Little Red Envelope

Signs

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | About Autism, Things My Son Has Taught Me

The autism community is keen on early diagnosis.  Research is showing that early intervention makes a huge difference to our kids, and professionals are trying to find ways to help paediatricians and families detect the first signs sooner.  According to renowned researcher Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, whom I recently heard speak, diagnosis is, on average, still happening between the ages of 2 and 3 years, but many children show clear signs by 12 to 18 months.  In my opinion, the one thing that slows down diagnosis more than any other is parents.

When you have lived with a child for a year or more and everything has gone normally in terms of development, it is understandable that many parents are in denial that their child has a problem.  When Tyus was over the age of 2 years, he still sat and read a book with me like other children his age, as you can see in this video.  You may have (or know someone who has) a child who is showing some signs of delay, but you aren’t sure what the signs of autism are.  You might notice some of the early indicators noted by organizations like Autism Speaks or Autism Society Canada.  If the child is over the age of 2, however, it’s hard to remember at what age they began to babble, even if you noticed there were some early delays.  So, here is my list of things to look for in a toddler:

• would rather play alone than with other children
• doesn’t play “normally” with other kids (may be aggressive, aloof or inappropriate)
• makes little or fleeting eye contact
• draws away from or seeks physical contact (hugs seem painful or the child “rams” into things or people)
• difficulty controlling emotions
• echolalia (repeating words or phrases previously heard – for example, from movies, books or other people)
• repeats certain actions over and over (like hand flapping or spinning)
• can be over- or under-reactive to situations
• focuses excessively on certain things, people or activities (obsessive interests)
• walks on tip-toes or in an otherwise strange manner
• reacts negatively to changes in routine
• strange reactions to stimulus like lights, sounds, smells
• seems to have a very low or very high tolerance to pain
• may have exceptional abilities in one or more areas
• picky eating habits
• poor sleeping habits including trouble falling asleep or waking during the night

This is by no means a comprehensive list.  All people with Autism Spectrum Disorder are different.  Tyus didn’t show all of these signs.  If your child shows even SOME of these signs, or you know another child that does, I cannot stress to you how wonderful diagnosis can be.  I often say that labelling a child autistic is not what makes them different, autism is.  In other words, naming the disorder doesn’t change the child.  The child can only receive your help and the wisdom of so many people once you accept the truth of their complicated mind.  I know children right now that are being expected to be something they can’t because of people who read that list and think, “no, that can’t be it”.  It can and it’s ok.

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