The 4 Early Autism Signs in Infants Every Parent Must Know

Autism is a brain development disorder which causes problems in social interaction, communication and the general behavior of the affected child. The early autism signs in infants start to appear as early as six months but typically infants are diagnosed only upon reaching 3 years old.

It is important for parents to be aware of the early autism signs in infants. Early identification is important so that interventions can be implemented and parents can also seek advice and help from experts and from autism organizations. Babies suspected to have the disorder should be observed further and must be checked by pediatricians or autism experts. Early intervention is important to the success of the different treatments for children with autism. This is the reason why it is best for parents to know the early autism signs in infants.

Here are the 4 early autism signs in infants every parent must know:

Unusual interaction with others
This is the most common of all the early autism signs in infants. Autism impairs the social development of a person. Hence, babies with autism have an unusual way of connecting with others. Upon reaching 6 months, normal infants can already interact with others. This is the period when they start smiling, pointing objects of interest, babbling, and making eye contact. On the other hand, autistic infants do not smile as much and have unusual gestures and facial expressions. It is also apparent that they look at other people differently. Their gaze tends to be brief and out of the corner of the eye. They also do not want to be cuddled as much even by their own parents and prefer to be alone than with other infants.

Have a repetitive and restricted behavior
Autistic persons have difficulty in adapting to changes. They like doing things the same way and eat the same type of foods for a long period of time. They also develop a fascination over a single object, toy, or pattern. It is also evident when they display strange repetitive movements. They like banging their head, rocking their body, and flapping their hands. Some of these movements can inflict self-injuries.

Lack of interest in the surroundings
Several studies conducted showed that babies with autism react differently when confronted with certain situations. When presented with a toy, they display less enthusiasm and less effort in grabbing it. Instead they become conscious and stare at the object differently. Other signs include not responding to one's name and are unaffected by audible changes in the environment. This is why autism is sometimes associated with hearing disorder.

Extremely irritable mood
Infants with autism often have difficulties controlling their emotions. They cry and get irritated a lot. Although they are disinterested in their surroundings, there are times when they easily get provoked even by the slightest sound. They also get irritated even if their parents are cuddling them or even if they are just playing alone.

If you observe most of the early autism signs in infants in your own child, it is best if you consult a pediatrician or an expert immediately. The effects of autism can be minimized by adopting early intervention programs.

Autism should not be a reason to burden your family. Although there is still no cure for autism, early detection can really make a big difference. Visit Early Autism Signs in Infants and learn more about its causes, symptoms, and how to handle it. Reviews on the top 3 books online about autism are also available.

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Infant Signs - 9 Autism Symptoms and Behaviors to Look For in Your Infant

Infant signs of autism can include a variety of behaviors that can tip off parents of potential development issues. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder where the infant, child, or adult has difficulty with social interaction, behaviors different from others of the same age group, and have challenges with communication skills. Some specifics include:

• Prefer to play alone
• Unwilling to share or take turns with others
• Develop language skills more slowly than peers
• Lack of verbal communication
• Repetition of words or phrases
• Difficulty understanding the body language
• Inability or desire to listen to people
• Become upset and angry with change in schedule or routine
• Unusual organization skills

The above checklist is far from complete, but it will give you somewhere to start your investigation of this neurodevelopmental disorder in your child. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim that 1 in 150 infants are born with autism. And if you have a boy you should know that your boy is four times more likely to have autism over girls. This is a staggering number of children that are affected by this disorder. Every parent should know, at minimum, the basic checklist of infant signs of autism to watch for as early detection of autism is critical. The earlier the detection the earlier the diagnosis and the sooner treatment can be administered. Treatments, not cures, are more effective the sooner they are administered, so every parent should know the symptoms.

The exact cause of autism isn't known, but the disorder appears to have a strong genetic component. Researchers report if autism is present in one identical twin, there is a 75 percent chance the second twin will also be affected. Parents who have one child with autism have a 2 to 8 percent chance of having another child with the disorder.

Infant brain imaging has shown that some children with autism have bigger brains than children of the same age. This has been show to start in infants at the 12 month age. This is great news as the sooner a diagnosis of autism is reached the more effective the treatments will be at reducing the symptoms.

