Could it be Autism?

Have you ever watched your baby do something and wondered if it’s normal? Have you ever met another child who has a diagnosis and tried to see if your child has any of the same tendencies? I sure have, and most parents can relate.

So why do we do that? Well, we love our children and we want to make sure we are doing everything we can for them but also, we don’t want them to be different.  We want them to have an easy life. I am here to tell you that that is okay, and most of us with children who struggle understand. Instead of comparing children, which can be harmful to the kids as well as the parents and their relationship with you, let’s discuss the early signs of autism and what to look for.

Warning Signs

First of all, most kids are not diagnosed until two years old. Looking for signs before then is misleading and just a part of development. You will have to trust that the professionals have a reason to wait until the age of two; take a deep breath and just enjoy your baby! Now around 2 years there are usually some pretty big leaps in development such as increased ability to speak, following directions, coming when their name is called, and so on. This is where the signs usually will begin to become apparent!

Boys and Girls

Also, girls are just as likely to have autism as boys. I am here to tell you that while many boys have been known to be diagnosed with autism just as many girls are as well, just sometimes a little late. The signs appear different in many autistic girls. Late diagnosis is harmful and a missed opportunity to help them!

Signs of Autism

If you were to Google “signs of autism” some basic things would pop up like lack of eye contact, delay in speech, late walker, and flapping hands. But what is a lack of eye contact? Do they have to make it all the time? When Lydia was diagnosed it was noted that her eye contact was fleeting, so she made eye contact but not all the time or at appropriate times. This led me to think “There’s no way she’s autistic; she looked at me” like a mom who didn’t know, because I didn’t. Eye contact is actually a small part of the diagnosis. I actually hate making eye contact but I am not autistic. In fact, I usually remind myself that autistic kids do the same things all kids do just at different times. Many kids flap hands when they are excited; kids do these things! Remember these are signs, not the diagnosis.

Pay Attention

Definitely note if your child meets two or more of the early signs that you can Google, but more importantly pay attention to things such as, do they answer consistently when their name is called? If you give them a toy, such as a car, how do they play with it? Do they mouth it and nothing else? Do they stare at small parts or make the wheels move in their hands and never actually pretend it’s a car? Do they have severe dislikes of foods? Can they complete simple wood puzzles with shapes, put rings on a pole, or stack blocks? If you point and say, “Look at the airplane” do they look? Do they chew on things for much longer than they should? If you have suspicions of autism by the age of two, the next step is to tell the pediatrician and they can begin the screening process. You, my friend, cannot diagnose your kid and neither can a pediatrician or Google, but they can guide you to a professional who is able to give you the answers you seek.

Lydia’s Story

Here was my experience as a mom to an autistic child. The play sign was a big one for Lydia. She wouldn’t use toys in the way they were meant, instead, she collected toys and still does to this day (along with playing with them now). She liked to collect by color or shape! Lydia was an early walker; we are talking 10 months she was running so that never pertained to her. She was delayed in speech but so was her twin sister (not autistic) so I stayed hopeful she would catch up. She didn’t. Lydia would not look at things I pointed to and rarely answered her name.  I had no idea she was autistic. Lydia ate everything and never flapped her hands. I didn’t know to look for these things but now when I look back I see them. They make me smile now that we are here because my beautiful girl was telling me who she was from day one, but I wasn’t ready or prepared to see her.  I see you now Lydia, and you are a miracle.

Click here for I Think My Child Is Autistic, Now What?

Story by Jackie Davidson for BlueWaterParent.com

All content of BlueWaterParent.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.