In the previous blog, we discussed what the diagnostic process could look like for a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As the name entails, ASD is a spectrum in which the child could have severe to relatively mild symptoms. Treatment services are necessary when the behavior is rather severe but what if you are having a difficult time deciding whether seeking professional help is right for your child?

Here are some helpful suggestions to guide your decision-making process:

Dangerous behaviors: Your child is engaging in behavior that is harmful to themselves or others to the extent that is interfering with daily routines and activities.

Lack of communicative skills: Your child does not respond when you call his or her name and lack eye contact.

Repetitive behaviors: Does your child engages in repetitive behavior with toys or objects for hours?

Showing signs of delay development:

• Doesn’t respond with a smile or happy expression by 6 months
• Doesn’t mimic sounds or facial expressions by 9 months
• Doesn’t babble or coo by 12 months
• Doesn’t gesture — such as point or wave — by 14 months
• Doesn’t say single words by 16 months
• Doesn’t play “make-believe” or pretend by 18 months
• Doesn’t say two-word phrases by 24 months
• Loses language skills or social skills at any age

Keep in mind infants and toddlers tend to develop at their own pace and do not follow the timelines found in most parenting books exactly. However, Signs of ASD often appear early in development when there are obvious delays in language skills and social interactions. You should pay close attention and consider seeking professional help if your child has delays in those aforementioned skills.

Next time, we would explore some of the effective treatment options and resources in terms of seeking treatments. Follow us on Facebook to explore more resources.