Signs and Symptoms

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 picked up
  • Imitate your movements or facial expressions
  • Notice or care if you hurt yourself

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.