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Symptoms of Autism - List of the Top Behaviors Parents Need to Watch For in Babies & Young Children

Autism affects many families in America and can affect a toddler in many different ways. It can hinder a babies development socially as well as his or her fine motor and communication skills. Autism is not the childhood illness it once was, where many autistic children were hidden away and not understood. There are many clinical and research studies being analyzed to help health care providers, educators and parents come up with better solutions to treat and manage it. Everyone agrees that acknowledging the signs of autism and getting early preventative care is necessary for a child's development. More and more health care providers and researchers believe that autistic traits can be seen in babes. When these symptoms become evident, is when early intervention should begin to help reduce the impact that the disorder can have on a child's growth progress. That is why it is so important for parents to be on the forefront of recognizing the signs and symptoms of autism.

Symptoms of autism are normally seen in a kid when he or she is between a year and half to 3 years old. Other, more benign symptoms may even be noticeable amid the first few months of a child's life. Parents need to be their child's cheerleader in this instance, and always monitor their developmental growth as the reach certain age related milestones. If a parent or a health care provider can distinctly see symptoms of autism in a child on or before their first birthday, then the child can get early treatment to minimize the devastating affects of this disorder.

Early onset symptoms are often not noticed simply because there is not a noticeable progression of abnormal behavior, but a lack of a child reaching those age appropriate developmental milestones. Babies who display autistic symptoms will not purposefully grab for toys nor will they try to get someone's attention. Parent's can often think that their baby is just really well behaved and since the infant does not interact as much as other babies do that he or she is not needy. But this can be an initial warning sign that a child is autistic. And while it is certainly true that a baby who does not cry often or is withdrawn from life is easier to handle, parents should be aware that something is organically wrong with their child if they do not need attention.

Parents need to be aware that autism can be controlled if caught early, but what exactly should they search for?

If you feel your baby is not attaining their developmental milestones, then here are some red flag signs that you may need to have your child analyzed. They include:

1. If a baby does not look you in the eye, does not look intently at toys, or will not search with their eyes when their name is called can be an early warning sign of autism.
2. A baby who shows no facial emotions, such as grimacing or exuberance or anger or fear.
3. A baby who doesn't mimic your actions, whether it's smiling, scowling or waving your hand.
4. A baby who will not try to create consonant sounds, or imitate the sounds you make when you talk to him or her.
5. A baby who is not energized by the objects he or she looks at.

Red flag warning traits for kids are:

1. The toddler has a uneasy time attempting to communicate to you about his or her wants and needs.
2. The kid no longer attempts to talk or interact with you.
3. The child is having trouble learning the finer points of speech skills.

Now, most parents will be concerned if they think that their toddler starts to have any of these warning symptoms. It's just natural. If you have witnessed that your baby or child is exhibiting any of these warning symptoms then it is a best bet for you to call for an appointment with your pediatrician or family physician. In fact, even if your child is hitting their developmental milestones, it is still a good idea to have them analyzed. Your child could be a highly functioning autistic for their age, but may face challenges as they get older because of the social situations they find themselves in.

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Watch For These Common Signs of Autism in Infants

Signs of Autism in infants are a common time to notice this brain disorder. Often by six months a child with autism starts showing signs. Even though each child develops at their own rate various milestones happen around the same age in children. If a child has the developmental disorder, Autism, then it can be seen early in their life while mild forms might not be noticed until later, even in adulthood.

Parents notice how their children are growing and developments taking place. They also notice how other children around the same age are developing. Parents are not supposed to compare one another, but parents often can't help it. Sometimes parents become concerned if their child is delayed compared to other children in the same age group. Talking to a physician when a parent is concerned might help.

Here are some common signs of Autism in infants that should be treated as danger signs:

* No maintaining eye contact, nor smiling at parents or having happy facial expressions by the age of 6 months

* More interested in inanimate objects than in human contact

* Babies and toddlers develop an intense attachment to repetitive movements or patterns and if there is any change, they show high levels of agitation.

* Some infants have normal growth milestones till the age of 3 years and suddenly start going into regressions. be aware that a child that had started talking either loses the ability to pronounce or just stops speaking. They have a tendency to withdraw into themselves and just seem to live in their own world.

* Autistic children are highly sensitive to any of the five sense of smell, touch, taste, visual or audio senses. There is a change of behavior and that should be noticed.

The doctor will be able to notice if there is an issue or tell the parent to keep aware of things. They will let them know about normal milestones in development to notice and determine if they are meeting things properly. Again the doctor will tell the parent to not worry if the child seems behind in some areas. This is just a way to help the doctor to know what to observe and indicate some testing areas that will be important. These tests will be a way of determining if the child has Autism and if so what form of Autism. It could also be a way to find out if there is another issue.

