Here at ACES, an autism therapy center in the Western United States, we are asked quite frequently, "What are the signs of autism in toddlers and in children?" At some point, parents may suspect there is something wrong developmentally with their child if they start missing major milestones that they should be hitting.Autism is a developmental disability that is affecting more kids each year. It can affect their ability to communicate, interact, behave, and learn. There is a wide scale of the impact of autism on children, from mild to quite severe, and every child is different. It is at this point that they wonder if their child may have autism, based on what they know about autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is important for parents to be aware of the signs of autism in children so that they can get them early intervention if an autism diagnosis comes to pass.ACES offers comprehensive autism services, including various autism treatments and support for individuals and families who have been impacted by autism. Our mission is to enhance their quality of life with our top-rated autism therapies so that they can lead their best life possible. Below, we'll go over some of the signs or red flags of autism in children. Contact one of our offices in Colorado, California, Texas, Washington, or Hawaii to get started today!

Some Red Flags of Autism

Some Social Red Flags of Autism

• Does not look at people
• Does not know their own name
• Shows little joy when around others
• Does not smile or laugh a lot like other children
• Had delayed speech
• Does not use their hands while talking
• Makes repetitive sounds or odd sounds
• Does not progress in language development
• Plays alone
• Does not understand personal boundaries

Some Behavior Red Flags of Autism

• Repetitive movements or motions with no point
• Repetitive actions, such as the lining up of objects or the repetition of sounds over and over again (echolalia)
• Loves to play with unusual objects, such as spoons or rocks
• Sniff objects
• React oddly to certain sounds or other inputs
• Does not like changes in their environment
• Spins in circles repetitively or rocks their body
• Does not respond to questions

Other Red Flags of Autism

• Unexplained temper tantrums
• Either not afraid or too afraid of time
• Impulsive
• Hyperactive
• Causes self injury
• Does not eat or sleep like other children
• Aggression towards others

Steps to Take If You Suspect Your Child Has Autism

It's important not to overreact yourself if you notice some of these symptoms in your child. Autism requires a professional diagnosis, and not everything you read on the internet or what Google tells you is true. Children do develop at different rates than others, and just because your child is behind in one area does not mean that he or she has autism.If you suspect that your child has autism, it's important to get an official diagnosis as soon as possible. The sooner you can get professional autism treatment if your child does have autism, the more successful their treatment will be and the better outcome they will face. If you adopt a "wait and see" approach, you could lose valuable time that could be spent helping your child develop the skills they will need with an appropriate autism treatment plan in place. Autism is a condition that your child will not grow out of. If your child is autistic, early intervention makes treatment more likely to succeed.Talk to your doctor about your concerns about your child and autism. Sometimes they will perform an early diagnostic, but most likely you will be referred to an autism specialist. In this instance, it's crucial to listen to your gut. Most likely, it will be telling you if something is wrong with your child. Sometimes second opinions are warranted, and for autism, further diagnostic work will be needed in order to assess the exact scope of your child's issues.One thing to note is that any type of regression in your child is a big red flag that your child has autism. This can include your child going from saying "mommy" and "daddy" to not speaking at all, making eye contact, and completely withdrawing from play. Autism experts report that any sign of regression should be investigated right away.

Choose ACES for Your Autism Treatment

The autism therapists at ACES understand that parents just want the best for their child. Autism is a serious developmental disorder that can adversely affect your child's quality of life for the rest of their life. It's super important that you get your child into an autism treatment program as soon as possible in order to yield the best possible outcome.ACES offers comprehensive autism treatments, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, Discrete Trial Training, Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS), Social Skills Training, occupational and speech therapy, and more. We develop individualized autism treatments for every child that we have in order to address their specific needs. Our staff of extremely experienced, compassionate, and caring behavior interventionists pour their hearts and souls into our children. We understand that autism is a tough diagnosis, but not one that can't be improved upon and even overcome. It is truly remarkable the progress autistic children can make with the right autism treatment in place for them.If you are interested in our autism services, parent support groups, or you just have questions regarding autism, reach out to one of our offices in Colorado, California, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, or Hawaii today!