Signs and Symptoms of Autism In Babies and Toddlers
Your Baby or Toddler Does Not
Make eye contact
Smile when being smiled at
Respond to his or her name
Respond to familiar voices
Follow objects visually
Follow your gestures
Play with other people
Share interest and enjoyment
Point or wave goodbye
Use other gestures
Make noises to get your attention
Initiate or respond to cuddling
Reach out to be pick Up
Imitate your movements or facial expressions
Notice or care if you hurt yourself
You may begin noticing signs of autism early on. Some common behaviors to look out for include:
Lack of eye contact
Not smiling back when smiled at
Not responding to their name or familiar voices
Limited interest in following objects or your gestures
Rarely engaging in play with others
Not sharing interests or showing enjoyment
Delayed use of gestures like pointing or waving goodbye
Making few sounds to gain your attention
Not initiating or responding to cuddles
Not reaching up to be picked up
Little to no imitation of facial expressions or movements
Not noticing or reacting when someone is hurt
As children grow, signs may become more varied. Red flags often relate to:
Difficulty with social interaction
Delays or challenges with speech and language
Trouble understanding or using non-verbal communication (like gestures or facial expressions)
Rigid routines or inflexible behavior patterns
Older Children
As children get older, the red flags for autism become more diverse. There are many warning signs and symptoms, but they typically revolve around impaired social skills, speech and language difficulties, non-verbal communication difficulties, and inflexible behavior.