It can be upsetting to notice signs of Autism in infants when it comes to the parents. Having knowledge of what to look for will help parents understand, if they have reason for concern or not. It will be a way to lead them to the proper tests. Notifying a doctor quickly once possible signs of Autism in infants are noticed will help them get treatment quickly. This will help them start coping quicker and treat the symptoms. There is not cure or perfect medications, but there are options that have shown to help some Autistic individuals.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula please visit www.childdevelopmentmedia.com.

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The Autistic Difference: From Correct Diagnosis to Accurate Treatment

Autism is a very complicated neuro biological disorder. It is actually part of a group of disorders known as ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorders. It is becoming a rather common ailment with 1 out of every 150 people being diagnosed with it. That is more common than diabetes, pediatric cancer and AIDS combined. It seems to afflict boys more often than girls. The main symptom of autism is the individual's inability to communicate and relate to others. They may also be very socially impaired, frightened around others or extremely shy. Other symptoms include being obsessed with a rigid routine or arranging and organizing objects. An autistic person may display repetitive behaviors, like constant hand or body gestures, rocking motions or eye blinking. These symptoms can be very mild or extremely severe. Sometimes autism symptoms are hidden behind more serious and debilitating handicaps. Asperger's Syndrome, a close "relative" of autism, has many of the same symptoms and characteristics.

There are no medical tests that can be administered to check for autism. Diagnosis takes place by observation of symptoms over a period of time. Scientists are not completely certain what causes autism, but they have concluded that both genetics and environmental causes can play a role. The Autism Research Institute believes strongly that environmental factors such as exposure to toxic substances and over-vaccinations of infants are key possible triggers for autism. This is due in part to the fact that the majority of individuals with autism do not present a strong family history of the illness. Recent research also seems to support the environmental connection theory, stating that autism is a whole body illness caused by a biological brain disorder.

There is at present no known cure for autism. However, there are treatment plans in place. And doctors agree that the earlier in life the treatments begin the better chance of improving symptoms. Traditionally, these involve drug therapies and behavioral interventions. These treatments are none the less designed to alleviate only the symptoms of autism. Risperdal is one such drug therapy that many doctors are using in connection with autism. It has also been used to treat bipolar disorder. The FDA recently approved its use in connection with treating children with irritability, aggression and temper tantrums. Originally, it was prescribed for people with schizophrenia as an antipsychotic drug. Parents should be aware that there are some pretty severe side effects with this drug, including weight gain, fatigue, rapid heart rate, dry mouth, respiratory infections, movement disorders, tremors, involuntary movements and muscle stiffness.

Another drug that is being used to treat autism is Secretin. It is a polypeptide neurotransmitter involved in digestion. Several reports have suggested that this drug may help alleviate some of the symptoms of autism. However, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the available evidence does not suggest that this drug is a useful treatment for children with autism. But many times, parents are so desperate in their attempts to treat their children's severe symptoms that they willingly participate in these types of treatment programs. A fairly recent method of treatment that is gaining popularity is Biomedical Treatment or Intervention. Biomedical means the application of natural science to clinical medicine.

At this point in time, the American Academy of Pediatrics still considers Biomedical Treatment to be an alternative method of therapy. That being said, there is some pretty convincing evidence presented by thousands of parents as to the benefits of Biomedical Treatment with regard to the treatment of autism and other developmental disorders like ADHD. Doctors and practitioners that promote the use of Biomedical Treatment consider the symptoms of autism to actually be an indicator of a more serious underlying condition. When the underlying condition receives proper treatment, then the symptoms of autism seem to diminish. The program starts with a systematic examination of the child's entire physical internal and external environment, starting with a gastrointestinal diagnosis to the regulation of the immune system. Metabolic and genetic abnormalities are also closely examined and treated with nutritional therapy.

More often than not, the child is put on a gluten and/or casein free diet. The system uses a combination of mainstream and alternative medicines to heal the child along with the removal of heavy metals in the body. These treatments are combined with behavior and social therapies among others. Another therapy that shows promise is the use of Methyl B12 (a vitamin) and Valtrex (a prescription drug for the treatment of certain viruses). Dr. Amy Yasko developed this method that focuses on treatment of specific genes and the removal of viruses and bacteria in the body. Therapeutic clay baths are also gaining popularity in the treatment of autism due to the powerful detoxifying effect that they claim to have. It was discovered that specifically bentonite clay draws out toxic chemicals and heavy metals through the pores in the skin when used in a bath.

It has also been reported that clay baths stimulate the immune and lymphatic systems and deep
clean the skin. Since so many children today are being diagnosed with developmental disorders like ASD and ADHD and many others, there is certainly a need for something that offers hope to these desperate parents.

By Suzanne Leavitt

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