From being fussy to difficulty sleeping – experts reveal early signs of autism in your child before they turn one
SIGNS of autism may be detectable as early as nine months of age, say researchers - with fussiness among earlier indicators to look out for.
In the UK, autism is typically diagnosed between the ages of three and five years.
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But researchers at the University of Missouri's Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment have been exploring whether signs of autism can be detected as early as the first year of life.
Researchers Erin Andres and Stephen Sheinkopf found behaviour at nine months old can indicate the likelihood a one year old is at risk for autism.
As part of the study, parents of nine-month-old infants took part in a survey and answered questions related to infants' temperaments and adaptability.
Behaviours they were asked about included frequent crying, difficulty calming down, and trouble adapting to new environments.
When their children were 12 months, parents completed an autism screening questionnaire that assessed communication skills, sensory sensitivities, and restrictive or repetitive behaviours.
The screening gauged things like whether infants responded to their names or were overwhelmed by loud noises such as vacuum cleaners.
“What we found was the infants at nine months who were reported to be fussier, had a harder time adapting, more difficulty sleeping and more delays in achieving developmental milestones were more likely to show signs of early autism by 12 months,” Sheinkopf, the study’s principal investigator and a professor of paediatrics, said.
The findings showed parent-reported information about an infant's early behaviours can potentially help spot signs of autism or developmental delays much earlier than previously thought.
Further research is needed to determine if these early signs could lead to a formal autism diagnosis.
But the findings could help identify infants who could benefit from early intervention .
“Whether it’s helping infants develop language skills closer to their age-expected levels or developing early social skills that will help them thrive in preschool, we want all kids to flourish,” Sheinkopf said.
The research team is continuing to collect information about infants in their first year of life, but note parents' descriptions of their babies' development is an important part of their approach.
"Parents are intuitive,” Sheinkopf said. “They are experts on their children, and now we are trying to create better ways of measuring those things that they notice about their kids.”
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Autism isn't an illness but a neurodevelopmental condition that influences how people experience and interact with the world.
It's something people are born with, and signs can be apparent when you're very young, or when you're older.
If you're autistic, you're autistic your whole life, says the NHS.
Nobody knows what causes autism, or if it has a cause.
It can affect people in the same family, so it may sometimes be passed on to a child by their parents.
There are no treatments or a cure, but people can get support with certain things.
If you think you or your child have autism, you can speak to your GP, who can then refer you for an autism assessment.
If you're unsure how to identify signs of autism, look out for the following characteristics...
These are some features of autism that many people with it experience. Autism is a spectrum, so everyone shows symptoms differently.
Sensitive to senses
Autistic people can be much more or less sensitive than non-autistic people to the five main senses (sight, sound, touch, taste and smell).
This also extends to senses for balance, movement, spatial awareness and awareness of internal states, such as hunger and temperature.
Social differences
People with autism may find social interactions harder because they have difficulty; interpratiting social cues; facial expressions; maintaining eye contact; recognising sarcasm.
They may find tehy prefer to spend time alone because social interactions can be confusing.
Autism can be verbal (someone who uses communication) or non-verbal (they use other means to communicate). People can flit between the two.
Repetitive behaviours
‘Restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests’ is often listed as a trait of autism, but the National Autistic Society says many people with the condition actually find these behaviours as positive and helpful.
It is also sometimes referred to as stimming or self-regulatory behaviour.
Examples include having a strong passion or interest in a hobby, repeated behaviours like hair twirling or rocking, and preference for routine or rules to be followed.
Emotional dysregulation
People with autism may struggle to manage feelings such as frustration, anxiety, or sadness, which could lead to a 'meltdown' (extreme or intense outburst of emotions) or 'shutdown' (withdrawal).
Source: National Autistic Society
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