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Hi hun i am shell mum of 6 four with autism i also have Aspergers syndrome I knew at 5 weeks with my son with classic autism and i had to fight for nearly two years ,all i got was he is to young to tell yet. Go to you gp ask the to send you to your local child development center at your hospital. they will do a multydicaplinary assessment.keep shouting do not give up here is some info to look at THE EARLIEST SIGNS OF AUTISM RESPONDING TO THEIR NAME Some of the earliest indicators of autism spectrum disorder are being confirmed through studies. One such study has shown that a child who does not respond to his or her name by the age of 1 year may be more than likely to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disorder by age 2. The tendency of infants to respond when their names are called is one of the most consistently documented behaviors in infancy that distinguishes children later diagnosed with autism from those with typical development or developmental delays. One year old infants whose older siblings had autism, and who were therefore at risk for autism, were compared with control infants who were not at high risk of developing the disorder. While each child sat at a table playing with a small toy, a researcher walked behind the child and called his or her name in a clear voice. If the child did not respond after 3 seconds, the name was called again up to two times. Of those children that responded to their name on the first or second call at 12 months of age: 100% of the infants in the control group passed this test. 86% in the at-risk group passed the test. 89% did not have an autism spectrum disorder by the age of 2. 94% did not have developmental delays by the age of 2. A portion of the children from both groups were followed for another two years to monitor their development. Of those children who were followed who did not respond to their name on the first or second call at age 12 months: Three-fourths were identified with developmental problems at age 2. Of those eventually diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder: Half of them had failed the test at one year of age. Of those identified with any kind of developmental delay: 39% had failed the test. Failure to respond to their name at one-year may be a useful indicator of children who would benefit from a more thorough developmental assessment. However, because some children passed the test and were still later identified with an autism spectrum disorder or developmental delay, the test is unable to identify all children at risk. This test is simple and can prove to be a useful tool for pediatricians, parents, and caregivers. The risk associated with this easy test would logically go up as the child ages. If a child is still not responding to their name by others consistently by the age of two years, it is important for a parent to obtain a developmental screening and evaluation. The researchers concluded: "If a child fails to orient to name, particularly reliably over time, this child has a high likelihood of some type of developmental abnormality and should be referred for more frequent screening, comprehensive assessment and, if indicated, preventive early intervention." An extremely important point to make about this test is that the child should not just respond to mom and dad's voice to a name call. They should not respond only to other relatives and caregivers they know well. They should respond by turning to any person that calls their name. There was no trend seen in either groups at age 6 months, indicating that this is too early a time to test. FIRST SIGNS There are social and communication signs that should never be ignored by a parent. These signs are not typically a part of a child's unique personality, but are, in clinical terms "absolute indicators" that a child needs to be evaluated as soon as possible. These "red flags" are: * No big or warm smiles or other joyful expressions by 6 months of age or thereafter. * No babbling by 12 months of age. * No back and forth gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months of age. * No words by 16 months of age. * No 2 word meaningful phrases (without imitating or repeating) by 24 months of age. * Any loss of speech or babbling or social skills at any age. You can read more about these Red Flags at www.firstsigns.org to learn about what to look for and how to go about getting help for your child. A link for First Signs is provided at the bottom of this page. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also have their own list of "red flags" for autism: At 6 months of age: Not making eye contact with parents during interaction. Not cooing or babbling. Not smiling when parents smile. Not participating in vocal turn-taking (baby makes a sound, adult makes a sound, and so forth). Not responding to peek-a-boo game. At 12 months: No attempts to speak. Not pointing, waving or grasping. No response when name is called. Indifferent to others. Repetitive body motions such as rocking or hand flapping. Fixation on a single object. Oversensitivity to textures, smells, sounds. Strong resistance to change in routine. Any loss of language. At 24 months: Does not initiate two-word phrases (that is, doesn't just echo words). Any loss of words or developmental skill. Other possible red flags for autism spectrum disorders are: Not playing "pretend" games (pretend to "feed" a doll) Not pointing at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over) Not looking at objects when another person points at them Having trouble relating to others or not having an interest in other people at all Avoiding eye contact or looking to the side when speaking to someone or being spoken to Wanting to be alone Having trouble understanding other people's feelings or talking about their own feelings Preferring not to be held or cuddled or might cuddle only when they want to Appearing to be unaware when other people talk to them but responding to other sounds