Autism is a developmental disorder that generally begins in the first two years of a child's life. Recognizing the signs can be difficult because they may be subtle in very young children, and one or two signs alone is not necessarily a positive indication. Contact your pediatrician if you are concerned about your child's development or believe he is showing signs of autism.
Making Eye Contact
Babies generally will begin to make eye contact and communicate with people they are familiar with, especially their parents, by the time they are 5 or 6 months old. Babies who don't may be exhibiting an early sign of autism.
Not Smiling
Most babies will return a smile or smile when they are happy by 6 months. A baby who does not smile by this age may have autism.
Lack of Imitating Behavior
By 8 to 10 months, babies will begin to imitate behavior or sounds, such as clapping, sticking out their tongues and repeating simple sounds. Babies who do not engage in such behavior may be autistic.
Unaware of Surroundings
Babies and toddlers who don't seem to notice when people enter or leave a room or the activity going on around them may be exhibiting an early sign of autism.
Regressing
Children who have been hitting their developmental milestones and then regress, especially in the area of social communication, may have autism.
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