Signs of Autism

A recent study has estimated that as many as six out of one thousand children could be autistic. This alarming figure has caused a number of new parents to be on the lookout for signs of autism in their child.

The prominence that autism receives in the media today has also led many people to learn more about autism and its various symptoms.

While there are a few fairly clear-cut indicators of autism in a child, there are also many behavioral patterns that may cause parents to suspect the presence of autism where in fact there is none.

An unusual obsession or attachment with a particular object or plaything–which is a behavior that has oftentimes been linked to autism–can in fact be nothing more than a temporary fixation.

Difficulty with language past a certain age is another symptom that may or may not be indicative of autism.

The inverse is also true; a certain child may not display any of the typical signs of autism–he or she may be able to converse normally for example–yet may still be diagnosed as autistic.

If you suspect that your child is autistic, the only way to be able to tell for sure is by consultation with your pediatrician.

In any case here are some signs that may possibly indicate autism in your child:

Does not make any gestures or verbalize (talk gibberish) by the age of one
Does not speak a single word by one year and four months old
Is not able to combine two words together by age 2
Does not respond to his name being called
Loses any language or social skills that were previously learned during the early months
Has difficulty or inability maintaining eye contact
Has inability or no interest in playing with many types of toys
Does not respond to sound stimulus

Remember: all of these by themselves do not necessarily mean that your child is autistic. It is only through a physician’s diagnosis that you will be able to tell for sure whether these are indeed signs of autism.