Being very interested in people, but not knowing how to properly talk to, play with, or relate to them Repeating or echoing words or phrases said to them Repeating words or phrases in place of normal language (echolalia) Having trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions Repeating actions over and over again Having trouble adapting to changes in routine Having unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound Losing skills they once had (for instance, stop saying words they were once using) WHAT SIGNS DO THESE LISTS NOT COVER? A child with autism spectrum disorder does not have to have all of these signs. Any and all of these early warning signs are sufficient in asking your doctor for a developmental screening test. Further, in the case of high functioning autism or in Asperger's syndrome, there may be no delay in speech and language skills at all. Because Asperger's Syndrome does not always chime into these Red Flags, a parent should also be aware of more subtle or incomplete pictures of these red flags. For instance, a child may speak but scarcely do so or only in the company of close family members. They also may speak at great length about their own interests but then may fall silent and walk away if the subject is changed. They may also use language in a peculiar way, such as by reversing pronouns. Examples of this would be reversing the words him and her or you and I, and some may even mix up mom and dad even though they clearly seem to know who they are addressing. They may speak or understand language in very literal terms and they may even use words incorrectly. A child may give smiles and be very affectionate with parents but stand back or withdraw from others. They often have blank looks showing little expression, particularly with those that are not familiar to them. A child with Asperger's often gives a mixed picture to a parent. They may be very intelligent and capable of doing some things that involve memory, building things or working on a computer, but simultaneously seem to have inability in other areas. They may be clumsy or seem confused by certain things. Parents may have concerns about their social interaction with other children, particularly those that are not siblings, as their child may not join in to play with others but, instead, prefer to hang back, play alone, or only interact with adults. This can be particularly true in situations where there are several children as kids with Asperger's often get overwhelmed by the noise and chaos of crowds and overlapping voices. A myth is that children on the spectrum are not affectionate with anyone. This may be true in some cases, but not all. Many children on the spectrum are quite affectionate with close family members and are eager to play with siblings. However, they may not join in with other children. Frequently, a parent of a child on the spectrum sees very different behavior and social skills at home than they do in public or at gatherings. This distinct quality in some children can be misleading to a parent who reads the list of warning signs and manages to reassure themselves because their child plays freely with their sibling or is affectionate with them. SOME OTHER SIGNS TO WATCH FOR There are a few signs that are not considered to be a "milestone", yet they are relevant in autism spectrum disorders. An infant who does not cling when held. This is an extremely common sign of autism spectrum disorder, yet it is rarely listed or discussed anywhere. At a very early age, an infant begins to curl up and cling to its mother. Their legs bend and curl up, they place their hands on the shoulders or arm of their carrier and they cling. Sometimes, they even grasp a section of the carrier's shirt to hold onto while being carted around. As their strength increases, their legs tighten and cling to the sides of the adult's waist, wrapping around and helping to support themselves in being held. Their bodies also curl up and seem to assist as the adult embarks on picking them up. They learn fairly soon to hold their arms out to the sides and upward in order for the adult to be able to place their hands under the arms of the child. A child with autism or autism spectrum disorder often does not help when being lifted or while being carried and held. They slump and their legs hang to the sides with no cooperation. Parents will often comment that the infant or toddler is "dead weight" or limp when lifting them or holding them for an extended time. They often have to adjust over and over again, boosting the child upward because the lack of clinging causes them to feel as though the child is slowly sliding down the side of their hip. At times, a parent will ask for the toddler to aid them by telling them to hold on. The child may momentarily begin to grasp and hold on, but it only lasts for a few moments and they are limp again. The angelic expressionless face. Children with an autism spectrum disorder often have a blank, expressionless face that is purely angelic to look at. They are often described as being quite beautiful, largely because the lack of facial expression creates a calm soothing effect with no twisting or distortion of the face that almost all others experience. By three months of age, an infant begins to smile and use different facial expressions. This natural ability continues to grow and develop as the infant displays looks of joy, anger, interest, amusement, and more. Their eyes widen as they discover something new. Their eyebrows lift in curiosity and surprise and become wrinkled during confusion, alarm, and frustration. When they smile, their eyes smile as well, wrinkling up and squinting slightly. The corners of their mouth turn up ever so slightly when they are amused or content. They fall at the corners if they become discouraged or anxious, sure that mommy is about to leave the room. The way we can tell if an infant is feeling overwhelmed or if they are intently listening to the sound of our voice is because even these most subtle facial