We examine the key developmental milestones for specific ages that could indicate early signs of autism in babies and toddlers.
Autism Developmental Milestones & Early Signs
Know the Signs of Autism in Babies
How early can you see the signs of autism in babies? Early signs of high-function autism are present from as young as six months. Skills like taking a step, smiling, waving, and speaking first words are called developmental milestones. And milestones matter! These offer important insight into your child’s development. Detecting missed milestones can be a crucial indicator that leads to an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in your child. Skills such as smiling for the first time, waving, and verbal communication are just three developmental milestones.
These are the early signs of autism in babies of 6 months:
- No social smiles or other warm, joyful expressions directed at people
- Limited or no eye contact
These are the early signs of autism in infants of 9 months:
- No sharing of vocal sounds, smiles, or other nonverbal communication
These are the early signs of autism in babies of 12 months:
- No babbling
- No use of gestures to communicate (e.g., pointing, reaching, waving, etc.)
- No response to name when called
These are the early signs of autism in 1-year-olds to 16 months:
- No words
These are the early signs of autism in 2-year-olds and toddlers:
- No meaningful, two-word phrases
- Any loss of any previously acquired speech, babbling, or social skills
Importance of Early Intervention
Early intervention is critical in helping autistic children build skills that allow them to gain independence and improve their overall quality of life. The sooner you identify whether your child has autism, the sooner you can get the resources your child needs to unlock potential and reach goals.
Next Steps
If you think your child may have autism, learn more about testing for autism through Lighthouse’s diagnostic and evaluation services.
Autism Services at Lighthouse Autism Center
Lighthouse Autism Center supports families at all stages of their autism journey. Our clinical psychologist offers autism evaluations for families who suspect their child may be on the spectrum. For families whose child has an autism diagnosis, we offer the highest quality ABA therapy in a natural play-based environment. With an innovative clinical model called Lighthouse Fusion™, ABA and speech therapy are fused together into one enhanced approach to autism therapy. Designed by a team of dually certified BCBAs and SLPs, some of only a handful in the world, Lighthouse Fusion is leading to better outcomes, faster, for children with autism. Each child benefits from a team of compassionate clinicians working together to develop goals, deliver therapy, and unlock their potential.
Autism Diagnosis
If you suspect your child could benefit from our autism diagnostic services, don’t wait. Work with us to start the referral process now.
