A little about possible first signs of Autism...

The most significant characteristic of Autism is impaired social interactions. Many families will often notice that an infant or toddler will be unresponsive or never make eye contact when they try to communicate with the child, but they are otherwise developing typically. An infant/toddler may not babble or point to communicate. This is often the first red flag that is seen. As the child grows, it may be noticed that the child does not respond appropriately to social cues. The child will often lack empathy. Other characteristics that may be noticed include: repetitive movements such as rocking, hand flapping or twisting hair, repetitive speech, self-abusive behavior such as self-biting or head-banging and referring to themselves by name rather than speaking in first person (I or me). These children will also often have a favorite type of toy or interest that they become fixated on, almost to obsession. If these types of characteristics are displayed by a child, it is crucial to see a physician for further testing.