Parenting can be both a rewarding and challenging experience, especially when it comes to understanding and meeting the unique needs of your child.
From a young age, you may notice behavioural, social and communication signs that indicate your child may have a developmental condition like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Since autism is a complex spectrum disorder, it means that everyone experiences this condition differently. There is a diverse range of behaviours and characteristics that can be linked to ASD.
Understanding the signs of autism is crucial for early detection and intervention, and can positively impact your child’s everyday life.
Below we have explored some of the signs that are commonly associated with autism.
It’s important to note that many of these signs alone aren’t an indication of autism. This developmental condition is diagnosed following an assessment and several criteria will be considered. If you notice a combination of the signs below, it may be beneficial to consult with a healthcare professional who specialises in child development. They can help to determine whether your child’s behaviour meets the diagnostic criteria for an autism diagnosis.
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how individuals communicate, interact socially, and behave. It is characterized by challenges in both verbal and nonverbal communication, difficulties in social interactions, and the presence of repetitive behaviors. Because ASD is a spectrum disorder, it means that it affects individuals in varying degrees and in different ways. Some individuals with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and might not appear to have any significant difficulties. Understanding the diverse nature of autism spectrum disorder is crucial for recognizing and supporting the unique needs of each individual.
Importance of Recognizing Autism in Children
Recognizing autism in children is crucial for early intervention and treatment. Early diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve outcomes for children with autism, helping them to develop essential communication skills, social skills, and adaptive behaviors. If left undiagnosed or untreated, autism can lead to significant delays in development, social isolation, and mental health problems. Parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers play a critical role in identifying early signs of autism and seeking professional evaluation and diagnosis. By being vigilant and proactive, they can ensure that children receive the support and resources they need to thrive.
Child’s Development and Autism
Monitoring a child’s development is essential for identifying early signs of autism. Parents play a crucial role in observing their child’s behaviors and milestones, noting that any delays in development can indicate potential issues that warrant further investigation and action. Children with autism may show delays or difficulties in reaching certain developmental milestones, such as language development, social skills, and cognitive abilities. Early signs of autism can include challenges with making eye contact, using facial expressions, and engaging in social interactions. Additionally, children with autism may exhibit repetitive behaviors like hand flapping or body rocking and may have sensory sensitivities or difficulties with sensory integration. Recognizing these early signs can lead to timely intervention, which can significantly improve a child’s development and quality of life.
It is important for parents to discuss any concerns with their child’s doctor and be proactive in seeking help if there are developmental delays.
Humming
Humming is one of the many behaviours that might be observed in children with autism, however, children will hum for various reasons. Not every child who hums will be autistic and not every child with autism will hum. It’s key to differentiate between humming which is related to autism and humming which is part of neurotypical behaviour. Recognizing behaviors like humming in autistic children and understanding the context in which these behaviors occur is crucial. Humming isn’t a definitive or exclusive sign of autism.
In some cases, humming can be a self-stimulatory or repetitive behaviour that’s commonly referred to as “stimming”. Stimming is a way that children with autism cope with sensory overload in social situations or deal with stress and anxiety. Sometimes, self-stimulating behaviours can be enjoyable for children with autism too. It’s essential to consider the context of humming when determining whether it’s a sign of autism, as well as behavioural patterns and other associated behaviours.
High Needs Behaviour
Infants and toddlers are typically dependent on their parents or caregivers and require a lot of reassurance as they explore the world around them. They rely on people for basic needs as well as emotional support and things such as family dynamics or environmental factors can influence behaviour. Regardless of whether they have ASD, young children need care and attention, and they will express their needs in various ways. Being needy is not unique to children with autism and it’s a natural part of development.
In the context of autism, some children might exhibit high-needs behaviour due to the challenges they face with sensory processing or social interaction. Behaviour such as intense emotional reactions and repetitive routines are common in children with ASD and they may require significant attention, support or intervention on a day-to-day basis. Recognizing high-needs behavior in children diagnosed with autism is crucial for ensuring they receive appropriate support and intervention. Their challenging or demanding behaviour could be a result of not being able to communicate their needs and they may be more reliant on parents or caregivers.
Biting
Biting behaviour can occur for various reasons and isn’t specific to autism. It’s often something that neurotypical children do because they’re teething, exploring with their mouths, imitating others or expressing anger. Biting is sometimes observed in children with autism too and it’s essential to consider biting behaviour within the broader context of a child’s overall development and day-to-day behaviour.
In young children with autism, biting can sometimes be a form of communication. They can also bite as a way of expressing frustration, especially if they have difficulties with verbal communication. Children with ASD can bite to express discomfort or sensory overload too and as a response to anxiety or changes in their environment. Sometimes, biting is self-stimulating behaviour and children will bite non-edible objects, such as their hands. Seeking early intervention services for children who exhibit biting behavior and other signs of autism is crucial, as these services can provide support and treatment as soon as concerns arise.
