Early Signs of Autism

To spot early signs of autism, it helps to first know what the condition is. Autism is a term for a broad spectrum of behavioral defects that become apparent in early childhood, typically by the age of three years. Autism has a wide variety of symptoms and severity. The prevalent problem is a child's inability to communicate and interact with others.

In the United States, it is thought that 3% to 6% of children are afflicted with autism. Although the causes of autism are still unknown, studies indicate that early and intensive intervention may significantly improve the lives of many affected children.

Early Signs of Autism
Babies and toddlers grow and develop along a series of milestones that, although general, are predictable. When a child is autistic, either the milestones are not met or the child begins to lose the progress made in language development. Autistic children will often stop making eye contact. They retreat into their inner world and may adapt any number or combination of behaviors, such as-

• repetitive rocking, clapping, hand flapping or spinning
• failure to respond to his or her name
• resisting affection
• singsong or inflectionless speech
• inability to have a conversation
• constant movement
• fascination with moving wheels, light-catching objects or patterns
• high sensitivity to light, touch and sound
• insensitivity to pain
• no fear of danger
• limited interaction, such as not responding when a story is read

Types of Autism
There are five disorders that fall under the autism spectrum. All share the characteristics of impaired communication, reduced social interaction skills and limitations in interests and activity.

1. Autism, also known as Autistic Disorder
2. Asperger's Syndrome: Language skills continue to develop, yet the child becomes obsessed with a single topic, wanting to know everything about it and fixated on it. Repetitive and socially inappropriate behavior, strange words and lack of coordination are other distinguishing features.
3. Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD): This is a milder form of autism typically diagnosed in children under the age of 5 when the full set of autism symptoms are not present. Children with PDD have some difficulty with language and interaction with others and may resist changes in familiar routines.
4. Rett's Disorder: Most commonly occurring in girls, these children lose communication skills between the ages of one and four years. Their hands move repetitively rather than purposefully.
5. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder: These children show normal development for the first two years or more, and then communication and social skills degenerate.

Diagnosing Autism
Researchers have developed several methods for detecting autism with screening tools. If the child's pediatrician has diagnosed with the modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT), he may recommend further testing with a scale to determine the severity of the autism. The scale, known as the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), is a direct observation tool and is the most common tool for assessing autism in children as young as two years. There are 15 items evaluated through this scale:

• relationships with people
• imitation
• affect
• use of body
• relation to non-human objects
• adaptation to environmental change
• visual responsiveness
• auditory responsiveness
• near receptor responsiveness
• anxiety reaction
• verbal communication
• nonverbal communication
• activity level
• intellectual functioning
• clinician's general impression.

The CARS gives a severity rating and helps to determine areas of focus for treatment. It also aids professionals in making decisions regarding treatment options.