6 Reliable Early Warning Signs of Autism in Toddlers Nathania, July 23, 2023August 26, 2023 Catch these warning signs and take advantage of Early Invervention to support your little one in meeting their developmental milestones!Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects a person’s communication, social interaction, and behavior. Early intervention (EI) is used for maximizing the potential of children with autism with services like ABA therapy, along with speech, physical, and occupational therapy as well. Since EI cuts off at 3 years old, it is super important for parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to be vigilant in recognizing the warning signs during the early toddler years. Keep reading to learn about 6 early warning signs of autism in toddlers, and my personal experience with them as the mom of a toddler on the spectrum. Captioned by Nathania RayeCommunication ChallengesOne of the earliest warning signs of autism in toddlers is a delay or impairment in communication skills. A child may not respond to their name being called, avoid eye contact, or have difficulty with back-and-forth interactions like sharing facial expressions or gestures. Delayed or absent speech development is another sign. Toddlers with autism might not engage in pretend play, struggle to initiate or sustain conversations, and show a limited range of facial expressions.The biggest concern for my child was his speech. He was initially doing great with his language development at 1 years old. He would say “morning” upon waking up each day, announce his departure with an adorable “bye bye” accompanied by a very nonchalant little wave, and could even identify his facial features (eyes, ears, mouth, and nose). Then all of a sudden there was a regression. At 2 and a half years old he still does not say “morning” anymore, despite family saying it to him every single day. Responding to his name has always been pretty inconsistent even though he knows what his name is. Even now, his verbal language is extemely limited, but he is great with nonverbal cues and expressing himself in that way. He does make eye contact and initiate pretend play, but struggles significantly with social interactions.Social Interaction Red FlagsToddlers who are on the autism spectrum often exhibit difficulties in social interactions. They might have trouble understanding and responding appropriately to social cues, making it challenging to establish connections with others. Avoiding or being indifferent to hugs or cuddles is another potential warning sign. Toddlers with autism may not show interest in the activities or interests of others and prefer solitary play rather than engaging with peers.I remember being a few months postpartum and nursing my baby on the couch in my family home. Picture being completely enamored with your little baby and caressing his head as he fed. I felt so close and connected to him when he raised his tiny little hand to remove mine from his skin. He calmly placed it on my lap, avoiding eye contact but never unlatching. Moving forward, he would always just move my hand when I initiated physical affection. Even now, he has to initiate it or he will be visually uncomfortable.My son has always been a pretty shy kid. He was born during the pandemic afterall, so the only people he saw for pretty much the first year of his life was immediate family. He avoided strangers at all costs and would scream hysterically if distant family tried to approach him. Recently, he starting to warm up to the idea of playing with other children. Even still, he typically plays near them rather than with them. Whereas before, he would outright avoid being in the same space as any other child. Captured by Nathania RayeRepetitive Behaviors and Restricted InterestsRepetitive behaviors and restricted interests are considered to be core features of autism. In toddlers, these behaviors may manifest as intense preoccupation with a specific object or topic, along with repetitive movements like hand-flapping, rocking, or spinning. This is called stimming, and it is used to regulate their bodies. Everyone stims, but people with ASD will stim more frequently and obviously while others may consider it embarrassing and do it in private. Some children might insist on routines and become distressed if even minor changes occur. These behaviors can be disruptive and mess with daily functioning and learning.My son displays a couple examples of this. For one, routine and sequential behavior is a major key to helping him thrive. If we stray from our routine, he gets easily frustrated and overwhelmed. He knows exactly what to expect because he always knows exactly what is next. As far as sequential behavior, he enjoys lining up and organizing his toys even more than he likes playing with them. Another example of this in my toddler, is that he brings picky eating to an entirely different level. He hyperfixates on one particular food or snack and will only eat that thing for a week or even two weeks. Same thing with tv. He can watch Encanto over and over and over in a single day and still request it again once he sees those end credits. He also usually has to have something in his hand. Anything he can use to pretend he is having a sword fight is his jam. He often swings his object back and forth in front of him saying “hyah” over and over again. In order to accodate this stimming need for him, his father and I bought him plushies shaped like a corn dog and a roasted marshmellow. He can squeeze them for comfort and to sleep at night (he prefers to squeeze a plushie to self soothe rather than being comforted by physical affection).Sensory SensitivitiesMany toddlers with autism experience sensory sensitivities, where they might overreact or underreact to sensory stimuli. They may be hypersensitive to certain textures, sounds, lights, or smells. For instance, they might cover their ears when exposed to even moderate noises or show distress in response to certain clothing textures. On the other hand, some children may seek out intense sensory experiences, like spinning or staring at lights.Luckily, my baby doesn’t have any sensitivities to loud noises, but he does get triggered by visual stimuli. For example, he will avoid flashing lights or bright spaces at all costs. He also gets overwhelmed when there are too many people around, but I think that’s just because the chances of someone trying to interact with him is higher. Delayed MilestonesToddlers with autism may demonstrate delays in reaching developmental milestones. These could include delays in motor skills, such as walking, crawling, or climbing stairs. Additionally, they might exhibit delayed or atypical play skills, struggling with imaginative play and instead engaging in repetitive activities.My son started walking at about 15 months because he could never find his balance. He has short tendons which causes him to have a severe ballerina walk, making gross motor skills much more challenging for him than his peers. Now he can walk, run, and play on his toes just the same. We already spoke about his speech regression and how he thrives in sequential and routine activities. I credit his ABA therapy significantly for his ability to engage in imaginitive play. I witnessed first hand his uncomfortable and confused expressions when I would initiate these kinds of activities with him, compared to him now pretend cooking and falling out when his dad uses an air gun to shoot him down. The evolution has truly been an honor to watch unfold. Unusual Responses to EmotionsDifficulty in understanding and expressing emotions is another warning sign. Toddlers with autism may have trouble recognizing facial expressions or gestures that convey emotions. They might not respond when others show joy, sadness, or distress, which can lead to challenges in forming emotional bonds and connections.I honestly am not sure how much my son understands in terms of emotions. It truly confuses me because he can replicate the kinds of faces you would make for certain emotions (he learned this from music, which has been a MAJOR key in helping his development move along). However, he does not react the way his peers do when he sees someone crying. He usually will just stare blankly at them or ignore them completely. Considering this, I am concluding that he has simply memorized the particular movements along with the emotions from the songs he’s learned, but he does not truly comprehend what emotions are or how to appropriately respond to them. Captured by Nathania RayeAll in AllRecognizing early warning signs of autism in toddlers is crucial for enabling timely intervention and support. While every child develops at their own pace, consistent delays or unusual behaviors in communication, social interaction, repetitive behaviors, sensory sensitivities, and developmental milestones should prompt further evaluation by healthcare professionals. Early diagnosis and intervention, often involving speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral interventions, can greatly improve a child’s quality of life and their ability to navigate the world. As parents, caregivers, and educators, it is our responsibility to remain attentive and proactive in identifying these signs, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.If you are concerned that your toddler may be on the spectrum or neurodivergent in anyway that entitles them to extra support, this will give you more information on next steps. Motherhood