Signs & Symptoms That a Baby May Have Autism

What most people call autism usually refers to a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, often collectively called Autism Spectrum Disorders, or ASD. These include milder kinds such as Asperger’s Syndrome and Rett Syndrome, and more severe kinds, such as “classical ASD,” or simply autism disorder. Some common signs and symptoms are exhibited at a young age.

Unresponsiveness

• One of the most common signs of autism is a lack of interaction with other people. Babies with autism often do not respond positively, or perhaps at all, to caregivers. Infants with ASD may focus on one thing to the exclusion of all others or simply fail to respond when talked to or called. They may not smile back when another smiles at them, nor show any interest in watching people’s faces. Babies with autism are sometimes thought to be deaf, because they do not respond to people, loud noises or music.

Lack of Language Development

• Babies with some forms of ASD may not develop language skills like other children. They may not speak at all as they grow, or fail to even babble or try to make sounds. As children grow and being to learn languages, they usually engage in back-and-forth sounds and gestures with others; babies with autism may not do this. Another sign of autism is when a child begins developing language skills and then stops. Loss of speech is a significant sign that a child may have some form of ASD.

Repetitive Behavior

• One of the symptoms of autism at many ages is compulsively engaging in repetitive behavior. Babies with autism may constantly line up toys, rock, rhythmically bang their heads or tap on blankets.

No Eye Contact

• People with autism, even babies, often cannot make eye contact with others. Babies with autism will not look a person full in the face, but may gaze at people only out of the corners of their eyes. Babies with some kinds of ASD may also seem to never look at others at all.

Lack of Play

• Young children with autism will often not indulge in playing behavior. Play for babies often involves interacting with others, and babies with autism tend to avoid this. Babies with autism usually do not point to things they want or in which they are interested, nor do they take an active role in games.