Many parents struggle with uncertainty about how their child is progressing. They may notice unusual behaviors or their child’s failure to reach certain developmental milestones. Concerned parents should schedule an assessment for their child to determine if there might be some degree of developmental delay or autism.

Signs of a possible development delay or autism include:

• Lack of eye contact at 3 months
• No big smiles or joyful expressions by 6 months
• No sharing of sounds, smiles, or facial expressions by 9 months
• No babbling by 12 months
• No gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving by 12 months
• No words by 16 months
• No response when the child’s name is called by 10 months
• Any loss of speech, babbling, or social skills at any age
• Repetitive movements or postures (e.g., hand flapping)
• Strong devotion to specific nonfunctional routines or rituals

Autism is a complex developmental disorder that typically appears during the first three years of life. Children diagnosed with autism often have difficulty with communication, social interactions, and play activities.

The good news is that with early intervention and therapy, it is often possible to get a child back on track and develop age-appropriate social and language skills. If you suspect a development delay in your child, you are encouraged to seek an assessment by a trained clinician and referral to a behavioral therapy service provider.

Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST) offers family-focused, play-based programs especially designed for children with autism. Our programs are grounded in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA is the most widely researched and scientifically-validated method for treating autism.

We urge you not to ignore the signs of autism. For more information or to schedule an in-home assessment for your child, please contact us at (866) AST-1520.

This information is provided by Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST), an agency providing autism services to individuals and families.