How Do I Know If my Child is At Risk of Developing an Autism Spectrum Disorder?

KEY SIGNS IN THE SECOND YEAR OF LIFE (12 TO 24 MONTHS) INDICATING RISK OF AUTISM

  • Reduced and atypical eye contact
  • Failure to couple eye contact with other communicative behaviours, such as smiles
  • Reduced social smiles
  • Failure to initiate pointing, particularly to show/share
  • Failure to follow a point
  • Reduced or no response to name call
  • Lack of imitative behaviours, including waving bye-bye etc
  • Limited or no pretend play

From The trouble with autism: Delays in early identification and diagnosis

By Associate Professor Cheryl Dissanayake MAPS, Director, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University

http://portal.wpspublish.com/portal/page?_pageid=53,288914&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

This YouTube video will help you to understand what early social communication, joint attention, emotional connection and play may appear like in children at risk of developing Autism. Early identification and intervention for children with delayed social engagement, communication and interactive play greatly assists with their development.