Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes social, communication, and behavioral differences. Early identification can get children the support needed to promote optimal growth and development. Research has shown that early behavioral intervention can significantly improve outcomes.
Autism refers to a broad range of conditions and affects each person differently. The spectrum ranges from those with profound autism who are the most severely affected and use few to no words to those who are highly verbally fluent.
All autistic individuals display differences in social emotional-reciprocity, nonverbal communication, and the development and understanding of social relationships. Restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior are also a core feature of autism and can include sensory differences, fixated interests, insistence on sameness, or stereotyped speech and motor behavior.
“Autism is a constellation of differences in social communication and behavior and there is no single “red flag,” says Paige Siper, PhD, Chief Psychologist of the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai. “Not all autistic children will exhibit these behaviors and not all individuals who exhibit these behaviors are autistic.”
Paige Siper, PhD, Chief Psychologist of the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai
Dr. Siper explains the early signs to watch for and offers tips if concerns arise. “Trust your gut. You know your child best,” she adds. “If you have concerns about your child’s development, seek an evaluation or services to support your child.”
Here are early signs to watch for:
- Your child is not meeting some or all developmental milestones. If your child is not meeting early motor, language, or social milestones share your concerns with your child’s pediatrician.
- Social difficulties, such as lack of eye contact, lack of social smiling (smiling back when you smile at your child), difficulty directing and understanding facial expressions, and poor imitation or play skills.
- Communication difficulties such as not responding to one’s name, trouble understanding and using language or gestures such as pointing, waving, or clapping.
- Sensory differences characterized by over- or under-responsiveness (such as sensitivity to sounds or textures or lack of response to pain) or an intense interest in sensory aspects of the environment (such as peering closely at objects or repeatedly seeking out the feel or sound of certain objects).
- Restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests, such as insistence on following specific routines, or repetitive speech and behavior.
Here are tips for parents:
- Learn the signs, learn the milestones, and monitor your child’s development. If you have concerns about your child’s development (at any age), schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician to share your concerns and observations. You can refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Developmental Milestones list as a guide. The CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early” website provides resources to track milestones along with suggested activities to promote a child’s development from two months to five years old.
- Autism and general developmental evaluations do not require a referral from a health care provider. If you have concerns about autism, an autism diagnostic evaluation by expert clinicians is recommended and can be scheduled at an autism center, such as the Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai.
- You can obtain services through your state or school district. Early Intervention evaluations are available from birth to age three and will determine whether your child is eligible to receive services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy through your states Department of Health. For children between the ages of three to five, evaluations can be requested through the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) and after age five, through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). If you are in New York, you can request an evaluation to determine whether your child qualifies for services by dialing 311.
