Symptoms of Autism in 8 Month Old Baby

autism

Does My Child Have Autism?

Communicable autism early makes a huge difference. By recognizing the early signs and symptoms, you can get your kid the aid they need to larn, grow, and thrive.

What is autism?

Autism expresses itself through a spectrum of symptoms. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) appears in infancy and early childhood, causing delays in many basic areas of development, such as learning to talk, play, and interact with others.

The signs and symptoms of autism vary widely, every bit do its effects. Some children with autism have only mild impairments, while others have more obstacles to overcome. Nonetheless, every child on the autism spectrum has problems, at to the lowest degree to some degree, in the following three areas:

• Communicating verbally and non-verbally.
• Relating to others and the world around them.
• Thinking and behaving flexibly.

There are unlike opinions among doctors, parents, and experts about what causes autism and how best to treat it. There is ane fact, however, that everyone agrees on: early on and intensive intervention helps. For children at risk and children who bear witness early on signs, it can make all the divergence. Just no thing your child's age, don't lose promise. Treatment tin can reduce the disorder's effects and aid your child thrive in life.

One infant'southward story

Melanie is a healthy ane-yr one-time, but her parents are worried well-nigh her evolution considering she's non doing many things that her older brother did at her age, like playing peek-a-boo and mimicking expressions and gestures. Melanie'due south mom and dad attempt to engage her with toys, songs, and games, but nix they practice gets her interest, let alone a laugh or a smile. In fact, she rarely makes eye contact. And although her hearing has been checked and is normal, she doesn't babble, make other baby noises, or reply when her parents phone call her proper name. Melanie needs to be checked out by a child development specialist right away.

How parents tin can spot the alert signs

As a parent, y'all're in the best position to spot the earliest alarm signs of autism. You know your child better than anyone and observe behaviors and quirks that a pediatrician, in a quick fifteen-minute visit, might not have the gamble to come across. Your child's pediatrician tin can be a valuable partner, only don't discount the importance of your ain observations and feel. The central is to educate yourself then yous know what'due south typical and what'south not.

[Read: Autism Spectrum Disorders]

Monitor your child'southward evolution. Autism involves a variety of developmental delays, so keeping a shut eye on when—or if—your child is hit the key social, emotional, and cerebral milestones is an effective mode to spot the trouble early on. While developmental delays don't automatically point to autism, they may indicate a heightened gamble.

Take action if you're concerned. Every kid develops at a different footstep, and so you don't need to panic if your child is a lilliputian tardily to talk or walk. When it comes to salubrious development, there'south a broad range of "typical." But if your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, or you suspect a problem, share your concerns with your kid'due south doctor immediately. Don't wait.

Don't have a expect-and-see arroyo. Many concerned parents are told, "Don't worry" or "Wait and encounter." But waiting is the worst thing you can exercise. You hazard losing valuable fourth dimension at an age where your child has the best chance for comeback. Furthermore, whether the delay is acquired past autism or some other gene, developmentally delayed kids are unlikely to just "abound out of" their problems. In order to develop skills in an expanse of delay, your child needs extra help and targeted treatment.

Trust your instincts. Ideally, your child'south md will take your concerns seriously and perform a thorough evaluation for autism or other developmental delays. But sometimes, even well-meaning doctors miss blood-red flags or underestimate bug. Listen to your gut if it's telling you something is wrong, and exist persistent. Schedule a follow-up date with the doctor, seek a second opinion, or ask for a referral to a child development specialist.

Regression of any kind is a serious autism alert sign

Some children with autism spectrum disorder start to develop communication skills and and so regress, usually between 12 and 24 months. For example, a child who was communicating with words such as "mommy" or "upwards" may end using linguistic communication entirely, or a child may finish playing social games he or she used to enjoy such as peek-a-boo, patty cake, or waving "good day-adieu." Whatever loss of speech, babbling, gestures, or social skills should be taken very seriously, as regression is a major cherry-red flag for autism.

Signs and symptoms of autism in babies and toddlers

If autism is caught in infancy, treatment can take full advantage of the young brain's remarkable plasticity. Although autism is difficult to diagnose before 24 months, symptoms oftentimes surface between 12 and 18 months. If signs are detected by 18 months of age, intensive treatment may help to rewire the brain and reverse the symptoms.

[Read: Autism Treatments, Therapies, and Interventions]

The earliest signs of autism involve the absenteeism of typical behaviors—not the presence of atypical ones—and so they tin can be tough to spot. In some cases, the earliest symptoms of autism are even misinterpreted as signs of a "practiced babe," since the infant may seem quiet, independent, and undemanding. Nonetheless, you lot can catch alert signs early if you know what to look for.

Some autistic infants don't respond to cuddling, reach out to exist picked upward, or expect at their mothers when being fed.

