| Autism is a development disorder that usually | | | | Most children use small words by the age of 18 |
| surface very early in a child's life. Some children | | | | months. Of course, the age varies from child to |
| show early signs of autism at about six months | | | | child. But if your child seems altogether too quiet |
| of age, whereas some others show obvious signs | | | | and refuses to speak, you should probably think |
| of the condition between 2 and 3 years of age. | | | | of taking her to a child specialist. |
| The parents should be forever aware of | | | | Using small phrases |
| impending trouble if they suspect something going | | | | By the time the child is 2 years old, she usually |
| wrong with their child for an extended period of | | | | would be able to make small phrases on her own, |
| time. If you keep sensing something amiss with | | | | thereby indicating her steady language and speech |
| your child, keep your eyes open for the initial | | | | development. Though some children start |
| signs of autism. | | | | speaking properly only by age 3 or so, they |
| If your child displays some strange behavior but | | | | invariably start trying from around age two. So |
| otherwise seems to develop normally as far as | | | | keep a watch of this most important language |
| other vital parameters are concerned, then there | | | | milestone. |
| mostly is nothing to be extremely worried about. | | | | Showing indifference to environment |
| If your baby smiles, stretches herself, seems | | | | Autistic children show a very early tendency to |
| concerned when she is picked up by you, | | | | withdraw from a social setup. If your baby shows |
| inquisitively goes around inspecting her hands and | | | | signs of regressing and retreating into her own |
| feet and responds to you calling her name, you | | | | shell a bit too often, you might want to show her |
| can relax in the assurance that there is nothing | | | | to pediatrician. Children with autism also do not |
| very wrong with her. | | | | respond to their parents' call, cuddles and baby |
| There are some particular signs of autism a child | | | | talk. Additionally, an autistic child will not maintain |
| displays early enough. These early symptoms of | | | | eye contact for long periods of time. |
| autism are as follows: | | | | Size of the head at birth |
| Smiling | | | | Some research studies have shown that autistic |
| Children normally start smiling by the time they | | | | children have abnormal brain growth, sometimes |
| are six months old, sometimes even earlier. If | | | | leading to these children having a small head size |
| your child just refuses to smile and stares blankly | | | | at birth, growing rapidly afterward. But there is no |
| instead, this might imply something is the matter | | | | clear evidence to prove this theory, so nothing |
| with her. | | | | can be said conclusively about this aspect. |
| Babbling | | | | Conclusion |
| By the time your baby is one year old, she starts | | | | If you should feel that your baby might not quite |
| moving her hands up and down and gesticulates | | | | be developing normally, do not delay and |
| to express herself. She also starts actively | | | | immediately take an appointment with the |
| babbling and goo-gooing by this age. If none of | | | | pediatrician. God willing, there will be nothing wrong |
| this is happening, you may want to think of a | | | | with her, but if it is, verifying the early signs of |
| possible case of autism. | | | | autism and treating the same can save both you |
| Using small words | | | | and your baby of a lot of future trouble. |