What are the Early Signs of Autism?
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The signs and symptoms of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) vary greatly. There are early signs parents can look out for based on developmental milestones by age. Some signs might be obvious, such as speech or social delays compared to same-aged peers. Some children might move towards the skills to develop those milestones, but lose the skill as their age progresses.
Though many children with ASD show developmental differences compared to same-aged peers early on, it is best to consult with your child’s pediatrician if you suspect ASD. Keep in mind that one child with ASD may not have the same delays or symptoms as another child with ASD.
Early Signs in Babies and Toddlers
Here are some early signs to look out for when your baby or toddler doesn’t:
- make eye contact with you
- watch things when they move
- smile at you or other people
- show signs of concern for others
- show affection towards caregivers and familiar people
- laugh or make squealing sounds
- play any games involving back-and-forth play
- seem to recognize familiar people
- recognize gestures like waving or shaking the head
- perform skills he/she used to know
What Parents Can Do
Monitor Your Child’s Development
Keep an eye on developmental milestones; while developmental delays do not automatically point to ASD, they may indicate a higher risk.
Trust Your Instinct and Take Action
If you suspect that your child is not meeting the developmental milestones, express your concerns to your child’s pediatrician immediately.
Don’t Wait
Though children may meet developmental milestones at different rates, the wait-and-see approach may put your child at risk for losing valuable time to start interventions and therapies.
Schedule an Autism Screening
Your child’s pediatrician should be doing routine developmental screening. If you suspect that your child has ASD, ask your pediatrician for an autism screening.
See a Developmental Specialist
Your child’s pediatrician can refer your child to a developmental specialist if he/she detects possible signs of autism.
Seek Early Intervention Services
Through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), early intervention is a federally funded program for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Your pediatrician or specialist may be able to connect you to the appropriate services in your area.
Why Families Trust Behavior Frontiers When Early Signs of Autism Appear
When early signs of autism begin to appear, timely, high-quality intervention can make a powerful difference. At Behavior Frontiers, our clinician-led ABA programs are designed to support young children during this critical developmental window, especially in our center-based early learner programs built for children under six.
What sets Behavior Frontiers apart:
- Clinician-founded and BCBA-led care grounded in evidence-based best practices
- Personalized ABA therapy plans tailored to each child’s strengths, needs, and goals
- Center-based programs for early learners focused on building school-ready social, communication, and behavioral skills
- Real-time progress monitoring through PrioraCare™, our proprietary data system
- Collaborative parent partnership with consistent communication and guidance
- Insurance-friendly access with support for navigating benefits and approvals
- Expansive service regions nationwide, ensuring families can access quality care close to home
Early identification is important, but early, personalized action is what creates progress.
