4 Signs That Your Toddler May Need To Be Screened For Autism

13 March 2017
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Autism is defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder that can manifest in different ways. People with autism may show signs of cognitive impairments, difficulty communicating, social impairments, and repetitive behavior. Autism is a spectrum disorder, so a person with autism may have very mild symptoms to very severe symptoms. Early intervention is believed to be very beneficial to young children with autism. You may want to have your child screened for autism if he or she has the following symptoms:

Lack of Eye Contact

Many people with autism have a difficult time making eye contact with people, even those who they know and are comfortable with. The exact reason for this is not known. Some think that it may have to do with how the muscles of the eyes develop in an autistic person, which makes making eye contact uncomfortable. Others speculate that making eye contact can cause emotional distress in a person with autism, which is why they avoid it. If your toddler constantly avoids making eye contact with you or other care givers, you may want to talk to his or her pediatrician about a referral for an autism screening.

Obsessive Interest in a Single Subject

It is normal for young kids to have their favorite toys, but children with autism may become focused and obsessed with a single type of toy. For example, they may want to play with the same toy over and over every single day, and may show absolutely no interest in any other toys that are age appropriate. 

Sensory Processing Issues

It is not uncommon for autistic children to be hypersensitive or hyposensitive to the way things look, taste, feel, and sound. Some autistic children can become very bothered by tags on clothing touching their skin, loud noises, or activities like having their teeth brushed or hair cut. A child who is hyposensitive may have an unusually high tolerance for pain and may display sensory-seeking behavior, such as the constant need to touch people and things.

Does Not Respond to Name

By the time a child is a toddler, he or she should respond when his or her name is called. An autistic child may not respond when his or her name is said, which can lead parents to believe that their child may have a hearing problem. If your child is not responding to his or her name, a hearing test should be done, but if there are no problems with your child's hearing, autism may be a possibility. 

To learn more, contact clinic like ABC Pediatric Therapy.