There isn't a formal checklist for autism. In fact, there are many things that physicians will actually disagree about. For example, many parents will say that their children have digestive issues or issues with food and doctors will often dismiss those symptoms.
I would like to refer you all to my 8/10/09 post: "When Should I Worry?" In that post I talk about the warning signs and go into detail about them. I think it's important to have a good screening tool. Hopefully that will help a lot of you. Of course, this is not a exact science. I always tell mothers to go with their gut... that is usually the best screening tool we have.
I have compiled a checklist using information I have learned from experience as well as professionals I have dealt with in the past thirteen years. The main thing to remember is that this is mainly a screening tool and should not be confused with a diagnostic tool. The only person who can definitively tell you if your child has autism or is in the spectrum is a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist combined with neurological evaluation and behavioral specialist. We are basically talking about a team of doctors.
First Signs of Trouble:
1) The child is not progressing at the same rate as other children in any of the following areas: speech, motor skills, socially, or emotionally.
2) You notice odd behavior such as repetitive motions or sounds.
3) There is no or little eye contact.
4) Walking is unusual. For example, he might walk on tiptoes or have an unusual gait.
5) The child has an unusual sleep pattern.
6) The child is sensitive to sounds, textures, and is easily overstimulated.
Those are all things that are early warning signs. If your child also has ADD or ADHD then there are other things I could add to the list. For the sake of not being confusing, I thought it would be easier to focus on autism. Unfortunately, many children with autism or in the spectrum will also have ADD or ADHD.
Progressive Warning Signs:
1)There is a regression in speech, social skills, or emotional health. A regression might also mean that they do not progress beyond a certain level but still retain what they have learned. That is still considered "regression."
2)At this point the child has had to learn how to cope so they might cover their ears to shield themselves against auditory stimulation. This is textbook for many kids with autism.
3)Stimming is more apparent. This means you might see a child humming or making other sounds. I found this list in a very informative website: http://www.autism-in-the-christian-home.com/stimming.html
"This behavior may involve any or all of the senses in various degrees in different individuals. Several examples are listed below.
Visual – staring at lights, blinking, gazing at fingers, lining up objects
Auditory – tapping fingers, snapping fingers, grunting, humming
Smell – smelling objects, sniffing people
Taste – licking objects, placing objects in mouth
Tactile – scratching, clapping, feeling objects nail biting, hair twisting, toe-walking
Vestibular – rocking, spinning, jumping, pacing
Proprioception – teeth grinding, pacing, jumping"
This is the most misunderstood of all the symptoms and is the most difficult to control. Stimming is the child's way of dealing with certain situations. It might mean the child is happy or it might mean that the child is frustrated or sad.
4)Language patterns are irregular. The child might sound like a "little professor" and/or sort of robotic in language without the usual inflection that most kids have. This is one of the most interesting of all the signs. It's not necessarily the content of what they say, but the way they say it.
5)You will notice that they don't make friends easily or else they consider everyone their friend. They don't understand social cues and therefore it's difficult for them to engage in a typical activity or conversation and make those bonds that kids usually make. A parent will try their hardest to put the child in situations where there are kids, but the child will remain by himself or else avoid being around the group as a whole. This is often difficult for the parent since they don't want their child to be alone, but it's often what the child wants and sometimes needs.
I want to stress that there is a BROAD spectrum for autism. There are some kids that will appear to get better with age.... while others will get progressively worse. The spectrum includes Asperger's, PDD(Pervasive Developmental Disorder), and some are looking at the ADD/ADHD link as well. However, just because your child is diagnosed with autism doesn't mean that's the end. Early intervention is the key. The future is not written in stone. The diagnosis will help to understand the child and help with the symptoms.
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I would encourage everyone to visit:
www.autismspeaks.org
It is full of valuable information and
lots of checklists and warning signs to look
for in all ages of children.
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