Warning Signs of Autism

  Social skills

• your child has poor eye contact
• fails to respond to his/her name
• your child resists being cuddled or held
• child appears not to hear you at times
• seems to prefer being or playing alone, may retreat into his or her own world
• appears unaware and uninterested in others' feelings

  Language Development

• a significant delay in language development. (Some children with autism may begin speaking much later than their peers, others may not begin speaking on their own at all.)
  
  
• Some children may begin to speak and then lose language skills.
• Children with autism may speak with an odd tone or in a sing-song or robot-like voice.
  
  
• Children with autism who speak may be unable to maintain the give and take of a true conversation.
  
  
• Autistic children may repeat words or phrases, but not use these words or phrases appropriately.  (This is called echolalia)

   Behavior

• Children with Autism may exhibit characteristic behaviors such as rocking, hand flapping, spinning or other repetitive behaviors.
  
  
• Children with autism are often very “routine sensitive” and will not like deviating from established daily routines.  When not able to perform a  routine or ritual  they will often become unhappy and upset.
  
  
• Some children with autism may move constantly.
  
  
• May play with toys in an unusual way.  For instance a child might be fascinated by the wheels on the car, and spin them constantly, yet not play with the car as a car.