How to Recognize the Early Signs of Autism

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Early intervention is important for children with autism, a developmental disorder that inhibits socialization. So be on the lookout for warning signs.

Warning
Do not assume that if your baby exhibits behaviors associated with autism, they necessarily have the disorder. Observe them carefully and bring any concerns to a doctor.

Step 1: Pay attention to babbling
Pay attention to when your baby begins to babble. They should start at around five months old.

Step 2: Monitor eye contact
Begin monitoring eye contact at around six to nine months, when infants generally start smiling in response to their parents’ grins. Babies with autism tend to avoid looking at their parents.

Step 3: Try some games
If your baby makes a sound, make one back and see if they reciprocate. Babies with autism usually do not take part in this verbal turn taking, nor do they participate in peek-a-boo.

Step 4: Try to get their attention
Note whether your baby responds to their name: They should begin to do so starting around 10 months. Babies with autism often ignore people trying to get their attention and don’t solicit anyone else’s attention.

Tip
If your baby ignores you when you call their name, get their ears checked. They might have a hearing impairment.

Step 5: Check for 12-month milestones
Note their behavior at around 12 months. By this point, most babies are pointing, waving, grasping objects, and attempting to speak.

Step 6: Gauge their sensitivity
Gauge your baby’s sensitivity to sound and touch. Many children with autism are unusually sensitive to loud noises and hate being cuddled or touched--yet they sometimes under-react to pain.

Step 7: Study their focus
Note their focus: Do they tend to fixate on a favorite object, or part of an object, to the exclusion of other people, including other toddlers?

Step 8: Notice repetition
Look for repetitive movements associated with autism, such as rocking back and forth, hand flapping, and twirling.

Step 9: Notice rigidity
See how set in their ways they are. Children with autism often exhibit strong resistance to changes in their routine.

Step 10: Count their words
Keep track of their vocabulary. At 18 months, most babies can say about a dozen words, and by the two-year mark, they are usually initiating two-word phrases.

Step 11: Don’t ignore regression
Some children with autism seem to develop normally until 18 to 24 months, then stop or regress in speech and other growth. Consult your pediatrician if your child regresses or if they exhibit any of the behaviors previously discussed.

Did You Know?
Canadian researchers have found that the intelligence level of people with autism spectrum disorders has been underestimated, and that many of them could excel at highly structured jobs in math, science, and law.

[MysticWulfe]

also this video isnt meant to be mean, it is for parents of young children to use as a guide for some of the basic outwardly expressed symptoms.

[WavePrism]

My god, these comments... I feel bad for the people who aren't watching this video as a joke.

[lapaula_fj_]

Hiya! Just a girl with Asperger's (autistic spectrum disorder) here. Started exhibiting symptoms at nursery school but was diagnosed at 11. Currently 16 going on 17. Got huge trauma when discovered (family didn't tell) and bullied at school for being unusual. Hypersensible, non-resilient. But still talented and smart. ASDs have problems, but also perks (f.e. not participating in risky social behaviors often)

[erinthedemonhog]

I have autism, but its not crazy bad. But, I'm very sensitive to loud sounds, like fire alarms.

Edit: I'm a lot better now since I'm an adult now & my autism isn't as bad as it was when I was kid. I also had therapy for it.

[problemsfan]

As an autistic person, I clicked this video with uncertainty- thinking it would be another Offensive Abled-Person scare video. But it ended up being quite helpful and accurate. Thank you!

[mousehouse]

I'm tired of people using autism as an insult, maybe i should show them this video

[frizzheadfitnessi_frizzh]

Alot of you seem to be taking this as a joke. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Some of us truely need this information and do not appreciate the ill mannered comments.

[PPGirl-lffp]

This was an amazing video for me, as I have two brothers with suspected autism and another with autistic traits! The two of them DEFINITELY have these symptoms!

[FTWUnitedGamers]

I totally agree with miro lei I have autism too and I am sick of people who offend disabilities

[jagirl]

i have autism but i wasn't tested til i was 16 so i didn't get any help til it was almost too late. i used to excel in test scores, they were at the high school level since i was in 3rd or 4th grade, but my grades were horrible. i can't do the complex math equations that were child's play for me before, but i excel in certain arts and crafts, like sewing, knitting, photography, cooking, and jewelry making. i also know a bit of japanese, but never took a course

[RhonaMiller]

STOP MAKING FUN OF THIS IT IS ACTUALLY REALLY IMPORTANT AND CAN BE SO EASILY MUSSED IT TOOK MY DOCTOR 15 YEARS TO DIAGNOSE ME AND ITS NOT A JOKING SUBJECT

[ChelseyBrianaSears]

My brother has mild autism 💙 he's literally my best friend, can't tell that he's got autism but he does keep to himself a lot but he also likes to be sociable. He's very sweet, caring and funny. I love him so much!! 💙

[BenjyCoe]

When I saw the thumbnail I thought the kid was holding a fidget spinner

[Chris]

I was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3, and my parents went through A LOT to help me. It took many years of therapy and other forms of professional help to get me to where I am today.
As a child, I was sensitive to certain loud noises. And today, I am VERY sensitive to anger and being yelled at, so I don't take it very well and will either flee from an argument or situation that would make someone mad, or feel the need to put someone in their place.
I have a huge passion for old steam locomotives and I've had that passion since childhood.
I'm also very shy, especially around girls, so I'm not good at approaching or being aggressive, so I need to be the one who is approached in order to open up.
I'm now 29, live on my own, got a driver's license and a car at age 17, graduated from college with a degree in automotive mechanics, work at Disneyland in Resort Transportation.
Living with autism is no joke and it's constant battle. I have friends with autism, and I've met others on the lower end of the spectrum. I have fought many battles as have most of my friends, so whenever I meet someone with autism, it's very emotional, and all I want to do is help. It's a tough road, but know that those with autism are no less of a person, they just learn differently from most people. Heck, there are some people where you can't even tell if they're on the high end of the autistic spectrum until they tell you, so autism varies from those who can't really move or speak at all, to those who are literally not much different from an average person with the exception of how they learn things and social behavior.

[MauiMauiMe]

Early intervention! Don't be embarrassed, it's not about blame but about giving your child the best care possible so they can thrive.

[Minchboo]

I watched this at the age of 6, some of these symptoms I even had at that age; I told my mum, she didn’t believe me.

6 years later, 12 years old- I have diagnosed autism, thanks for informing my parents Howcast!

[plasticbeach]

can y'all stop talking about memes a lot of people actually need to know this and struggle with it...

[hellocortez]

1:11 "If your baby ignores you, get their ears checked."
This sounded like a passive agressive insult

[Irene]

Sounds like me, I'm more attached to flowers than people, I hate loud noise and bright lights :\

[renskeschelify]

I'm an 17 year old girl. and I just found out I have Autism 1, 5 year ago. this doesn't mean i've had autism for 1, 5 year, ive had it my whole life. its something you're born with. but we didnt know because not everyone who has autism has the same problems and if you do have the same problems that doesnt mean it bothers you just as much as someone else. people outside my family wont know i have autism because i can control most of my reactions when im not at home. people just think im shy. i just want people to know that what you just saw in this video about autistic people doesnt mean everyone with autism is like that. this is just the "extreme version" and that is what people without autism forget