Early Signs: Night Terrors
The exact cause of night terrors in children, with or without autism, is not entirely understood. Several factors can trigger night terrors such as sleep deprivation, irregular sleep schedules, illness, stress or anxiety. In some cases, night terrors can also be associated with health conditions or prescription medications. While sleep problems, including night terrors, can impact neurotypical children, they can be more common in children with autism.
Night terrors can occur during both REM and non-REM sleep, but they typically happen in the early part of the night. They can be very distressing for both the child experiencing them and their caregivers. Children with autism often experience difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, and this can impact them the following day. Fortunately, most children who experience night terrors grow out of them and they are less common over the age of eight.
Zoning Out
Children of all ages can “zone out” for lots of different reasons. For example, children can daydream because they’re bored or tired. They may also zone out because they’re preoccupied with their thoughts and emotions or they may be suffering from underlying mental health problems. However, zoning out is particularly common in young children with autism. They might not respond to their name or make eye contact with you whilst you’re speaking.
Often, zoning out is related to challenges with attention and sensory processing. Children with ASD may find it more difficult to pay attention to something that’s going on, especially in overwhelming and overstimulating environments. When they’re stimming, they may be so focused on the repetitive movement that they zone out and become completely absorbed in what they’re doing that they can’t pay attention to anything else.
Chewing on Things
Similarly to biting, chewing on things is something that neurotypical children do because they’re teething. Lots of babies and toddlers explore the world through their mouths, using their sense of taste to discover new things, and this is a normal part of development. That being said, chewing on things can be observed in children with ASD and they can excessively mouth objects or body parts as a form of self-stimulation or self-regulation.
The key difference between neurotypical children chewing on things and children with autism chewing on things is the frequency, intensity and persistence of the behaviour. It isn’t uncommon for children with autism to chew on things as a way to cope with stress and anxiety. When they are struggling with sensory processing, oral stimming can be a way to self-soothe and they may find comfort in a particular texture or taste.
Flapping Hands
When children flap their hands, it can be a sign of autism. This type of repetitive behaviour is commonly seen during Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention for autism. Hand-flapping is a self-stimulatory behaviour and repeatedly moving their hands can help children with autism to focus on one thing when they’re in a distressing situation. This type of stimming is usually harmless and you shouldn’t try to stop it.
Although hand-flapping is frequently associated with autism, it’s not something that every child with autism will do. Some may have other stimming behaviours that bring them comfort. Also, some neurotypical children can flap their hands in a similar way to children with autism, yet they won’t exhibit any other signs of this developmental condition. They may subconsciously enjoy self-stimulatory, repetitive actions.
Banging Head
Following on from hand-flapping, head-banging is also frequently seen among children with ASD. This repetitive behaviour is a common example of stimming and it’s a way for children with autism to regulate their emotions. Banging their head can also provide a source of comfort or enjoyment. Unlike other stimming behaviours, head-banging can be dangerous though and you may need to intervene if your child is hurting themselves.
Lots of young children with autism will intentionally hit or bang their heads against a surface, such as a wall, the floor or a piece of furniture. If this self-stimulatory behaviour is harming your child, you should try to avoid triggers. Learning more about why they bang their head can help you to keep them safe. It’s worth noting that sometimes neurotypical children will also bang their heads for reasons such as being in pain or discomfort and seeking attention.
Sensitivity to Loud Noises
Loud noises can be very scary for babies and toddlers, and they can startle them which results in them getting upset. However, children with autism are particularly sensitive to loud noises and they can experience sensory overload. Not only can loud noises like ambulance sirens and fireworks be upsetting, but every day sounds like a ringing phone or doorbell can also be overwhelming and distressing for children with autism.
It isn’t uncommon for children with ASD to get very upset if they don’t like a particular sound, smell or taste. This sensory hypersensitivity can make it much harder for them to be in environments with unpredictable noises. You may find that children with autism cover their ears or try to hide when they are somewhere with lots of loud noises. Not everyone with ASD experienced the same level of sensitivity to loud noises though and some may be more impacted by other sensory stimuli.
Parallel Play
Playing is beneficial for children of all ages and it can positively impact early years development. When they get to a certain age, often around two or three years old, toddlers will play alongside other children without interacting with them at all. This is called parallel play and it can help to support the development of lots of important skills. Often, neurotypical children will progress from parallel play to other stages of play as they become more confident and sociable.
Unlike neurotypical children, children with autism can continue with parallel play for much longer. They might not have any interest in engaging with other children and struggle with social communication. Parallel play enables children with ASD to play with toys without the pressure of direct social interaction and they can do the things they enjoy. Often, parallel activities will continue into teenage years and adulthood too.
Contact Autism Experts in London
First Bridge Education is a leading provider of Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) for children with autism and related developmental conditions. To learn more about how our Early Years Intervention Centre and School can assist your child, contact us today.
Call us on +44 (0) 20 3301 3985 or email us at admissions@firstbridgecentre.com to find out how our team can support young children with suspected or diagnosed autism.