Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns Pointing Away From AutismBorderline BehaviorsCommon SignsWhen to Seek CareTesting
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Signs Pointing Away From Autism
Borderline Behaviors
Common Signs
When to Seek Care
Testing
Just as there are traits that suggest your child might be autistic, there are common developmental signs indicating your toddler isnotautistic.
You may be concerned that your child displays some autism traits. However, remember that children develop at their own pace and asingle delayor atypical behavior isn’t usually a sign of an autistic toddler.
Signs Your Toddler Is Not Autistic
All children develop at their own pace. However, there are commondevelopmental milestonesthat pediatricians will look for at well visits. If your child misses these milestones, it may indicate a developmental delay but not necessarily autism.
For example, for a child who misses one or two of these milestones, it may be related to premature birth or managing a medical challenge such as low hearing.
Behaviors That Don’t Necessarily Point to Autism
It’s common to wonder whether a child’s unusual tendencies or quirks are just personality traits, delays that shouldn’t be a concern, or part of a pattern due to autism spectrum disorder. The following are behaviors that may worry you, but these are not always indicators of autism.
Doesn’t Respond to Your Call
Your child interacts with you and others and has normal play habits and sensory responses, but doesn’t respond to your voice when they have their back turned away from you.
You may see this on a list ofautism traits to watch for, but alone, this is not a reason for concern. However, this is common among children who are engaged in an activity. If the lack of response persists, discuss it with your pediatrician to check for hearing loss or other issues.
Develops Traits After Early Childhood
If your child developed and behaved like most children until they reached the age of 6 or older, then they likely do not have an autism spectrum disorder, even iftraits emerge at a later age.
To be diagnosed, your child must have first shown autism traits at an early age, even if those traits only caused problems in later years.A brand new trait at age 12 or 14 may look a little like autism, but the likely cause is something else.
When children start school, some parents begin to see learning delays or an inability to keep up with neurotypical peers. While these traits may be part of a learning disorder and should be evaluated, this is not a clear indication that your child has undiagnosed autism.
Fixates on Specific Interests or Hobbies
A child who only seems interested in very specific or unusual subjects or hobbies is not necessarily autistic. Similarly, an early talent for math, music, or some other activity doesn’t usually mean a child has autism although some people assume that.
Many autistic people hyperfixate on certain subjects and show special talents at a young age, but on their own, these are not autism traits.It may mean your child is highly intelligent and creative.
Talks Later Than Most Kids
It’s true that many (but not all) autistic children are late talkers. Some never learn to talk at all. But if your child develops normally except for not yet using spoken words, autism is not the likely problem.
Speech delays can be the result of many factors. Your child may have hearing problems or other issues that impact the brain, such asaphasia.This can affect the part of the brain that controls language.
The pace at which children develop language skills can also differ. Many of these issues can be treated or even cured. Meanwhile, there is a good chance that your child’s speech will progress in its own time just fine.
If this issue persists, talking with your child’s healthcare provider can help address these delays promptly. Some delays related to speech may be signs of asensory processing disorder(SPD). These include
Prefers Being Alone
You’ve probably heard autistic children tend to be introverts. By and large, that’s true. But so are many other people.
There could be many reasons why your child is not overly social. Some of these may be due to real issues while others are not. For instance, some children (and adults) feel overwhelmed when their senses are overly fired up. A great deal of noise or light can prompt them to withdraw.
Some also prefer to quietly read or draw instead of running around with peers. If your child’s development is otherwise on pace but they seem to prefer being alone, shyness may be the real reason they appear aloof.
But if you feel that something more is going on, ask for your child to be assessed. You may need to addresssensory processing issuesor some other problems to help them feel less anxious when they socialize with others.
Lines Things Up
Autistic kids often like to arrange objects and toys a certain way. In fact, these activities often take the place of real, symbolic play.
If you have concerns, keep a good eye on your child to see whether they line up objects for a reason, or whether it appears to be compulsive. Try to also observe whether they like to play pretend or other games with you or their peers.
