Autism Symptoms Checklist

Here are some things to consider doing. Some items may not be applicable to you.

_1 in 88 children in the U.S. has been identified as having an autism spectrum disorder according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): CDC.com_

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a sample country (South Korea) is 2.64%, or approximately 1 in 38 children according to a study funded by autismspeaks.org and published in the American Journal of Psychiatry on May 9, 2011.

On Feb. 2, 2010, the British medical journal The Lancet formally retracted a study which had linked the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism and gastrointestinal problems. More info at msn.com

A Norwegian study of 85,000 children found that "women who took folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy were about 40% less likely to have a baby later diagnosed with autism." More info at USAToday.com.

If your child has one or more of the following symptoms, consider asking a doctor to evaluate your child for possible autism:

General:

  • Repetitive behaviors
  • Obsessive interest in certain things
  • Avoidance of eye contact with people
  • Repetitive rocking, twirling, etc.

As a baby:

  • Unresponsive to people
  • Tendency to focus on one item for a long period of time
  • Low sensitivity to pain
  • High sensitivity to sound, touch, etc.
  • Resistance to being touched (especially to being hugged)

As an infant:

  • Slow to start speaking
  • Refers to themself by name vice "me" or "I"

By one year old:

  • Not responding to their name
  • Lack of happy expressions
  • Lack of babbling
  • Problems establishing eye contact
  • Staring for a long time at items which aren’t moving

As a child:

  • Difficulty making friends
  • Difficulty starting or carrying on conversations
  • Lack of imaginative play
  • Unusual and/or repetitive use of language
  • Difficulties with social interactions
  • Difficulties with communication (verbal and nonverbal)
  • Deisre to adhere to certain routines
  • Failure to respond to their name
  • Difficulties determining what others think or feel
  • Difficulties interpreting social cues (e.g., tone of voice, facial expressions)
  • Lack of empathy
  • Self-abusive actions (e.g., biting, head-banging)
  • Difficulties playing with other children
  • Speaking in a singing voice
  • Often speaks about the same topics over and over again

For more info:


EXPLORE: Health

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