How to Recognize the Signs of Autism

Infants as young as 12 months old can display indicators of autism. These signs are sometimes difficult to distinguish, and parents might confuse them with hearing problems. Some babies might actually have hearing loss or may simply be late-bloomers, but if your child is showing certain autistic red-flags, you should request an evaluation from your pediatrician. Your doctor can evaluate your baby at each well child check and track her progress. The official autism screening occurs when your child is at least 16 months old. Early diagnosis is important to the child's development.

Steps

Identify Signs of Autism in Infants

1. Note your baby's first smile. By 6 months old, he should be expressing happiness and smiling when he feels joyful.
   
2. Observe their other facial expressions. By 9 months old, they should be interacting with others by displaying certain expressions like grimacing, pouting and grinning to fit their mood.
   
3. Listen to your baby. By the time he is 1 year old, expect babbling. The noise might not make any sense. It is common for babies to make repetitive sounds, but he should be practicing different formations of noises and rhythms on his tongue.
   
4. Examine your child's movements at 12 months. She should begin making gestures. Many babies start waving bye-bye and pointing to objects they want. Place a toy out of her reach to see if she will reach for it.
   
5. Talk to your baby all throughout the day. Although he probably won't comprehend every word you speak, he will pick up bits and pieces of meaning. He should begin saying his own words by 16 months. Some common first words are "uh-oh," "dada," "mama," and "doggie."
   
6. Listen for groups of 2 or more words by the time your baby is 2. She should be able to put at least 2 words together on her own without copying another person's voice. The phrases should make sense.
   
7. Pay attention to speech regression. Some infants meet their milestones and then lose skills at an older age.
   

Identify Signs of Autism in Older Children

1. Observe your child's interaction with others. Autistic children may not develop friendships with peers. They sometimes lack empathy and do not react to others' feelings. It is normal for autistic children to be uninterested in other people's joy and accomplishments.
   
2. Notice the child's nonverbal communication skills. Lack of eye contact and facial expressions could be a sign of autism.
   
3. Pay attention to your child's verbal communication. Difficulty beginning or continuing a conversation might be another indicator. Autistic children may repeat phrases over and over, and almost half of people diagnosed never speak at all.
   
4. Note if your child focuses on certain pieces of a whole instead of the object itself. For example, she might fixate on one physical piece of a dollhouse instead of playing with the entire house.
   
5. Determine whether your son is obsessed by a particular topic. Fascination with one topic, like computer games or license plates, may be a warning sign.
   
6. Examine your child's routine. Many autistic children have a hard time breaking their routine. For example, your daughter might insist on sitting in the same chair at dinner each night or she might insist on eating her foods in a particular order.
   

Sources and Citations

• http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/learnsigns.php#redflags
  
• http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/autism-symptoms
  

ðe:Wie man Autismus erkennt
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How to Explain Autism to Children

Sometimes it is difficult to explain to young children what autism is, which can be frustrating when a new brother or sister, or classmate has the condition. This article will provide you which some ideas on how to approach this topic with your child.

Steps

1. If the child is going to have a new brother or sister with the condition, try and sit them down with you quietly. Talk to your child's teacher if a new classmate has autism or Asperger's Syndrome; it would perhaps be best to hold a class discussion, as children usually respond well to this approach as a group.
   
2. Explain first that it is wrong to tease or make fun of people because they are different before leaping straight into the subject. It may confuse the child and make them less likely to take in what you're saying.
   
3. Explain why their new brother/sister/classmate will act slightly different, and tell them that the other child may be quiet, or may not want to play with them or talk to them a lot, but that it doesn't mean that they are being nasty. Explain that it's just the way they are.
   
4. Ask the child to repeat what you have said back to you, and encourage them to ask questions that they have to you.
   

Tips

• The child may be curious, so it is best to talk to them about it before they become inquisitive to the child in question, which may turn awkward.
  
• Be honest when answering their questions about the condition.
  
• Make sure you have an understanding of the topic before you discuss it with your child, do your research.
  

Warnings

• Don't explain the genetics behind Autism, only the behaviour, or the child will become confused.
  
• Your child may be compelled to go ask questions to the child in question. Discourage this gently, unless you know that the autistic child will not mind talking about it.
  
• Try not to overplay the importance of giving the child space, this may lead your child to believe that the Autistic child should be avoided completely, leaving him or her feeling isolated. Encourage your child to talk to him or her, should he or she want to talk or ask questions.
  

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How to Treat Autism

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are developmental disabilities that cause considerable impairments in social interplay and communication and the existence of atypical behavior and preoccupation. An ASD begins before the age of 3 and lasts a person's lifetime. Those who suffer from ASDs respond differently to stimulus, and have very dissimilar ways of learning. The reasoning and comprehension abilities of people with ASDs can vary from gifted to severely challenged. Autism is included in this group of disorders. This article will provide information to assist you in the treatment of autism.

Steps

1. Seek professional help. There is no medical examination for ASDs. Health care providers rely on behavioral symptoms of a child during routine checkups. There are screening tests that can also be done during these visits. If your child's doctor does not regularly screen your child, ask that he/she do so.
   
