• Picture 1: Difficulty mixing with other children
• Picture 2: Inappropriate laughing or giggling
• Picture 3: Little or no eye contact
• Picture 4: Apparent insensitivity to pain
• Picture 5: Prefers to be alone- aloof manner
• Picture 6: Spins Objects

• Picture 7: Inappropriate attachment to objects.
• Picture 8: Noticeable physical overactivity or extreme underactivity.
• Picture 9: Unresponsive to normal teaching methods.
• Picture 10: Insistence on sameness and resists changes in routine.
• Picture 11: No real fear or awareness of dangers.
• Picture 12: Sustained odd or repedative play.

• Picture 13: Echolalis - (repeating words or phrases in palce of general language)
• Picture 14: May not want to be cuddled or offer cuddles.
• Picture 15: Not responsive to verdal instructions - (may appear as deaf)
• Picture 16: Difficulty in expressing needs ( May use gestures or pointing instead of words)
• Picture 17: Tantrums - (Displays extreme distress for no apparent reason)
• Picture 18: Uneven gross to fine motor skills - (may not want to kick ball but will stack blocks)

Also refer to this website: Section Understanding Autism

All the information given on this section has come from various medical publications. The object of this information section on our website is to make Doctors aware of the condition and to be aware of the early signs of autism in childhood.

SOME OF THE EARLY SIGNS THAT MIGHT SUGGEST AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. LIST WAS COMPLILLED FROM REPORTS FROM ‘AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS’, NOVEMBER 2007.

It is of vital importance for the long term development of an autistic child that early diagnosis of condition takes place. As Dr. Melissa Mishawaka , clinical director of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Service at the New York University Child Study Centre , states, “the earlier we find out, the swifter we can intervene when the brain is more immature, and we can help to model in in different directions.” She goes on to say, “ the tendency has been to understand that child development varies widely and to re assure the parents that some children speak late or even if they seem off track developmentally , that most children catch up, so , if there’s a parental concern , they may get a referral , or if may take several months of waiting to see if the child gets back on track developmentally.” The result can be that it may take a year, or more, before a child is officially diagnosed with autism, and a critical window in treatment time has been lost.

The delays regarding diagnosis of autism can vary geographically in Ireland. Without an acceptable diagnosis one cannot access services, applicable to autism in this country. Access to entitlements for parent/s of child are also excluded . The key to all of this is for professionals who come into contact with child and/or parent/s at an early age to become aware of the signs of autism. Again drawing upon reports of American Academy of Pediatrics, the following early signs that might suggest an autistic spectrum disorder:

• A lack of warm, joyful expressions while gazing at a parent.
• No back and forth babbling between the infant and parent beginning around five months of age.
• A lack of recognition of a parent’s voice or not turning when the parent says the baby’s name.
• Failure to make eye contact.
• Delayed onset of babbling past nine months of age.
• No or few speech gestures , such as pointing or waving.
• Repetitive movements with objects.
• Later as speech develops and these disorders become more apparent , some important red flags are:
• No single words by sixteen months of age.
• No babbling, pointing or other communicative gestures by one year of age.
• A lack of two word phrases by two years of age.
• A loss of language skills at any age.

The National Institute of Mental Health(N.I.M.H.) offers some possible early indicators of ASD.

• Does not babble , point, or make meaningful gestures by one year of age.
• Does not speak one word by sixteen months.
• Does not combine two words by two years of age.
• Does not respond to his or her name.
• Loses language or social skills.
• Avoids eye contact.
• Doesn’t seem to know how to play with toys.
• Excessively lines up toys or other objects.
• Is attached to one particular toy or object.
• Doesn’t smile.
• At times seems to be hearing impaired.

If as a doctor you have concerns about a child , where do you go for information?Shine has a extensive library database on autism, also, probably more important we can meet and talk over concerns that a parent might have concerning autism. We can also advise you of contacts in the locality who can progress matters further.

There are no medical tests for diagnosing autism. An accurate diagnosis must be based on observations of the child's communication, behavior and developmental levels. However, because many of the behaviors associated with autism are shared by other disorders, a doctor may complete various medical tests to rule out other possible causes.

Diagnosis is difficult for a practitioner with limited training or exposure to autism, since the characteristics of the disorder vary so much. Locating a medical specialist or a diagnostician who has experience with autism is most important. Ideally, a child should be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team which may include a neurologist, psychologist, developmental pediatrician, speech/language therapist, learning consultant or other professionals knowledgeable about autism. Several diagnostic tools have been developed over the past few years to help professionals make an accurate autism diagnosis: CHAT (Checklist for Autism in Toddlers), CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale), PIA (Parent Interviews for Autism), GARS (Gilliam Autism Rating Scale) and BRIAC (Behavior Rating Instrument for Autistic and other Atypical Children).