Early Signs of Autism to Look for in Toddlers

Signs of autism can show up in a child when they are as young as one year old. These could be anything from them not responding to their name or speaking no words till they are 16 months old. Delays like these can be worrisome and understandably challenging for any parent. However, taking the right steps can help them grow better and live a more promising tomorrow. 

Since you are reading this post, we assume you have noticed these signs in your child and want to know what to do next. You need to reach a pediatrician, seek further evaluation, and, if your child has autism, explore early intervention services. 

Early intervention programs like ABA open many opportunities to reach their potential. Working on the challenges your child faces in their early years can support various areas of their development, such as social, communication, cognitive, and more. 

Now that you know about the possible alternatives, it is essential to confirm if your child has autism. This post will discuss autism, its early signs, and measures to take. Read it till the end!

What Does Autism Mean?

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a developmental condition. The spectrum can indicate extensive characteristics, strengths, challenges, and needs. The challenges can be non-verbal communication, repetitive behaviors, or social. This condition can differ for everyone, leaving individuals with different challenges and strengths. Autism can impact anyone irrespective of age or gender, though there have been studies showing that boys are diagnosed more often than girls. Similarly, there have been traces of symptoms presented differently. 

Something you need to be aware of right now is the fact that autism is a lifelong condition. However, the challenges, strengths, and conditions can change with time.  They will require different forms of support and therapies.

Identifying the Early Signs of Autism in Toddlers 

If you suspect your child has autism, you must dig deeper. Learning and recognizing the early signs can help you improve developmental areas, which is what we will help you do here. 

Communication and Social

• Not responding to their name by 9 months

• Exhibiting no or little facial expression by 9 months 

• Not making eye contact

• Not participating in interactive games

• Using fewer or no gestures for 12 months

• Not showing anything interesting to others till they are 18 months

• Not showing or joining others in play by 3 years of age

• Not smiling back at anyone

Behavioral Patterns

• Disliking any minor changes

• Exhibiting obsessive interests

• Flapping hands, spinning in circles, or rocking the body

• Repeating phrases or words again and again

• Showing the same manner of playing with toys 

• Presenting unusual responses to smell, sound, taste, or feel

• Needing to follow a routine

Sensory Sensitivity 

• Covering ears to a certain sound 

• Disliking certain textures, touch

• Exhibiting discomfort from flashing lights

• Disliking a certain smell

• Not responding to loud noises

• Exhibiting difficulty in certain environments

• Either enjoying or disliking certain visual stimulations

Other Symptoms

• Showing no or extreme fear

• Exhibiting delayed language, movement, or communication development

• Showing impulsive, inattentive, or hyperactive behavior

Understanding Early Identification and Assessment 

If you notice any of these signs in your child, you must reach a pediatrician and share your concerns. After the confirmation of autism diagnosis, your next step should be seeking professional assistance. Early identification and assessment of the conditions can lay the foundation for developmental outcomes for the child. Early intervention can show notable improvement in your child’s communication, behavioral, and language development. 

During their early years, your child’s neurodevelopmental processes open the possibilities of developing their social and language skills. This can show you a direction and present the role of early intervention, like ABA. These can include therapies, treatment, and adequate support for children with developmental delays. These aim to assist children at an earlier age to boost their developmental potential. Professionals like behavioral analysts work to provide the best possible support to the child. 

What Comes With ABA Early Intervention and Can it Help?

Early intervention can aid your child with ABA or similar therapy and techniques. It is a proven, science-based approach centered around behavior and learning. It focuses on two areas: gaining new skills and reducing behavior. It includes principles like reinforcement, aiding therapists in shaping their behavior. The therapy is customized as per the needs of every child, focusing on areas calling for attention. Here are more insights into the perks of ABA therapy and strategies for individuals with autism:

• It is an evidence-based approach, which means many individuals have already leveraged its benefits.

• It can train children to be independent and master many necessary life skills.

• It can equip your child with communication, social, language, and many other skills.  

• It can help by letting many associated professionals work together. For example, teaming up with speech pathologists, BCBAs, and behavioral analysts.

• It can help you and other guardians learn how to respond correctly to certain situations, such as throwing tantrums.

• It can prepare your child for the real world.  

• It can help lower challenging behaviors such as tantrums in your child.

How Does ABA Therapy Work?

As a parent, you have an understandable concern about making any changes in your child’s life, and that too when they are young. That is why we are dedicating this section to telling you about the approaches and strategies ABA therapy can include:

• Discrete Trial Training: This involves breaking down a skill to teach the child.

• Early Intensive Behavior Intervention: It aims to equip children with different skills.

• Natural Environment Training: This approach uses natural environments to strengthen certain skills taught to a child.

• Focused ABA Therapy: This helps individuals focus on a particular area in which they face problems.

Conclusion 

You have reached the end of the blog.  This post was a parent or guardian’s guide to learning about early signs of autism in toddlers. Autism is a condition affecting several individuals. 1 out of 31 children has been diagnosed with it. The good part is that you can learn about its signs early and offer the right kind of support to your child. 

In this post, you have learned about the common signs of autism that can be seen in a toddler. Some of them can present no response to their name by the time they turn nine months. They might exhibit little or no expressions or show impulsive and reactive behavior. 

If you notice your little one showing signs of autism, it is advisable to seek attention. Begin by getting a medical diagnosis from a pediatrician. Once confirmed, you can look for early intervention like ABA. 

At BehaviorSpan, we offer Applied Behavior Analysis to help young children with their developmental journey. We aid in autistic children's early intervention by providing dedicated, center-based, one-to-one, and intensive therapy.  We offer Applied Behavior Analysis in Denver, Colorado, and are a few clicks away. 

Reach us today!

References:

• https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/ss/ss7201a1.htm#:~:text=During%20early%20childhood%2C%20ongoing%20neurodevelopmental,support%20development%20of%20these%20skills. 

  
  

• https://msp.edu/introduction-to-applied-behavior-analysis-aba-101/ 
  

• https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/autism/conditioninfo/treatments/early-intervention
  

• https://www.cdc.gov/autism/signs-symptoms/index.html