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Early warning signs

The sooner you know, the sooner you can help.

Autism is a complex developmental disorder caused by an abnormality in the brain. Although symptoms may vary greatly from one affected person to another, there are clear behavioral signs that can be detected prior to the age of 2 years, even within the first year of life.

While many of these symptoms can be found in typically developing children, you should consult your family physician if you are concerned about your child’s development in any of the following areas.

• Failure to achieve any of the following milestones:
  • Babbling by 11 months
  • Simple gestures (e.g. waving) by 12 months
  • Single words by 16 months
  • 2-word phrases (a noun and a verb) by 24 months
• Loss of any language or social skills at any age
• Doesn’t respond when name is called
• Rarely makes eye contact when interacting with other people
• Doesn’t smile socially
• More interested in looking at objects than at people’s faces
• Avoids or ignores other children when they approach him/her
• Has odd or repetitive ways of moving hands and/or fingers
• Seems oversensitive to certain textures or sounds
• Lacks interest in toys, or plays with them in an unusual way (e.g. lining up, spinning, opening/closing parts rather than using the whole toy)
• Has to perform activities in a special way or sequence

Tips for family physicians:
What you need to know to act early