Understanding Autism in Children

Keeping it simply with ASD- Autism

If you are here, it might be that your little one is not talking, doesn’t turn when their name is called, is playing peek-a-boo with no interest, or even a strange habit like lining up toys or other objects in a straight line. No worries, all these signs can be normal.

Autism is a little fickle thing to understand and can be confused with anxiety, ADHA/ ADD, and OCD.  Many health professionals do not like to diagnose infants until they are 2 years or older. There are special cases when infants are 18 months old, and they may start to flab their hands in the air; it can be an early sign of ASD.

I am here to tell you what I saw personally with my son and the signs that came each month as he grew up. Yes, my list is my personal notes, which I wrote down when I had many concerns to share with the doctor. So, if you’re a parent and you are positive that the ASD signs are strong. Start a journal of all stages during development. For example, when did you eliminate the bottle or the pacifier, when did babbling start, when did pointing start, when did your little one start walking, and so on? Below are a few points from my journal; you can take some of your own concerns and make a timeline for your little one.

1 month to 6 months:

• Lack of eye contact
• Lack of interest in faces or new people
• Reduced response to sounds or voices ( snap your finger slightly close to the ear and see if the baby responds to the sound (turns head or eyes towards the sound)
• Delayed social smiling (play peek-a-boo for a smile- my son never smiled)

6 months to 12 months:

• Lack of back-and-forth babbling ( my son never babbled)
• Delayed or lack of response to name being called ( my son did not respond to his name until he was 4 years old)
• Reduced interest in social games like peek-a-boo ( my son did not play or have a social life with others.)
• Avoiding cuddling or physical affection ( This one is a hard one, but my son attached himself to his dad and never liked to cuddle with mom)
• Unusual visual fixations ( starting at the ceiling)

12 months to 18 months:

• Lack of pointing or showing of interest ( my son never pointed at things he wanted and would grunt or cry)
• Delayed or no speech ( my son’s first word was at 4 years old, “dadda,” and he was nonverbal until he was 6 yrs old; yes, kindergarten was a hard time for my son and me.
• Lack of response to simple verbal requests ( please pick up toy)
• Repetitive movements or behaviors ( flapping hands, shaking legs, hitting head, poking at a specific body part, etc.)

    18 months to 24 months:

• Regression in language or social skills ( Isolation becomes more noticeable)
• Loss of previously acquired words ( little to no words)
• Difficulty with pretend or imaginative play ( playing with toys by themselves)
• Excessive lining up of toys or objects ( Can be seen sooner than 18 months)
• Insistence on strict routines or rituals ( Things have to be done their way, time, place, placement, etc. OCD comes into play here)

24 months to 5 years:

• Lack of interest in making friends ( my son did not care for anyone other than mom and dad)
• Difficulty understanding others’ feelings ( Hard topic and will need therapy probably around age 8 or older. My son was blunt and honest towards others without thinking of the person’s feelings and how it would hurt them.
• Delay or absence of meaningful speech
• Fixation on specific topics or activities ( With my son, it is all about dinosaurs. Not just any dinosaurs, Dinos from Jurassic Park)
• Sensitivity to certain sounds, textures, or lights ( If your child covers their ears, it is probably the pitch sound like a blinder,  car alarm, or egg cartage rubbing together. Textures will follow food or fabric items; bright lights can overstimulate the child.)
• Repetitive motor mannerisms like hand flapping ( frustration triggers this the most)

ASD is unique to each individual; not everyone is alike- as parents keep positive and tackle challenges each week. For example, your child cannot stand loud sounds. Begin with low but consistent sounds in the background of your daily life. Put a movie on replay, start a TV show, play the radio in the car, or bake with your child to get used to the sounds that things make. Doing this allows the child to make the connections where the sounds are coming from and not be afraid. Your child will need a lot of consistency, love, and patience. Stay positive, and keep your pink and blue puzzle bright.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

FROM THE IBARRA FAMILY

RESOURCES:

https://www.autismspeaks.org