2. Understand that every child with autism is different. Appropriate treatment should meet with individual needs.
   
3. Be aware that some parents may use regimens not commonly advocated by their child's doctor to assist the symptoms of autism. These treatments are called complementary and alternative treatments. The following is a list of treatments that fit this category and examples of what they may involve:
   
   • Energy therapy - reiki, acupuncture, Therapeutic Touch
     
   • Alternative medical systems - aromatherapy, homeopathy
     
   • Manipulative and body-based method - deep pressure, acupressure, hydro massage
     
   • Mind-body intervention - auditory integration, meditation, dance therapy
     
   • Biologically based therapy - using herbs, special diet, and vitamins
     
4. Know that there is no magic elixir that will cure autism. There are medicines that can help in the treatment of autism symptoms. The following is a list of symptoms that can be helped with medication:
   
   • Severe outburst of anger
     
   • Aggression
     
   • Elevated energy level
     
   • Self-injurious behavior
     
   • Inability to concentrate
     
   • Depression
     
   • Seizures
     
5. Consult with your health care provider to ensure your child is receiving the proper treatments for his/her individual needs.
   

Video

Michael Davis, MD, pediatrician, talks about autism in children, as well as autism treatments.

Tips

• Some parents feel a change in their child’s diet will improve how the child feels or behaves.
  
• ASDs can be detected as early as 18 months.
  
• ASDs include autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder (including atypical autism), and Asperger syndrome. These conditions have similar symptoms, but are dissimilar in terms of when the symptoms begin, their severity, and the exact causes of the symptoms.
  
• Early detection of developmental delays and beginning intervention services quickly can better outcomes and assist a child in attaining his/her possibility for achievement.
  
• Always maintain a close and open communication with your child's pediatrician.
  
• Remember that ASDs cannot usually be cured, and will remain with child for their lifetimes. Also remember that just because the child has an ASD, it makes them no less aware of what is happening, and does not make them physically different in any way. Try to treat them like normal people, help them when they need it, and never let them look at it as a disorder, until they are old enough to undertsand this. Instead, show them it can be as much of an advantage as a disadvantage
  
• Keep in mind that many brilliant, famous people have Autistic Spectrum Disorders, including Albert Einstien and Thomas Edison.
  
• It may be beneficial to try to introduce them to acting, and to other Autistic people. Acting will help work on their social skills, and meeting others with similar difficulties may help them to perceive the world in a brighter way, or give them a coping method.
  
• ASD children often have extremely bad tempers from a young age, so if your child has temper issues, or you are worried your child has an ASD, start teaching them coping methods from a young age.
  

Warnings

• Children with ASDs may also have epilepsy or mental retardation.
  
• Some children with ASDs have psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression.
  
• Some children with ASDs may have attention deficits, sensory concerns, sleep difficulties, and gastrointestinal upset.
  
• Support neurodiversity. Do not completely treat autism - keep the rare gifts that they have. It is much better to accept an autistic person than to cure them completely.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Help a Family Member Who Has Autism or Asperger Syndrome
  
• How to Handle Your Child's Temper Tantrum
  
• How to Enhance Learning for an Autistic Child
  

Sources and Citations

• http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.htm
  
• http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/overview.htm
  
• http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/faq.htm
  

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How to Talk to Someone with Autism

People with autism may appear intimidating to others, but this guide will help you talk to them.

Steps

1. Avoid eye contact. Most autistic people don't make eye contact, and may feel uncomfortable if you try to force them to do so. Having to make eye contact may also make it harder for an autistic person to speak.
   
2. Don't get too personal. If you have questions about autism, it's okay to ask, but asking about a person's symptoms is rude. Don't ask an autistic person anything that you wouldn't feel comfortable asking a non-autistic person.
   
3. Avoid physical contact. Most autistics are very sensitive to touch, and even a friendly pat on the back can be painful. Once you know a particular autistic person well, they may be more open to being touched, but you should still be cautious, and be especially careful not to startle them.
   
4. Try to be understanding. Someone with autism will most likely come across as somewhat odd, or even rude, when you try to talk to them. This is because autistics don't understand the social cues that normal people use to communicate. Most autistic people have trouble understanding sarcasm and humor, and may get confused or frustrated if you don't mean exactly what you say. If you're talking to someone with autism and they start acting strangely, try to figure out if they've misunderstood something you've said, or perhaps you misunderstood them.
   
5. Find some common ground. Most autistics have a few topics that they're particularly interested in, and they will always be willing to talk about those things.
   
6. Don't wait for the autistic person to start a conversation. Most autistics have trouble starting conversations, and might not pick up on the clues that you want to talk to them. If you want to talk to someone who has autism, just go and do it! Don't worry if it seems awkward, most autistics won't notice that anyway.
   
7. Finishing the conversation might be a little awkward, too. If you've started talking to an autistic person about something they're interested in, they might be so busy talking about it that they miss the signs that you're getting bored, or they might not understand the signs even if they do see them. On the other hand, if you're talking about something that doesn't interest them, they might not know how to change the subject or let you know that they'd rather go do something else. Some autistics will solve the latter problem by simply walking away; remember that the autistic person might not know of any better way to end the conversation. If you're the one who's ready to leave, don't beat about the bush. Remember that subtle clues aren't going to work. You don't have to make a scene or get rude, just get their attention and let them know that you have other things to do right now.
   

Warnings

• 1. Avoid "Wh" questions such as Why, When, Who, and Where. Autistic people, especially children, usually find these questions intimidating.
     
  2. If you can tell that the individual is getting more and more stressed or anxious as you are talking to them LEAVE, come back later. They had enough stimulation for now, they are overloaded and need some peace. Autistics don't filter out things the same way as most people do and if they are overstimulated enough they could have a "stress attack" or "melt down." This does not mean that they don't like you, it just means they had enough for the day.
     

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• How to Make Friends in Middle School
  
• How to Meet People from Other Schools
  
• How to Get Other People to Be Nice to You
  
• How to Make Friends With the Popular People As a "Peasant" 

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