POSSIBLE RED FLAGS FOR AUTISM

•    The child does not respond to his/her name.
•    The child cannot explain what he/she wants.
•    The child’s language skills are slow to develop or speech is delayed.
•    The child doesn’t follow directions.
•    The child seems to be deaf, at times.
•    The child seems to hear sometimes, but not other times.
•    The child doesn’t point or wave “bye-bye”.
•    The child used to say a few words or babble, but now he/she doesn’t.
•    The child throws intense or violent tantrums.
•    The child has odd movement patterns.
•    The child is overly active, uncooperative, or resistant.
•    The child doesn’t know how to play with toys.
•    The child doesn’t smile when smiled at.
•    The child has poor eye contact.
•    The child gets “stuck” doing the same things over and over and can’t move on to other things.
•    The child seems to prefer to play alone.
•    The child gets things for him/herself only.
•    The child is very dependent for his/her age.
•    The child does things “early” compared to other children.
•    The child seems to be in his/her “own world”.
•    The child seems to tune people out.
•    The child is not interested in other children.
•    The child walks on his/her toes.
•    The child shows unusual attachment to toys, objects or schedules (i.e. always holding a string or having to put socks on before pants).
•    The child spends a lot of time lining things up or putting things in a certain order.

In addition, your child’s health care provider will send your child for an evaluation if you report any of the behaviors listed below; such an evaluation would consider ASDs, among other possible causes.

If the child…

•    Does not babble or coo by 12 months of age.
•    Does not gesture (point, wave, grasp, etc.) by 12 months of age.
•    Does not say single words by 16 months of age.
•    Does not say two-word phrases on his/her own by 24 months of age.
•    Has any loss of any language or social skill at any age.