changes are noticeable. Something in their eyes have shifted and the face itself follows suit. An infant or child on the spectrum often lacks these subtle facial changes. They, of course, cry and smile and may even laugh out loud. They may show a look of extreme distress, fear or joy. But they lack the subtle looks of curiosity, interest, and the general movements of crumpled eyebrows and creases in their foreheads. Most infants show expressions of emotions when approached by someone. A well-meaning friend or family members attempts to greet the child and gives them a warm animated hello and the infant responds by smiling or even acting confused if they do not know the person. Sometimes they even look annoyed. A child on the spectrum often will hold calm steady looks of an angel, with a marked blankness. The angle baby There are subtypes of children with autism spectrum disorder. Some can be very difficult babies, crying often and seeming to never be happy about anything. But, many fall into the category of "angel babies". They do not protest, cry much or give their parents and caregivers much of a problem at all. They are passive and obedient without a care in the world. They don't throw tantrums or cause turmoil, nor do they make demands. Most infants cry when they are hungry, tired or if they have a wet uncomfortable diaper. But a child on the spectrum may not fuss at all due to these issues or they may only fuss a bit. They tend not to complain when sick and it is not uncommon for the mother to find the child lying on the floor in front of the television looking ill, only to find that the child has a 102 degree temperature brewing. But the child with autism does not often seek out help from their mother or anyone else. They passively lay down and wait to feel better. Lining up cars This is a sign that almost all parents of children on the spectrum have seen. They enter the room to find a long train of cars lined up perfectly across the floor of a room, sometimes even extending into the hallway or another room. They always state that they found this particular event to be rather unusual but very clever. While it is unusual and even clever, it is also a strong indication of autism. When a young boy is handed a toy car, they almost immediately drop to the floor to push the car along as though it is driving. They drive it along furniture, walls and any other object in their way. It doesn't take long for them to begin imitating the sounds of a car and make "vroom vroom" noises as they go and, subsequently, the sounds of shrieking brakes. Children on the spectrum do not seem to know how to play. They are handed a toy and they do not appear to know what to do with it. A car handed to them is examined and often the child will fixate on the wheels. They may place it on a surface to roll the car, but they often lay their head down next to it so they can watch the wheels spin. A parent often feels compelled to "show" the child how to play with the car by demonstrating a reenactment of a car driving along and making the sounds for the child to copy. After this, the child may very well copy what has been shown to them, but they will not initiate a new plan of action for the car in its travels. While they apparently know what to do with some toys, such as building blocks or construction sets, they fall short of knowing what to do with toys that require imagination skills in pretend play. Autistic children almost always line up these toys in a long train across the room. Usually in the case of boys, this behavior is found with toy cars. They may even be in the process of taking the first car in the train and switching it to the back, then meticulously adjusting the entire line car by car, moving them slightly in one car length to keep the line as it was, only to start again after completing this process. However, the lining up of toys can be seen in many objects such as stuffed animals, blocks and other toys. But, it is the cars being lined up that is observed and beheld as unmistakably unusual. Being in a world of their own. The hallmark statement made by parents of a child on the spectrum at any degree is that they felt the child was in a world of their own. It doesn't seem to matter if the child is severe or mild on the spectrum itself. The only difference in this behavior is how often the parent feels the child is in their own world. A more severely affected child may be in a world of their own on a constant basis. A higher functioning child may be able to focus on others and join in on some activities, only to retreat to their own little world again. Yet, even as the higher functioning child joins in with others, they still appear to be separated in an often indescribable way by the parent. The child may be easily distracted by objects no one else is interested in or they may seem to be indifferent or emotionally removed in some way. There is a marked detachment from the rest of the world and from other people, even as they interact. Resisting being touched. Children on the spectrum do not like to be touched by others. The amount of resistance they display can vary greatly, though, depending on where they are on the spectrum as well as by their own individualized autistic traits. Most small children, in general, love to be cuddled with and receive bear hugs from their grandparents. But a child on the spectrum resists this type of affection and will pull away. Some may go as far as screaming in distress by another person's touch while others simply seem annoyed or irked by hugs from others, even though they may comply if prompted. But almost all will pull away. They may seem to be affectionate at times, but it is almost always on their own terms. They will cuddle, hug or kiss a parent but only if they initiated the action. If a parent gives them a hug, they may fall limp and not return the hug, allowing their arms to hang beside them. Resistance can be directed toward parents as well, but it is usually directed far more vigorously at others. shell |