If your child develops typically in other ways, you may have no cause for concern. If you are worried, it is worth your while to consult with your child’s healthcare provider.
Common Signs of Autism
Autism is apattern of traitsthat interfere with a child’s normal functioning, sometimes with intense traits and limitations. A single trait does not lead to an autism diagnosis.
To be diagnosed with autism, a child must meet the following criteria, showing limitations or delays in all three areas of social communication and in two of four areas of repetitive behaviors.
Social Communication and Social Interaction
A child displays persistent problems with social communication and interaction in multiple settings, evident in the following ways:
Intensely Focused, Repetitive Patterns of Behavior
A child displays behaviors such as:
Having justoneof the behaviors listed would not lead to an autism diagnosis. However, you should always discuss concerns about your child’s development with their healthcare provider.
Additional Criteria
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician if your child is exhibiting multiple developmental delays or unusual behaviors. Before your appointment, make a list of your child’s behaviors and delays to discuss during your visit. You may also find it helpful to have a list of questions ready.
A pediatrician may make an initial clinical diagnosis based on a parent’s concerns and an in-office screening. If your child’s pediatrician suspects autism, they will refer you to one or more specialists for evaluation.
ASD Specialists who make autism diagnoses include:
If your child does have autism, it’s important to get a diagnosis as soon as possible so you can obtain support and therapy that will help them develop strategies for learning and communication.
Testing for Autism
There is no single test to diagnose autism spectrum disorder, but there are tools and assessments. Before your child can be diagnosed, they may undergo testing such as:
You may also be asked to complete a screening questionnaire that will help your child’s healthcare provider understand their cognitive, language, and movement skills.
Your child’s healthcare provider will likely also want to monitor them as they grow and develop to see if they are meeting certain milestones.
Summary
Certain actions or behaviors your child shows (or does not show) may cause you to question whether they might have autism. Your child may not engage with you or others in expected ways and may prefer to play alone. They may ignore you more often than not when you call them.
Common developmental milestones are meant to be a guide. Your child will learn and progress at their own pace and may interact and play with others in unique ways. Share your concerns with your child’s healthcare provider if issues persist. They can help you pinpoint possible causes and work with you on a care plan to support your child’s development.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Autism spectrum disorder.Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM; Council on Children With Disabilities, Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.Identification, evaluation, and management of children with autism spectrum disorder.Pediatrics. 2020;145(1):e20193447. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-3447Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical testing and diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder.SPARK: Simons Powering Autism Research for Knowledge.What Should You Do if You Think Your Child Has Autism?Autism Speaks.Autism diagnostic criteria: DSM-5.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Autism spectrum disorder.Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM; Council on Children With Disabilities, Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.Identification, evaluation, and management of children with autism spectrum disorder.Pediatrics. 2020;145(1):e20193447. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-3447Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical testing and diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder.SPARK: Simons Powering Autism Research for Knowledge.What Should You Do if You Think Your Child Has Autism?Autism Speaks.Autism diagnostic criteria: DSM-5.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Mental Health.Autism spectrum disorder.Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM; Council on Children With Disabilities, Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.Identification, evaluation, and management of children with autism spectrum disorder.Pediatrics. 2020;145(1):e20193447. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-3447Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical testing and diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder.SPARK: Simons Powering Autism Research for Knowledge.What Should You Do if You Think Your Child Has Autism?Autism Speaks.Autism diagnostic criteria: DSM-5.
National Institute of Mental Health.Autism spectrum disorder.
Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM; Council on Children With Disabilities, Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.Identification, evaluation, and management of children with autism spectrum disorder.Pediatrics. 2020;145(1):e20193447. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-3447
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical testing and diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder.
SPARK: Simons Powering Autism Research for Knowledge.What Should You Do if You Think Your Child Has Autism?
Autism Speaks.Autism diagnostic criteria: DSM-5.
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