What are the signs of autism in children?
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Summary
10 papers analyzed
These studies suggest that signs of autism in children include deficits in social communication, withdrawn behavior, poor social initiative, and delayed language development, often identifiable within the first year of life.
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Introduction
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication and the presence of repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. Identifying early signs of autism in children is crucial for timely intervention and support. This synthesis examines the early behavioral signs of autism in children based on multiple research studies.
Key Insights
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Social Communication Deficits:
- Children later diagnosed with ASD show a decline in gaze to faces, social smiles, and directed vocalizations starting from around 6 months of age, with significant differences evident by 12 months .
- Early signs include atypicalities in eye contact, visual tracking, and social smiling.
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Repetitive Behaviors and Restricted Interests:
- Repetitive behaviors and differences in play, imitation, and feeding habits are reported in the second year of life.
- Children with ASD often exhibit motor stereotypes such as rocking or hand flapping and have a preoccupation with routines and rituals .
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Developmental Delays:
- Delays in social, communication, and fine motor skills are evident from 6 months of age, with differences in temperament and bowel habits emerging by 24-30 months.
- Delayed onset of imitating others, pointing at objects, and saying "Yes" are noted in children with poorer developmental outcomes.
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Behavioral and Temperamental Differences:
- Children with ASD may display hypoactivity, lack of emotional modulation, and poor social initiative within the first year of life.
- Early temperament differences include marked passivity, decreased activity level at 6 months, and extreme distress reactions by 12 months.
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Parental Observations:
- Parents often report concerns about vision and hearing in the first year, and differences in social and communication skills .
- Parents' early detection of signs includes noticing a docile baby not seeking contact and an absence of pre-language.
Conclusion
Early signs of autism in children typically include deficits in social communication, such as reduced eye contact and social smiling, and the presence of repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. Developmental delays in social, communication, and motor skills, along with behavioral and temperamental differences, are also common. Parental observations play a crucial role in early detection, highlighting the importance of monitoring these early signs for timely intervention.
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