Many parents are concerned about their child’s development during the first year of life.  Autism is a huge developmental concern for parents in their child’s first year of life.  Autism typically presents in infancy with one or more of the following:

1. No babbling or cooing by 12 months

2. No single words by 16 months

3. No spontaneous 2-word phrases by 24 months

4. No use of social gestures by 12 months (point, wave, grasp)

5. No response to name

6. Loss of any language/words or social skills at any age

Autism is a chronic developmental disorder, often first identified in toddlers from age 18 months to 30 months, although early indicators can be seen as early as 12 months of age. Unfortunately, delays in diagnosis are still common.   The AAP recommends a formal screening for autism at your child’s 18- and 24- month well visits.   The best discriminators of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) are:  pointing to objects, response to name, interest in other children, bringing objects to show, following point, imitation, social smile.  If you have concerns about your child, please ask your pediatrician to screen your baby and possibly refer you to a specialist, with knowledge about autism, such as a developmental pediatrician, neurologist, or speech pathologist.

Appropriate early intervention is important.  The more specialized instruction and applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and therapy the child receives, the more likely it is that the condition will improve.  Parents should be educated in behavioral techniques so they can participate in all aspects of the child’s care and treatment. Recognizing that parents are the child’s earliest teachers, more programs are beginning to train parents to continue the therapy at home.

By Dr. Edith McCarthy, Pediatric Intensives