid other children and adults

In addition, if at ANY age, your child seems to lose skills that he or she had been using, you should alert your doctor. While temporary regression is often a sign that a child is preparing for a major milestone jump, the loss of skills is also a symptom of at least two disorders in the autism spectrum.