Signs & Symptoms of Autism in Year One

According to the Mayo Clinic, autism is a developmental problem that appears in early childhood before age three. Some parents notice the first signs of autism when a child is only one years old, while others do not spot the symptoms until much later. The symptoms of autism for a one-year-old child are the same as the symptoms in older children, however there are some symptoms of autism that cannot be clearly recognized at age one. For instance, one symptom of autism is talking late, yet many normal one-year-old children only say a handful of words at this age so do not use late talking as a determining factor at age one.

Failure to Respond

• Failure to respond to her name or other commands is a sign of autism, according to The Mayo Clinic. However, keep in mind that this is also a sign of hearing problems, so have your child's hearing tested before assuming she has autism. Every child with autism will display a different pattern of behaviors depending on whether the condition is mild or severe.

Poor Eye Contact

• According to the Mayo Clinic, one sign of autism is poor eye contact. Children who have autism prefer to play alone and will often look away when you look them in the eyes. A normal child will also look away when his personal space is being invaded. However, if a child continually looks away and tries to isolate himself, he may be autistic.

Aggressive Behavior

• Another symptom of autism is aggressive behavior. Children with autism will display signs of aggression as early as age one. They will fight and kick for no reason and push people away. According to the Mayo Clinic, these children will become agitated from even slight changes in their schedule or routine. An autistic child may act out when the there are bright lights in the room or when they are touched.