" Lydia is a bit worried. Her baby girl, Jane, does not smile at her, even when she's smiling. Jane is also unbothered when people around are crying or getting angry. Lydia is scared that something is wrong with Jane."
Autism can be difficult to diagnose as a parent because some children may display signs as early as a few months old while some will develop normally for the first months or years before exhibiting signs.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder and experts are not completely sure of its cause. The spectrum is broad and symptoms vary, so it can be difficult to determine if your child is autistic or not. However, there are some signs that make autism more likely.
Be aware of developmental milestones
Children should be able to perform certain tasks at different ages such as being able to sit, walk, or tie their shoes.
Some of the milestones to watch out for include:
You should observe your child to ensure they meet these milestones. If they don't, you should see a specialist. Additionally, they may meet these milestones, but lose them as they age, this is known as regression. You should also see a specialist if this happens.
Observe their social behavior
Children with autism respond differently to social cues than other children. You might observe that your child avoids eye contact, and doesn't respond to your smile or other facial expressions. They often lack appropriate facial expressions - you can't tell when they are happy, sad, or surprised.
Autistic children will not share things they find interesting, they don't want to participate in interactive play and find it difficult understanding the emotions of others. Additionally, they might not respond to their names when called or respond to verbal cues such as "look at this" from their parents/teachers.
Watch out for repetitive behavior
Repetitive behavior is a major sign to watch out for as your child plays. Children with ASD tend to repeat words or phrases continuously, arrange toys or objects in a specific pattern, and get upset at minor changes.
They like to create and follow routines such as playing with their toys in a specific way and may fixate on parts of object such as wheels. They tend to be obsessive about things and may react unusually to tastes, smells, textures, or sounds.
Get insight with screening tools
There are a couple of screening tools available on the internet that you can use to test if your child is showing autistic signs. These tools should not replace a professional diagnosis, they are only meant to help you get insight about whether your child has autism or not.
Examples of these are the M-CHAT-R Autism test and the PsyCom Child Autism Quiz which are available on the internet.
Seek professional help
The best way to confirm is your child has autism is by seeking a professional diagnosis. Take your child to a psychiatrist, psychologist or pediatrician for a comprehensive evaluation. The evaluation generally involves: a mental status examination, an in-depth developmental history, and the examination of behavioral markers using tools like the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale. The evaluation will reveal if your child has autism, the severity, and how to help them.
Conclusion
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may display developmental differences as babies, most commonly in their language and social skills. ASD is a broad classification and your child will not display the exact symptoms as another child. Regardless of severity, autism can be managed to ensure your child lives a full, happy life.
