Autism signs in young children

Should I worry about my toddler?

The early signs of autism in young children.

I had two older children when my son was born. I started noticing differences at about one and half years of age. He would never look at me when I called him. He was very quiet. He did at that age still meet all the developmental milestones, he started crawling and walked at ten months. He would try to babble. 

I initially thought that he had an issue with his ears although I did get him checked and he came back clear. He would also play with his toys differently to the way his siblings used to play at such an early age. He would look at them and then line them up according to size and colour. It was incredible to watch him do it at such a young age. When people would come over, he would hide. 

I started to read about developmental problems and started reading about autism and was convinced that my son must have it.

Belinda is the mum of three children, the youngest of whom, Rodwin, is autistic. 

Are you concerned about any aspects of your child’s development? Do they seem to be behind the other babies and toddlers their age? Or do they seem different? 

This article explains the early signs of autism spectrum disorder in very young children. Why is it important we recognise these signs?  Because by recognising them early we can act early.  

International research shows that children who need supports and services do best when these services start while the child is still very young, and their brain’s wiring is most receptive to change. Language and communication, thinking and learning, and daily living skills have all been shown to improve with early intervention, resulting in increased participation in mainstream school settings and a reduced need for supports over time.

But there’s not only your child we have to think of, there’s also you and other family members. By identifying autism early, you will be able to access advice and support, to improve everyone’s quality of life.  Happier, settled children means happier, calmer parents and vice versa. It’s a win: win.

The following list of early signs of autism in very young children (1-3 years):

Inconsistent or absent:

If any of these signs describe your child — and you haven’t already done so — you should see your doctor as soon as possible and seek referral for a developmental assessment. If you’re worried your doctor won’t take your concerns seriously take along a copy of this list as backup. Even if your child doesn’t end up having autism, it’s possible they may have another issue with their development (such as a developmental and/or language delay or disorder) which could benefit from early intervention. One way or another, you’ll feel better after they’ve been thoroughly assessed by a professional.

Many young children receive their autism diagnosis somewhere between their second and fourth birthdays.However, parents may in retrospect realise that subtle signs of autism were evident much earlier. Studies of younger siblings of children with ASD — who are at higher likelihood of developing autism themselves — suggest that some children may display signs around, and even before, the age of 12 months.

It’s at about 15–18 months that many parents have their first concerns, often because speech isn’t developing. However, problems with what doctors call joint attention may be present earlier. A typical child of 12-14 months will be able to follow their parents’ gaze or point (for example, if their parent shows them an aeroplane in the sky) and will show enjoyment in sharing an object of interest with another person by looking back and forth between the two. These behaviours tend to be missing or reduced in a young child with autism. 

Other early signs may include not (or rarely) responding to their name, or to a smile (usually when someone talks, sings or smiles at a baby they will smile back). Of course, you need to be looking for these things to notice their absence. If it’s your first baby, you might assume they just have a shy temperament if they seem to be doing everything else (sitting up, walking etc) at the right time. 

That said, not all children follow the exact same path.  Some children later diagnosed with autism show differences from very early in life, whereas others seem to plateau in their development over time. About a quarter of children with autism will regress (lose skills) around 15 months to 2 years of age.  Parents usually notice the loss of words, but some children also stop pointing and waving, and begin to avoid eye contact. Why this happens it still not well understood, but some researchers believe ‘over pruning’ of neurons may occur in response to genetic factors.

Young children with autism may also present with developmental delays in areas other than language and social development: they may not be able to draw, do puzzles, or feed and dress themselves independently. Some children may have an intellectual disability which makes learning more difficult for them, but in other cases it may be their reduced attention to other people that is preventing them from learning things. These children often don’t pick up new skills by observing people and then imitating them, the way typical children do.

What to do first here in the Central West 

First of all, it is unfortunately the case that there is a shortage of paediatricians and psychologists in the Central West. Accessing government-funded supports usually involves a very long wait, and even private professionals can take a long time to see.

So, the first things parents need to do is access online support and information. Start with:

Have a look at the ASD Detect app and think about how your own child’s behaviour and development relates to what you see in the app.

Autism:What Next?

https://www.autismwhatnext.com.au/

This website has been designed to support families as they navigate concerns about their child’s development, through assessment and diagnosis and into the early years. There is a lot of information there, with videos and graphics. It is well worth spending a good amount of time here.

The Australian Autism Handbook, Edition 4. (I am a co-author of this book.)

This is a comprehensive guide to autism, with all the science you need plus many family stories. It gives you the facts, plus plenty of emotional support.

You can buy the book at all good bookshops, including Amazon. Buy it direct from the author and pay no shipping fees here: https://seanasmith.com/australian-autism-handbook/

Meanwhile, contact your GP to find out about your local paediatricians and psychologists and get your name down. Many will have long waiting lists. I always advise asking to be put on their concellations list as these do often happen. 

Next, find out who your local NDIS early childhood provider is. You do not need a diagnosis to commence early intervention.

If you can afford to start paying for speech therapy and/or occupational therapy, then these can often be beneficial and well worth the expense.

If your child does end up with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, you might well find yourself feeling relieved and you understand your child better. You will be in very good company, many families have trod this path before and can offer support and guidance. 

This article is an edited and adapted extract from the Australian Autism Handbook, Edition 4. Co-author Seana Smith lives in Orange.