Autism Symptoms in Infants

Children live in a world of their own. They experience, feel and see things differently. However, when they seem to be lost in that world for too long a time or do not progress from their world to the concrete real world, it is time to know that something may not be right with the child. As children grow older, it becomes easier for parents to grasp the severity and depth of autism in their children, but what about infants and toddlers? Understanding and checking for autism symptoms in infants can be not only very confusing to comprehend but also complex to diagnose, especially its severity and type. Read more on types of autism.

Causes of autism have been bogged down with many misconceptions, primarily of bad parenting and not doing something right during the pregnancy period. Nothing could be farther from truth than this myth. Some research conducted on older autistic children have indicated an absence of certain nerve cells in different parts of the brain, like, the prefrontal cortex, the amygdala, etc. responsible for emotions and learning disorders and development of autism in children. Other studies believe that autism occurs due to genetic mutations in the brain though its method is still unclear. Studies were carried out by Dr. Karin Nelson, MD, a child neurologist with the National Institutes of Health and her colleagues in the field of autism. Blood of infants (who were in their later years diagnosed with autism) was compared with other babies. Autistic babies blood showed the presence of a protein molecule - vasoactive intestinal peptide - that is responsible for affecting brain development. More tests are being carried out to ascertain the causes so new therapies can be identified and developed for treating autistic infants.

Early Symptoms of Autism in Infants
As autism is a spectrum disorder, the signs and symptoms of autism in infants may vary. A fixed or particular type of symptom cannot be used as the standard for diagnosing autism in children. Most symptoms don't exhibit themselves very clearly until the child has reached the age of two, however, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), some of the symptoms one could keep an eye for are listed below.

• The baby avoids making eye contact
• Does not smile when smiled at
• Does not babble
• Doesn't make gestures or react to them

Besides the above, a baby may not respond to his or her name, point or generally wave, won't follow objects visually, won't cry when left alone, exhibits anxiety around strangers, prefers not to be held or cuddled, or does not even enjoy simple clapping or peekaboo kind of games. Autistic infants may or may not exhibit some of the symptoms mentioned above. Read more on early symptoms of autism.

Parents want what's best for their children and at times may seem to get a little paranoid if their child hasn't developed as normally expected. What one needs to bear in mind is that each child is different from another. It would be best if you can get your child screened regularly as they grow around their developmental milestones. Discuss all details about your child's activity, no matter how small. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, all children should receive routine developmental screenings and screenings for autism as well, at 9, 18, and 30 months of age. Although accepting that fact that your child is autistic will definitely be difficult for most parents, however, an early diagnosis of autism symptoms in infants with the help of a number of specialized screening tools and therapies will go a long way in ensuring a happy and near normal life for your precious child.