Early signs

Your baby or toddler doesn't:

• Make eye contact, such as looking at you lot when existence fed or smiling when beingness smiled at.
• Respond to their proper name, or to the sound of a familiar phonation.
• Follow objects visually or follow your gesture when you point things out.
• Point or moving ridge goodbye, or use other gestures to communicate.
• Brand noises to get your attending.
• Initiate or respond to cuddling or reach out to be picked upwards.
• Imitate your movements and facial expressions.
• Play with other people or share interest and enjoyment.
• Notice or care if you hurt yourself or feel discomfort.

Developmental red flags

The following delays warrant an immediate evaluation by your child's pediatrician:

Past six months: No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions.

By ix months: No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions.

By 12 months: Lack of response to name.

Past 12 months: No blathering or "baby talk."

By 12 months: No dorsum-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving.

By xvi months: No spoken words.

By 24 months: No meaningful ii-give-and-take phrases that don't involve imitating or repeating.

Signs and symptoms in older children

As children get older, the red flags for autism become more diverse. At that place are many warning signs and symptoms, but they typically revolve around impaired social skills, spoken language and linguistic communication difficulties, non-verbal advice difficulties, and inflexible beliefs.

Signs of social difficulties

• Appears disinterested or unaware of other people or what'due south going on effectually them.
• Doesn't know how to connect with others, play, or make friends.
• Prefers not to be touched, held, or cuddled.
• Doesn't play "pretend" games, engage in group games, imitate others, or use toys in creative means.
• Has trouble understanding feelings or talking nearly them.
• Doesn't seem to hear when others talk to them.
• Doesn't share interests or achievements with others (drawings, toys).

Basic social interaction can be difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder. Many kids on the autism spectrum seem to prefer to live in their own globe, aloof and discrete from others.

Signs of speech and language difficulties

• Speaks in an atypical tone of voice, or with an odd rhythm or pitch (e.thousand. ends every sentence as if asking a question).
• Repeats the same words or phrases over and over, often without chatty intent.
• Responds to a question by repeating it, rather than answering information technology.
• Uses language incorrectly (grammatical errors, wrong words) or refers to him or herself in the third person.
• Has difficulty communicating needs or desires.
• Doesn't understand elementary directions, statements, or questions.
• Takes what is said besides literally (misses undertones of humor, irony, and sarcasm).

Children with autism spectrum disorder take difficulty with oral communication and language. Often, they kickoff talking late.

Signs of nonverbal communication difficulties

• Avoids heart contact.
• Uses facial expressions that don't match what they are saying
• Doesn't pick up on other people'southward facial expressions, tone of vocalisation, and gestures.
• Makes very few gestures (such as pointing). May encounter as cold or "robot-like."
• Reacts unusually to sights, smells, textures, and sounds. May exist particularly sensitive to loud noises. Can also be unresponsive to people entering/leaving, also as efforts by others to attract the kid'south attention.
• Singular posture, clumsiness, or eccentric means of moving (e.grand., walking exclusively on tiptoe).

Children with autism spectrum disorder have problem picking upwardly on subtle nonverbal cues and using body linguistic communication. This makes the "discussion" of social interaction very difficult.

Signs of inflexibility

• Follows a rigid routine (east.g., insists on taking a specific road to schoolhouse).
• Has difficulty adapting to any changes in schedule or environment (due east.thousand., throws a tantrum if the furniture is rearranged or bedtime is at a different time than usual).
• Unusual attachments to toys or foreign objects such as keys, light switches, or rubber bands. Obsessively lines things upwards or arranges them in a certain club.
• Preoccupation with a narrow topic of interest, ofttimes involving numbers or symbols (east.one thousand., memorizing and reciting facts near maps, railroad train schedules, or sports statistics).
• Spends long periods watching moving objects such equally a ceiling fan, or focusing on one specific part of an object such equally the wheels of a toy car.
• Repeats the same deportment or movements over and over again, such as flapping easily, rocking, or twirling (known every bit self-stimulatory beliefs, or "stimming"). Some researchers and clinicians believe that these behaviors may soothe children with autism more than than stimulate them.

Children with autism spectrum disorder are often restricted, inflexible, and even obsessive in their behaviors, activities, and interests.

Common restricted and repetitive behaviors

• Hand flapping
• Rocking back and forth
• Spinning in a circumvolve
• Finger flicking
• Head banging
• Staring at lights
• Moving fingers in front of the eyes
• Snapping fingers

• Tapping ears
• Scratching
• Lining up toys
• Spinning objects
• Cycle Spinning
• Watching moving objects
• Flicking light switches on and off
• Repeating words or noises

Causes of autism

Until recently, most scientists believed that autism is caused mostly by genetic factors. But groundbreaking new inquiry indicates that ecology factors may also be important in the development of autism.

Babies may be built-in with a genetic vulnerability to autism that is and so triggered by something in the external environs, either while he or she is still in the womb or onetime after birth.

It'south important to note that the environment, in this context, means anything outside the body. It's not limited to things similar pollution or toxins in the temper. In fact, one of the most of import environments appears to be the prenatal environment.

