Can Early Signs of Autism be Seen in Infants?
Yes, early signs of autism can be seen in infants, with many red flags emerging between 6 and 18 months. Development can be monitored as early as 2 months, when most babies begin social smiling. By 6 months, parents can watch for social cues like smiles in response to faces or delays in babbling.
Key indicators to look for in infants and young children include:
- Limited eye contact or not responding to their name by 6 to 12 months.
- Lack of joint attention, such as not looking where a parent points or not sharing excitement during games like peek-a-boo.
- Delays in gestures, such as not waving bye-bye or pointing to share interest by 12 months.
- Motor milestone alerts, such as not crawling by 9 months or walking by 15 months.
- Sensory sensitivities, including overreactions to specific sounds, textures, or lights.
While these precursors are not definitive, tracking these behaviors during daily routines like bath time or play can help families identify patterns to discuss with a pediatrician.
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