Читать книгу Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder - Jeremy Tolmie - Страница 10

Babies develop at their own pace, and many don't follow exact timelines found in some parenting books. But children with autism spectrum disorder usually show some signs of delayed development before age 2 years.

If you're concerned about your child's development or you suspect that your child may have autism spectrum disorder, discuss your concerns with your doctor. The symptoms associated with the disorder can also be linked with other developmental disorders.

Signs of autism spectrum disorder often appear early in development when there are obvious delays in language skills and social interactions. Your doctor may recommend developmental tests to identify if your child has delays in cognitive, language and social skills, if your child:

 Doesn't respond with a smile or happy expression by 6 months

 Doesn't mimic sounds or facial expressions by 9 months

 Doesn't babble or coo by 12 months

 Doesn't gesture — such as point or wave — by 14 months

 Doesn't say single words by 16 months

 Doesn't play "make-believe" or pretend by 18 months

 Doesn't say two-word phrases by 24 months

 Loses language skills or social skills at any age