Signs of Autism
Does your child or family member exhibit these signs?
No traditional single medical test is presently available that will produce a confident diagnosis of autism. Autism is generally diagnosed on a spectrum of observed disorders by a professional. An accurate diagnosis must be based on observation of the individual’s communication, behavior, and developmental levels, and still may be masked by symptoms produced by other disorders.
Early intervention is critical to produce positive lifelong outcomes for persons with autism. If your child, family member or dependent infant exhibits the following signs, you are encouraged to seek a professional evaluation:
- Baby seems to turn away from physical contact.
- Baby seems overly active or agitated, crying all the time, or overly passive, staying quiet and interacting little with his or her surroundings and people.
- Toddler exhibits “self-stimulating” behavior, such as rocking; or he or she may seem to be unaffected by pain.
- Toddler seems unable to maintain eye contact.
- Preschooler becomes upset or angry when his routine changes.
- Preschooler insists on eating the same food at every meal or wearing the same clothes.
- Toddler is difficult to soothe when upset.
- Toddler is not interested in playing with other children.
- Toddler begins using phrases out of context.
- Toddler seems insensitive to pain.
- Toddler does not speak.
Sources: Center for Study of Autism (http://www.autism.org), DAMAR Services, Inc. (http://www.damar.org)
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