Characteristic

Autism (autism) is a complex developmental disorder that affects the functioning of the brain and nerves of children. This developmental disorder is generally diagnosed at the age of 1-3 years, although the initial symptoms may have appeared since infancy. Delay in diagnosis in infants can be influenced by autistic characteristics (the old term for autism, -red) which at first seemed vague.

Indeed, what are the symptoms of autism in babies? Come on, see the following reviews so that your little one gets treatment faster.

The characteristics and symptoms of autism in babies

Autism includes all disturbances in the way children interact, socialize, speak, think, express, and communicate both verbally and nonverbally. Autism can also make a child experience behavioral disorders.

In infants, this disorder is quite difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are vague and prone to be misunderstood as other health problems. However, launching the Help Guide, child health experts from around the world agree that there are several signs and symptoms of autism that can be seen in babies from an early age. The various symptoms are:

1. Troubled with eye contact

The visibility of newborns is generally still short and limited (no more than 25 cm) so that their eyesight is not clear. In addition, his eye coordination has not been optimal so that he has not been able to follow the motion of an object.

During the first two months, your baby's eyes will often appear unfocused in the first two months of life. You may often find him staring at the ceiling of the house.

However, at around 4 months of age, babies can begin to see more clearly and broadly, and can focus their gaze. Starting from this age, the baby's eyes can also follow the motion of an object.

However, be aware of the characteristics of an autistic baby if past that age their eyes often don't follow the motion of the object in front of them. A blank, unfocused gaze like daydreaming is the most common symptom of autism in babies and you can observe it every day.

The characteristics of autistic babies can also be seen from their eyes that never meet yours when fed food or smile back when you smile.

2. Does not respond when his name is called

Newborn babies are not able to recognize various sounds around them, including the voices of their parents. Therefore, your little one may not respond to your loving calls at first.

The minimal response of babies in the first few months is still relatively normal. This is because both the sense of sight and the sense of hearing are not well coordinated. The muscles around his neck are also not fully developed.

But by the age of 7 months, your little one will be able to recognize your voice and respond to other sounds. He is also able to look right, left, up and down when he hears a sound that appeals to him.

The more often you talk to him, the better chance your little one will master this ability faster. However, some babies may not show a response when you call their name. These can be early signs and symptoms of autism in babies that you need to be aware of.

However, you need to understand that not all babies develop at the same age, it can be faster or slower than the average age.

3. Not babbling like other babies

Newborn babies are not able to speak like adults. The only way babies communicate is by crying. He may cry when hungry, feel sick, urinate, and various other conditions.

Reporting from the Kids Health page, when entering the age of 2 months, the baby has started babbling. It made meaningless sounds. They make this sound because of reflex muscles around the baby's mouth or are done to get the attention of those around them.

However, babies with autism are unlikely to exhibit these characteristics in their development. Your little one is less likely to chatter or follow the sounds you make.

If the baby experiences this along with the other symptoms mentioned, you may suspect autism in the baby.

4. Poor eye coordination with limbs

The ability of the body that is controlled by babies is the coordination between the eyes and limbs, both hands and feet.

This ability allows the baby to respond to a hug, reach out to be hugged, or touch objects in front of him.

However, in infants with autism, they become less responsive. They probably won't wave when someone else says goodbye.

5. Other symptoms

The characteristics of autism in babies are not only that. As you get older, the symptoms will become clearer and you can distinguish them from other babies. Some of the symptoms of autism in older babies include:

Avoiding eye contact when other people stare or talk to you
Frequently performing repetitive behaviors, such as clapping hands, swinging hands, or playing with fingers does not recognize the situation.
Not answering questions correctly, tends to repeat questions
Babies prefer to play alone and do not like physical contact, such as being hugged or touched

Getting treatment early will help reduce the severity of autism symptoms in babies later in life. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the development and behavior of the baby.

When to see a doctor if you suspect your baby is showing symptoms of autism?

If the baby shows the signs of autism that have been mentioned above, immediately see a doctor. Especially if babies up to 9 months of age don't respond when their name is called or don't chatter when they are more than 3 or 4 months old.

To make a diagnosis, your little one may need to do some medical tests. This is done to rule out some other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. After that, the doctor will determine the diagnosis of autism in the baby as well as the treatment according to the severity of the symptoms.

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