Every parent wants a happy and healthy baby. While many parents get this gift, others have children who may require medical interventions due to a wide range of conditions. Autism is not uncommon, and when parents bring home their new bundle of joy, keeping a sound eye on the baby’s development is key to identifying early signs of Autism.
What are the Signs of Autism in Babies?
Signs alerting parents of potential Autism can reveal themselves as early as six months after birth. Autism has a spectrum of severity that plays a key role in how early it can be detected. The social interactions of babies are what should be looked at when determining if there is a problem.
Babies develop rapidly during their first year, going through many stages of growth and maturity every couple of months. Babies will make noises and engage in physical actions like pointing throughout their first year of life. Because babies cannot speak clearly yet, they will use other cues to communicate with their caregivers. If a baby does not show an interest or an inclination to interact, this is a red flag for potential Autism.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 59 children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and boys are at four times higher risk of autism than girls. Across the globe, approximately 2% of individuals have ASD.
Signs in 3-month-old babies include not following caregiver’s or other objects’ movement with the eyes. Babies may also not acknowledge or react to loud noises. In addition, 3-month-old babies do not grasp objects, exhibit smiles, babble, or observe people’s faces.
In 7-month-old babies, signs of Autism include not turning the head toward sounds, inability to show affection, and no laughing or cooing noises. Other symptoms include not reaching out to grasp and hold objects, no smiles, no interest in bonding games like peekaboo.
After a year of life, babies that exhibit signs of ASD do not crawl, do not communicate through speech, do not point to objects, and can not stand, even with support.
What can You do if Your Child Has Autism?
If you see any of these signs, it does not necessarily mean your child has ASD, but it is important to talk to your pediatrician so that your child can have an evaluation done for ASD. Identifying ASD as early as possible is critical because research suggests that the earlier a diagnosis is made, the faster your child can begin appropriate interventions. Early interventions not only help your child manage ASD symptoms, but they may also even be able to undo them.
As your child grows there could be a need for additional treatment such as occupational and speech therapies in addition to other services as defined by an expert’s specific treatment plan. There is a lot to consider and to pay to care for a child on the spectrum. When partners are facing divorce and also have a child who needs specific medical therapies, it is important that the child’s needs are well defined during the separation process and after. Speaking with a qualified Danville divorce attorney can help safeguard the interest of the divorcing partners as well as the children.
Christopher L. Arrington, P.C. is an experienced Indiana collaborative divorce attorney who can help you and your family through this new transition. Call my Danville family law firm at 317-745-4494 today so we can discuss your family’s situation during a free consultation.