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The following list of symptoms represents the broad range of the disorder and is not meant to be a checklist to determine whether or not a child has ASD. Trust your instincts. If your child manifests several of these symptoms and your intuition suggests “something is just not right,” discuss your concerns with your pediatrician or primary care provider (PCP), and ask specifically whether your child should receive a developmental screening. Be proactive.
• Cannot hold head steady.
• Does not coo or make sounds.
• Does not watch things as they move.
• Does not bring things to their mouths.
• Cannot hold head steady.
• Does not coo or make sounds.
• Does not watch things as they move.
• Does not bring things to their mouths.
• Does not crawl.
• Does not attempt to speak.
• Does not point, wave, or grasp.
• Does not respond when name is called.
• Fixates on a single object.
• Oversensitive to textures, smells, sounds.
• Has strong resistance to change.
• Loses skills previously gained, including language and motor movement.
• Does not initiate two-word phrases.
• Does not walk steadily.
• Does not follow simple instructions
• Loses skills previously gained.
If your child is diagnosed with autism, it is the beginning of a much different journey than what you had planned for you and your family. It is a journey that will require the best of your ability to cope and your resourcefulness to navigate the road ahead. Just as there are sure to be challenges, there will just as surely be moments of hope and accomplishment. The Raising a Child with Autism section that follows provides information that will help you adjust to this difficult diagnosis and offer tips for taking other helpful first steps.