Prenatal factors that may contribute to autism

Taking antidepressants during pregnancy, specially in the beginning 3 months.

Nutritional deficiencies early in pregnancy, particularly not getting enough folic acid.

The age of the mother and father.

Complications at or before long after nativity, including very depression nascence weight and neonatal anemia

Maternal infections during pregnancy.

Exposure to chemical pollutants, such every bit metals and pesticides, while pregnant.

More research on these prenatal risk factors is needed, but if you lot're pregnant or trying to conceive, it can't hurt to take steps now to reduce your infant's risk of autism.

Reducing the risk of autism: Tips for expectant mothers

Take a multivitamin. Taking 400 micrograms of folic acrid daily helps prevent nativity defects such as spina bifida. It's not clear whether this will also assistance reduce risk of autism, merely taking the vitamins can't hurt.

Enquire about SSRIs. Women who are taking an SSRI (or who develop depression during pregnancy) should talk with a clinician about all the risks and benefits of these drugs. Untreated depression in a female parent can as well affect her child's well-beingness later on, and so this is not a elementary decision to make.

Do prenatal care. Eating nutritious food, trying to avoid infections, and seeing a clinician for regular check-ups can increase the chances of giving birth to a healthy kid.

Source: Harvard Wellness Publications

Autism and vaccines

While you can't control the genes your child inherits, or shield him or her from every environmental danger, there is one very of import thing y'all can do to protect the health of your child: brand sure he or she is vaccinated on schedule.

Despite a lot of controversy on the topic, scientific research does not back up the theory that vaccines or their ingredients crusade autism. Five major epidemiologic studies conducted in the U.S., United kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark, found that children who received vaccines did not have higher rates of autism. Additionally, a major safety review by the Found of Medicine failed to find any evidence supporting the connectedness. Other organizations that have concluded that vaccines are non associated with autism include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.Due south. Food and Drug Assistants (FDA), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the World Health Arrangement (WHO).

Myths and facts nigh childhood vaccinations
Myth: Vaccines aren't necessary. Fact: Vaccines protect your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases, including measles, meningitis, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. These diseases are uncommon today considering vaccines are doing their job. But the leaner and viruses that cause these diseases even so exist and can be passed on to children who aren't immunized.
Myth: Vaccines cause autism. Fact: Despite extensive research and safety studies, scientists and doctors have not constitute a link between childhood vaccinations and autism or other developmental issues. Children who are non vaccinated practise not have lower rates of autism spectrum disorders.
Myth: Vaccines are given also early. Fact: Early vaccination protects your child from serious diseases that are about probable to occur—and most dangerous—in babies. Waiting to immunize your baby puts him or her at risk. The recommended vaccination schedule is designed to work best with children's immune systems at specific ages. A different schedule may not offering the same protection.
Myth: Too many vaccines are given at in one case. Fact: You may have heard theories that the recommended vaccine schedule overloads young children's immune systems and may even crusade autism. Merely research shows that spacing out vaccinations doesn't improve children's health or lower their gamble of autism, and as noted above, actually puts them at adventure for potentially fatal diseases.

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What to do if you're worried

If your child is developmentally delayed, or if you've observed other red flags for autism, schedule an appointment with your pediatrician correct away. In fact, it's a skillful idea to have your child screened past a doctor even if he or she is hitting the developmental milestones on schedule. The American University of Pediatrics recommends that all children receive routine developmental screenings, as well equally specific screenings for autism at nine, eighteen, and 30 months of age.

Schedule an autism screening. A number of specialized screening tools have been developed to place children at hazard for autism. Most of these screening tools are quick and straightforward, consisting of aye-or-no questions or a checklist of symptoms. Your pediatrician should also get your feedback regarding your kid'south behavior.

[Read: Helping Your Kid with Autism Thrive]

See a developmental specialist. If your pediatrician detects possible signs of autism during the screening, your child should be referred to a specialist for a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. Screening tools can't be used to make a diagnosis, which is why further cess is needed. A specialist can deport a number of tests to make up one's mind whether or not your child has autism. Although many clinicians volition not diagnose a child with autism earlier 30 months of age, they volition be able to utilize screening techniques to determine when a cluster of symptoms associated with autism is nowadays.

Seek early intervention services. The diagnostic process for autism is tricky and can sometimes take a while. Just you can take reward of treatment as shortly every bit yous suspect your child has developmental delays. Ask your medico to refer you to early on intervention services. Early intervention is a federally funded plan for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Children who demonstrate several early warning signs may accept developmental delays. They volition benefit from early on intervention whether or not they meet the full criteria for an autism spectrum disorder. In other words, there is more than adventure involved in the await-and-see approach than in receiving early intervention.

Ted Hutman, Ph.D. is Assistant Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at the David Geffen Schoolhouse of Medicine at UCLA and a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Santa Monica, CA.

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Source: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/autism-learning-disabilities/does-my-child-have-autism.htm

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