Mental Health Neurodevelopmental Disorders Autism Symptoms What Are the Early Signs of Autism? Get to Know the Early Signs of Autism By Lisa Jo Rudy Lisa Jo Rudy Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Lisa Jo Rudy, MDiv, is a writer, advocate, author, and consultant specializing in the field of autism. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 18, 2022 Medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD Medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Huma Sheikh, MD, is a board-certified neurologist, specializing in migraine and stroke, and affiliated with Mount Sinai of New York. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print According to the CDC, as many as 1 out of every 59 children may have autism spectrum disorder. So if you're a parent of a young child and worried about the early signs of autism, you have a right to be concerned. It's a good idea to keep a close eye on your child's development because even very young children can be diagnosed. And research shows that the earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better the prognosis for good outcomes. Mariló Valle. FOTOGRAFÍA/Moment/Getty Images What should you be looking for? According to the National Institute of Mental Health, these are some of the earliest red flags for autism: Possible Indicators of Autism Spectrum Disorders Does not babble, point, or make meaningful gestures by 1 year of age Does not speak one word by 16 months Does not combine two words by 2 years Does not respond to name Loses language or social skills Poor eye contact Doesn't seem to know how to play with toys or excessively lines up toys or other objects Is attached to one particular toy or object Doesn't smile or interact joyfully At times seems to be hearing impaired It's important to remember that there are many possible explanations for most of the symptoms listed above. A child's attachment to a particular toy or difficulty with language skills is not, in itself, a sign of autism. It's also important to remember that a child who does have excellent language skills may still be diagnosable on the autism spectrum. In fact, some children who are diagnosed with autism have extraordinary language and reading skills. Other Possible Early Signs of Autism Today, autism is generally diagnosed through a process of interviews with parents and observation of children. Some researchers, however, have found correlations between certain physical issues and autism. If You See Signs that Suggest Autism Should I Wait to Have My Child Diagnosed with Autism? When Should I Seek an Autism Evaluation for My Child? Who Should Diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorders? If You're Ready to Seek an Evaluation for Your Child Screening and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders How Doctors Make an Autism Diagnosis What Should I Do While I Wait for An Autism Diagnosis? If you think you see early signs of autism, but your pediatrician doesn't agree, who's right? It may be that your pediatrician is incorrect. 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control. Data and statistics on autism spectrum disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Autism spectrum disorder. Sacco R, Gabriele S, Persico AM. Head circumference and brain size in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res. 234(2):239-51. doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.08.016 By Lisa Jo Rudy Lisa Jo Rudy, MDiv, is a writer, advocate, author, and consultant specializing in the field of autism. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit