As a parent, it can be hard to tell if a child may have autism as signs and symptoms of autism can vary from person to person.
Some children with autism may experience mild symptoms while some may have more severe symptoms.
To help out, we've gathered all of the signs and symptoms of autism in children. However, no matter the severity of a child's age and the symptoms, there are health care providers who can help a child with autism learn and grow.
Autism: The Signs And Symptoms
In the United States, 1 in 68 children is born with autism, a complex disorder of communication and social skills, compulsive behavior, and repetitive behaviors, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
In terms of communication, most young children show a delay in learning to talk, however, parents should become more concerned if their child has difficulty responding to hearing their name being called, starting a conversation, or repeating certain phrases.
Moreover, children with autism tend to say things that don’t relate to conversations they are having with other family members. For example, a child may continuously count from 1 to 5, repeat words someone may have recently said, or have conversations that are hard to understand.
When children are frustrated, however, they may start to pull their hair, bite, or bang their head, according to AutismSpeaks.
Sleep Problems And Seizures
Other symptoms of autism may include seizure disorders and sleep dysfunction. A study found that at least one-fourth of children experience seizures in early childhood or adolescence.
In terms of sleep, some experts suggest taking some steps to follow a regular bedtime routine. For example, children should avoid using smartphones, playing video games, or watching TV, at least a half hour before going to bed. Reading books and listening to music are positive activities that can help children with autism sleep.
Learning Different Methods To Communicate
Many parents should teach their child to communicate by using different communication systems such as sign language, drawing pictures, or devices that help generate speech, according to American Speech Language Hearing Association.
Autism Diagnosis
Luckily, there are plenty of Healthcare providers who can diagnose children with autism by gathering information about a child's development and behavior patterns. Healthcare professionals will schedule a full evaluation with a team of staff including a speech therapist, neurologist, psychologist, and other professionals who can help treat children with autism.
"The team members will conduct a thorough neurological assessment and in-depth cognitive and language testing. Because hearing problems can cause behaviors that could be mistaken for ASD, children with delayed speech development should also have their hearing tested," says National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
