Autism » Symptoms
DSM-IV criteria for autism are based on the absence or delay of certain
developmental milestones. There is great diversity in the skills and behaviors
of individuals diagnosed as autistic, and physicians will often arrive
at different conclusions about the appropriate diagnosis.
Nevertheless, professionals within pediatric care and development often
look for early indicators of autism in order to initiate treatment as
early as possible. Some of these indicators include:
- Does not babble, point, or make meaningful gestures by 1 year of age
- Does not have "joint regard," in other words the ability attend
to something at the request of someone else
- Does not speak single words by 16 months
- Does not combine two words by 2 years
- Does not respond to name
Other indicators:
- Lacks or avoids eye contact
- Does not play with toys functionally
- Excessively lines up toys or other objects, or may engage in other obsessive/compulsive
behaviors
- Is attached to one particular toy or object
- Does not smile (socially, but may smile during periods of self-stimulatory
behavior)
- Engages in perseverative and/or self-stimulatory behaviors
- Has tactile defensiveness
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