It has become evident over the years that early intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is very important for achieving developmental outcomes. The earlier a child is able to receive intervention, especially during their peak years of development and language acquisition, the better the outcome. Most often, a child will not be diagnosed with ASD until they are 3-4 years or older. It is possible, however, to pinpoint developmental delays at an earlier age and receive a diagnosis before the age of 3.
What behaviors should you look for to learn if your child may have a developmental delay? During the first year of life, babies gain a variety of skills. They begin to smile, respond to their name, vocalize with sound, and manipulate toys and objects, to name a few. From newfound communication skills to fine and gross motor skills, this first year of development brings a lot of exciting firsts!
Each child develops at a different pace, so there is no need to be alarmed if your baby is not reaching each developmental milestone at the exact age that is outlined for “typical” development. None of these delays are necessarily indicators in isolation, but if you are noticing a number of them, it would be beneficial to mention them to your doctor and request an ASD screening. Some of these indicators include:
- Eye contact- Eye contact and tracking objects with looking is typically observed by 3 months. One indicator may be a lack of eye contact. A baby at risk for ASD may look at your mouth when you are talking rather than your eyes, or may fail to track a preferred toy or object with their eyes.
- Communication- Babbling is typically observed between 4-6 months and responding to his/her name between 7-9 months. A baby at risk for ASD may not engage in vocalizations other than crying and may not respond in a way that indicates recognition of familiar words like their name.
- Motor Skills- Rolling over while getting both hands out from under is typically observed between 6-9 months, pulling up to standing between 7-9 months, and cruising, crawling and standing may be observed by 12 months. These are examples of gross motor movements that may be delayed in a baby who is at risk for an ASD diagnosis.
- Social Skills- Even though we don’t always think of babies as “social,” they have their early set of social skills that is typically developed during the first year of life.
In typical development, a baby will begin to smile, first just to itself, but between 1-3 months will develop the skill to smile at you, and in response to your smiles. Another social skill that develops around 4-6 months is reaching out for or grabbing objects and toys. A baby between the age of 10-12 months is expected to develop the skill of pointing to things in an attempt to direct your attention toward them. Absence of smiling, reciprocal smiling, or any of these other social skills mentioned, may be an indication of a delay in development.
These developmental delays do not mean that your child will receive an ASD diagnosis. They do, however, indicate that it may be beneficial to check with your doctor about your child’s development. Remember that if your child is determined to be at risk for an ASD diagnosis, or does receive a diagnosis at a young age, early ABA intervention can significantly improve your child’s learning and development.