Not Yet Diagnosed - Turning Pointe Autism Foundation
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Not Yet Diagnosed
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Not Yet Diagnosed

Child Development and Signs of Autism

Developmental milestones are important throughout a child’s growth and development. They are helpful in identifying what are your child’s strengths and what are their challenges. They can also help you identify parts of your child’s development that may be attributed to autism. Below are a few examples of milestones – you can find a full list of developmental milestones on the CDC’s website here.

If you are concerned about your child not reaching developmental milestones or are concerned that they are showing signs of autism, reach out to your pediatrician.

By 6 months of age

  • Knows familiar faces and begins
    to know if someone is a stranger

  • Likes to look at self in mirror
  • Responds to own name
  • Babbles with “ah” “eh” “oh” sounds
  • Looks around at things nearby
  • Begins to sit without support

By 1 year of age

  • Cries when their caregiver leaves
  • Has favorite things or people
  • Responds to simple spoken requests
  • Tries to say words you say
  • Explores things in different ways, like shaking, banging, throwing
  • Pulls up to stand, walks holding on to furniture (cruising)

By 2 years of age

  • Gets excited when with other children
  • Shows more and more independence
  • Says sentences with 2-4 words
  • Names items in a picture book such as a cat, bird, or dog
  • Follows 2 step instructions
  • Begins to run

By 3 years of age

  • Shows concern for crying friend
  • Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” and “hers”
  • Can name most familiar things
  • Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time
  • Plays make believe with dolls, animals, and people
  • Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step

By 4 years of age

  • Enjoys doing new things
  • Would rather play with other children than themselves
  • Knows some basic rules of grammar, such as correctly using “he” and “she”
  • Starts to understand time
  • Remembers part of a story
  • Hops and stands on one foot for up to 2 seconds

By 5 years of age

  • Wants to be like friends
  • Can tell what’s real and what’s make believe
  • Tells a simple story using full sentences
  • Counts 10 or more things
  • Can print some letters or numbers
  • Uses a fork and spoon and sometimes a table knife

Below are a few examples of signs and symptoms of autism – you can find an extensive list from the CDC here. It is important to note that some people without autism can also have these symptoms.

  • Avoids or does not keep eye contact
  • Does not respond to name by 9 months of age
  • Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age (e.g., does not wave goodbye)
  • Shows little interest in peers
  • Lines up toys or other objects and gets upset when order is changed
  • Repeats words or phrases over and over
  • Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles
  • Has unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel
  • Delayed language skills
Some children show ASD symptoms within the first 12 months of life. In others, symptoms may not show up until 24 months or later. Some children with ASD gain new skills and meet developmental milestones until around 18 to 24 months of age and then they stop gaining new skills, or they lose the skills they once had. If you are concerned about your child not reaching developmental milestones or are concerned that they are showing signs of autism, reach out to your pediatrician. If you would like to explore diagnostic testing, click HERE.
tpaf-color-medium
  1500 West Ogden Avenue

Naperville, IL 60540

  contactus@turningpointeaf.org

   630.570.7948

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Turning Pointe Autism Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Turning Pointe Autism Foundation Foglia Family Adult Services is a Certified Autism Center by the IBCCES and the Adult Day Pilot is accredited by CARF.

Our organization does not discriminate in employment or the provision of educational services on the basis on race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability, citizenship status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

tpaf-color-medium
  1500 West Ogden Avenue

Naperville, IL 60540

  contactus@turningpointaft.org

   630.570.7948

4Star 234×60

Turning Pointe Autism Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Turning Pointe Autism Foundation Foglia Family Adult Services is a Certified Autism Center by the IBCCES and the Adult Day Pilot is accredited by CARF.

Our organization does not discriminate in employment or the provision of educational services on the basis on race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability, citizenship status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

2021 Turning Pointe Autism Foundation. All Rights Reserved.