Autism: What We Know : Signs

by National Institute of Health

(Page 2 of 4)

Is autism more common in certain groups of people?

Current figures show that autism occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups equally, with individuals in one group no more or less likely to have ASDs than those in other groups. Three groups are at higher-than-normal risk for ASDs, including:

Boys. Statistics show that boys are three to four times more likely to be affected by autism than are girls.

Siblings of those with ASDs. Among families that have one child with an ASD, recurrence of ASD in another sibling is between6 2 percent and 8 percent, a figure much higher than in the general population.

People with certain other developmental disorders. For certain disorders, including Fragile X syndrome, mental retardation, and tuberous sclerosis, autism is common in addition to the primary symptoms of the disorder.

When do people usually show signs of autism?

A number of the behavioral symptoms of autism are observable by 18 months of age, including: problems with eye contact, not responding to one's name, joint attention problems, underdeveloped skills in pretend play and imitation, and problems with non-verbal communication and language.

Some studies also note that, although more subtle, some signs of autism are detectable at eight months8 of age.

In general, the average age of autism diagnosis is currently three years old. In many cases, a delay in the child's starting to speak around age two brings problems to parents' attention, even though other, less noticeable signs may be present at an earlier age.

Studies also show that a subgroup of children with ASDs experiences a "regression," meaning they stop using the language, play, or social skills they had already learned. This regression usually happens between the first and second birthdays.

Researchers are still learning about the features of regression in ASDs, and whether the features differ from those shown by individuals who show signs of autism in early life.

What are some of the possible signs of autism?

Parents, caregivers, family members, teachers, and others who spend a lot of time with children can look for "red flags." Some may mean a delay in one or more areas of development, while others are more typical of ASDs. A list of red flags appears to the right.

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 or her own (rather than just repeating what someone says to him or her) by 24 months of age. Has ANY loss of ANY language or social skill at any age.

What should I do if I think my child has a developmental problem or autism?

Tell your child's health care provider immediately if you think something is wrong.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), "Pediatricians should listen carefully to parents discussing their child's development. [Parents] are reliable sources of information and their concerns should be valued and addresses immediately."

Your child's health care provider will note your comments and concerns, will ask some other questions, and will determine the best plan of action. In some cases, the health care provider will ask you to complete a questionnaire about your child to get more specific information about symptoms. To rule out certain conditions, the health care provider will also test your child's hearing and check your child's lead level before deciding on a course of action.

If red flags are present, and if the lead and hearing tests show no problems, your child's health care provider may refer you to a specialist in child development or another specialized health care provider. The specialist will conduct a number of tests to determine whether or not your child has autism or an ASD.

What if I don't notice any symptoms?

If you don't report any of these signs, your child's health care provider will continue to check for problems at every well-baby and well-child visit.14 If your child's health care provider does not routinely check your child with such tests, you should ask that he or she do so.

In this developmental screening, the provider asks questions related to normal development that can help measure your child's specific progress. Typically, these questions are similar to the red flags listed earlier. Based on your answers, the health care provider may send your child for further evaluation.

The AAP recommends15 that health care providers ask questions about different aspects of development. These questions include (but are not limited to) those listed here.

About the Author

NIH is the nation's medical research agency - making important medical discoveries that improve health and save lives. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research.