Autism In Toddlers – Signs To Watch For

what are the earliest signs of autism

Autism is known as an abnormal condition that is associated with mental performance and this leads to different types of interaction issues, as well as relationship issues with the toddlers.

Some of the minor signs of autism in toddlers really should not be overlooked and if possible, brought to the attention of a medical professional right away for in depth diagnosis and a suitable type of treatment plan.

First Signs of Autism in Toddlers

The first indications of autism in toddlers start appearing very early on and may be noticed in the first year.

The very first thing to know is the fact that the majority of normal toddlers can reciprocate body language as well as hold eye-to-eye contact.  For example,  If you approach a normal child and give them  a big smile, they are going to probably smile back.  They will also look at you directly in the eyes.

First signs of autism in toddlersThe above situation is not always the same with an autistic child, the toddler will most likely not smile back. This not due to the fact that the autistic child cannot smile, it’s just that they do not understand the concept of reciprocation, i.e. you smile at me, I smile back.

Another sign is their inability to look you in the eyes when you speak to them, to us it’s a social norm, to the autistic child, it’s not.

Another sign to watch out for involves the feelings of an autistic child. Autistic children have a hard time interpreting multiple feelings at the same time, as well as interpreting exactly what they are feeling at any point in time.

Even though young children grow at different rates, a toddler with autism is usually far behind a regular toddler when it comes to development.

Signs of Autistic Behaviour in Toddlers

Another facet of autism in toddlers can be repeated behavior.  Most autistic children have a habit of repeating the same behavior over and over again. This can be as simple as picking something up and dropping it, or as complicated as saying the same phrase over and over again.

This type of behavior can sometimes be difficult to recognize, but it is something that you will need to be on the lookout for.

Signs and symptoms of autism in toddlers can be noticed by utilizing developing milestones as a guide. These milestones will help you understand how far along the normal development path your child has travelled, and if there are any areas that need to be looked at in more detail.

Read more about diet for Autism!

Autism Signs and Symptoms in Toddlers

Asperger’s Syndrome in Children

aspergers in toddlers

Asperger’s Syndrome is one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders, characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

Children with Asperger’s syndrome have poor social interaction, odd speech patterns, obsessions and peculiar mannerisms. They do not have ability to read the body language of others. They engage in routine obsessions with less facial expressions.

Causes- Asperger’s syndrome is a neurological disorder and the causes are not yet understood fully. Research says there seems to be a hereditary component to Asperger’s syndrome, if there is a family history, especially fathers. But no specific gene has been identified yet.

Exposure to teratogens during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy increases the tendency for Asperger’s syndrome in the child. Environmental factors also may play role in causing Asperger’s syndrome.

Signs and Symptoms- The Asperger’s Syndrome manifests a range of developmental disabilities in children.

1- Social Interactions- minimal or inappropriate social interactions where child fails to develop friendships or fails to share joy with other children. Lack of social reciprocal response with poor facial expressions.

2- Interests and Behavior- repetitive and restricted interests and behavior and lack of common sense. Problem with reading, mathematics and writing skills. Odd behaviors and mannerisms.

3- Speech and Language- Unlike other autism spectrum disorders, children with Asperger’s syndrome acquire language skills without delay but they manifest abnormalities like abrupt transitions, repetitive & scripted robotic speech, unusually idiosyncratic speech.

Treatment- There is no fixed line of treatment for Asperger’s syndrome because signs and symptoms are different from child to child.

The therapy should be focused at improving symptoms and function.

The mainstay of management is behavioral therapy, others are social skills training, language therapy, parent education and training, psychotherapy. Most children improve as they grow to adulthood but social and communication difficulties may continue in adulthood. Anti-psychotic medications may help along with other therapies.