Very often, children on the autism spectrum will display behaviors at a very young age (generally 18 to 24 months) that are consistent with autism. The videos below provide some great insights into red flags you might notice as a parent of a child on the spectrum.
Some of the key takeaways from the videos below include the following behaviors that might be indicative of a child on the spectrum:
Lack of pointing;
Echoing words/phrases that have no meaning in and of themselves;
Memorized phrases that your child uses without meaning;
Difficulty expressing needs and wants;
Not responding to name;
Lack of showing items of interest to people;
Using an adult’s hand as a tool;
Inflection used when speaking does not match the content of the words or what would be expected (known as “unusual prosody”);
Lack of pretend skills;
Lack of eye contact, interest in or affection for others;
Lack of warm, joyful facial expressions;
Aloof to other people’s emotions;
Repetitive or obsessive behavior;
Fascination with lights;
Biting/aggression;
Excessive walking on the tips of the toes (“toe walking”); and
Hyperactivity or hypoactivity in response to stimuli.
If you have noticed such behaviors in your child, contact your physician for an autism evaluation, also known as a developmental evaluation. Your child’s school district might also be of assistance in providing you with access to a developmental specialist who can perform the evaluation.
In the event that your child receives an autism diagnosis, your physician will very likely recommend ABA therapy.
Here is the first video:
Here is the second video:
And, last but not least, here is the third video: