Early Signs of Autism: Updated April 2022

Updated August 15, 2022

One of the most frequent comments we hear from caregivers is that ‘I think my child is showing signs of Autism, but I don’t know what I should be looking for.’ And with updated reports from the CDC website as most recent as December 21st, 2021 that ‘one in 44 8-year old children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder according to an analysis of 2018 data published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Surveillance Summaries (CDC, 2021), the question is very relevant for today’s caregivers.

Recognizing the early signs of Autism can be crucial to a child’s future success. Children who are diagnosed early can receive services that may improve their level of independence and likelihood of meeting developmental norms.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), some children can begin to show symptoms of Autism before the age of 1. Other children may not show symptoms until the age of 18-24 months, where they begin to lose previously learned skills. While researching symptoms of Autism and considering if your child fits the description, it is important to consider that an individual with Autism may not display all the symptoms (Autism Speaks, 2019). Conversely, an individual that does not have the Autism diagnosis may display some of the below symptoms. If you feel as though your child demonstrates some of the early signs of Autism, seek professional evaluation.

Listed below are some common early signs of Autism, as described by the CDC and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH):

• Avoiding eye contact
• Failure to respond to own name by 12 months
• Limited babbling by 12 months
• No single word utterances by 16 months
• Preferring to be alone and only interacting with others to achieve a desired goal
• Repetitive behaviors, such as hand flapping, rocking, etc.
• Obsessive and/or limited interests
• Development of unusual routines
• Upset by changes in their routines
• Unusual reactions to how things smell/taste/look/sound/feel

While our team does not provide the diagnostic testing we here at BCOTB have a number of preferred providers in the Tampa area that we can refer out to.

Check out our other blog posts on The Difference Between Positive/Negative Reinforcement and Positive/Negative Punishment and What is Autism?

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**BCOTB has been Tampa’s leading provider of pediatric ABA therapy since 2003. With four clinic locations throughout the Tampa Bay area, we know that our clinic is the right spot for your early learner! BCOTB focuses on in-clinic early intervention for children from birth to ten years old. BCOTB accepts most major insurances, including, but not limited to: Aetna, Anthem, Baycare, Beacon, BCBS, Cigna, CMS, Florida Blue, Humana, MHNet, Meritain Health, Magella Health, UnitedHealthcare, and TRICARE.**