Autism “Red flag” behaviors Impairment in social interaction: • Lack of appropriate eye gaze, little or no eye contact • Lack of sharing interest or enjoyment • Lack of response to name • No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by nine months or thereafter • Lack of interest in peer relationships • Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play Impairment in communication: • No babbling by 12 months • Does not say single words by 16 months • Unusual prosody (little variation in pitch, odd intonation, irregular rhythm, unusual voice quality) • No two-word meaningful phrases (without imitating or repeating) by 24 months • Any loss of any language or social skill at any age Repetitive behaviors and restricted interests: • Repetitive movements with objects (lining up or stacking) • Repetitive movements or posturing of body, arms, hands or fingers • Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects) • Persistent fixation on parts of objects • Rigidity to sameness or patterns • Excessive temper tantrums Adapted from the Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks and First Signs
A child may show some or many of the signs above. Some children with autism are very talkative, some are very affectionate, and some use great eye contact– every child is unique. A comprehensive evaluation by a licensed psychologist with experience working with children with autism will help to identify whether or not your child could benefit from autism services. While children cannot “outgrow” autism, it is treatable. Early diagnosis and intervention is essential for success. For more information about autism services offered by Mercy Option’s Behavioral Health Clinic, call (608) 756-5555.
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