My child doesn’t make eye contact. Could he have autism?

When a child repeats a misbehavior, parents may wonder if it is a sign of a more serious problem. They may even worry about autism. However, in the case of a nonverbal child under the age of two, it is not known until the diagnosis is made.

Dr Puneet Shah, a professor of psychology and neurodiversity expert at the University of Bath in the UK, told the Daily Mail there are some potential signs of autism that can appear in young children.

Avoid eye contact

Some infants show signs of autism in their first few months. However, most infants do not show any signs until they are toddlers. One sign is that infants do not make eye contact when they turn their faces, which can occur very early in life.

“The reason most children with autism avoid eye contact is because it helps them feel less anxious,” Dr. Shah said. “There are many reasons why people with autism avoid eye contact, and not all people with autism avoid eye contact.”

sensory sensitivity

One of the sensory differences commonly observed in children with autism is their discomfort with loud noises. This sensory sensitivity can make it difficult for them to filter out irrelevant noises without feeling uncomfortable or distracted, and can result in feelings of overwhelming emotion.

“Typically, children with autism show sensory sensitivities to a variety of things,” Dr. Shah said. “It could be predictable things, like bright lights or loud sounds, but it could also be unusual colors or patterns.”

Difficulty speaking

Repeating words or phrases, not speaking as much as other children, and ‘talking’ to others are all signs of autism. “Language development in children with autism is usually a little bit delayed, but not always,” said Dr. Shah. “Another sign is repeated sounds or words, sometimes called echolalia, which can be a characteristic of autism.”

repetitive behavior

A child who prefers a very strict routine and becomes upset when it changes is a sign that the child has autism. “This need for routine can manifest itself in a variety of ways, and the unique characteristics of a child can cause them to develop unusual habits or behaviors,” Dr. Shah explains.

repetitive movements

It can be expressed in actions such as waving hands, snapping fingers, or rocking the body. It can also be expressed in relative actions such as turning the wheels of a toy train, looking at the bars of a fence, or listening to the theme song of a favorite show.

Misunderstanding emotions

Children with autism often have difficulty making friends and choose to play alone. Some children may have difficulty expressing their feelings, and sometimes may not understand what others are feeling. Young girls with autism may hide some of their symptoms by imitating the behavior and play styles of other children, so these symptoms may appear differently.