Autism in Toddlers

Autism is a medical disorder, associated with impaired neural development, which manifests typically in the form of compromised social interaction and communication, and often in the form of restricted, repetitive behavior. It forms one of the three disorders that make up the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD's), the others being Asperger's syndrome and Pervasive Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). The causes of autism are not very well understood, though it has strong genetic connotations - there are a number of theories that suggest that its causes may be rooted in agents that contribute to birth defects. The signs of autism are generally identifiable by the age of two, though some evidence now points to symptoms that can be detected at an age as early as 14 months. Early diagnosis can greatly help parents learn to deal with autism in toddlers, as it can help arrest its development and minimize potential issues.

Signs and Symptoms

To understand the symptoms to look out for that may signal autism, it's important to understand that though the degree of impairment may vary, the areas of development that are impacted remain more or less the same. Each child is an individual in its own right, and even among children with autism, some may show more advanced signs than others. Typically, the following are the three areas of concern:

• Communication, both verbal and non verbal
• Relating abilities - to people and the world outside
• Flexibility in thought and behavior

Identifying the signs of autism in toddlers is mainly up to the parents. The following are some signs that should ring warning bells:

Developmental delays
Since most concerned parents will monitor development as a natural course of action after a baby, they will be aware of relative ages that should correspond with a child's development. Although each child is different, and individual developments even more so, typical autism signs and signals are those that indicate delays in hitting social, cognitive and emotional targets relative for their age.

Developmental Regression
Instances in which children show development in communication skills and then subsequent regression in the learned skills are a red flag for autism. This regression will generally show up between the ages of 1 and 2 - any words learned that are suddenly forgotten, loss of social skills or gestures, signal a serious risk.

Impaired Responses
Signs of autism in infants also include low responsiveness, like lack of eye contact - such children may not follow parents with their eyes. They may also avoid initiating or even participating in any form of social contact, for instance, an autistic child may continue to struggle with a task, rather than ask for help. There is a fine line of difference here - an autistic child may sit in his mother's lap and seem connected to his or her parents, but this may be accompanied by consistent lack of eye contact or responsiveness - he may receive affection, but seem unaffected and not initiate any affectionate gestures in return.

Repetitive Behavior
Another sign that may point to autism is a fascination for repetitive behavior - such children may sit for extended periods staring at the ceiling fan for example, or repeatedly stack or line up objects.

Treatment focuses mainly on therapy and behavioral intervention to aid the development of language and social skills. There are also numerous support groups for parents dealing with autistic children. Detecting the signs of autism in toddlers may help you learn to anticipate further possibilities and gear up to meet them. With support and guidance, these children will bloom and flourish like all others - many laudable attempts are being made to help change the perceptions about autistic children and people, from those with a disorder, to those who are just different. And they are different, they're special.