Early Signs and Symptoms.
Autism symptoms are usually seen as early as 18 months and become apparent by the age of 3. If you suspect that your child might have autism, do not hesitate to talk to a pediatrician. Although autism has no cure, there is still a lot that can be done to make a difference to the child’s health and development. [6]
The National Institutes of Mental Health has created a list of symptoms that can often be seen in children with autism spectrum disorder. But it is important to bear in mind that each individual symptom does not necessarily indicate autism. A child must have a number of these symptoms to be diagnosed.
Some children may reach early milestones (like pointing by age 1 or saying words by 16 months), seem to develop normally and only show signs of autism later, others may have them from infancy. [8]
Autism can only be diagnosed by a specialist, but it might be useful for parents to be aware of early autism signs and symptoms, just to know what to watch for if they think their child behaves or develops abnormally.
