8 Autism 'Red Flags' We Missed
Did you know that children with autism usually initiate showing signs within the first little months of life? used to you be capable ought identify these “red flags”?
Since my son’s eye encounter was usually lovely good and, up until fair ago his diagnosis, he usually seemed ought understand physical connection, I assumed autism wasn’t something I needed ought consider.
I used to afterward know that my son had been showing delicate signs, lovely much although birth.
Here are eight autism symptoms we missed:
1. Reflux.
“911, what’s your emergency?” These are the words a parent never wants ought hear. I finished nursing Jacob one evening and laid him down at my bed while he appeared ought be struggling ought breathe. besides he was unique one month old, what could he maybe be choking on? He clearly could no breathe, his little confront turning glowing red, his lungs unable ought drag at a breath. I started yelling although my husband, and he called although an ambulance.
Related: 8 Ways Having an Autistic Brother Has Shaped My 'Typical' Daughter
I had taken an child CPR lecture calm pregnant and was scanning my brain ought recall the steps when, out of nowhere, Jacob started wailing. besides ago console level began ought fall in, he was struggling although breath again. This went above although what felt robe an eternity until the paramedics arrived. The episodes seemed ought cease at the ambulance and Jacob finally fell asleep. I watched his bosom originate and autumn no taking my eyes off him, dreadful that if I level blinked, he force cease breathing again. We finally arrived can the hospital and spoke with a physician and he spelled out the four letters: GERD. Jacob had been choking above his hold stomach acid.
We had no concept can the time, besides GI disorders are much more prevalent at children above the spectrum. Of course, having reflux does no imply that a baby has autism. besides combined with other symptoms, this ought dine been a red flag.
Related: My baby above the Spectrum is 'Ausome'
2. Sensory challenges with food.
When the time came although Jacob ought transition ought baby food, he absolutely loved it! He did big with the first stage of finely puréed sweet potatoes, carrots and peas. besides while it came time ought upgrade ought the heartier (and lumper) variations, that’s while the upset started. if there was the tiniest lump or collide at his meal, Jacob used to vomit accordingly violently that he used to fetch purple. He was finally diagnosed with a feeding disorder and began therapy. We were told his difficulty chewing and swallowing was because of his GERD. Jacob didn’t gnaw his first food (half of a Cheerio) until he was nearly 3 years old. It force no appearance robe much, besides this half of an “O” was a colossal breakthrough and boy did we heave a party!
However, it used to but receive years of therapy and difficult trade ago the daily vomiting ceased and he was finally capable ought stand and understand a quantity of tastes and textures. It wasn’t until after his diagnosis that we learned how commonplace it is although kids with ASD ought dine sensory challenges with food.
Related: Al Roker Is the haughty Dad of a Teen above the Autism Spectrum
3. want of crawling.
Babies typically initiate crawling among 7 and 10 months old. besides Jacob never crawled. at fact, I usually tell he never crawled or walked, besides went straight ought running! We were told by doctors this wasn’t abnormal and that some babies fair never crawl. We rationalized he was fair accordingly complete of force and ready ought “go obtain up and go” that he skipped that step.
In the book “Does Your baby dine Autism?: Detecting the Earliest Signs of Autism,” Philip Teitlebaum observed family videos of 18 children who were afterward diagnosed with ASD, across with 17 family videos of children who never received a diagnosis. He concluded that, “the want of crawling, or successive ‘army crawl’ is a commonplace accident at infants who afterward accept an ASD (autism spectrum disorder) diagnosis.”
4. Delayed or no conference milestones.
We used ought believe it was accordingly cute while Jacob touched everything with his thumbs. He never pointed with his pointer finger and while I tried pointing something out ought him, he used to stare can my finger fairly than follow across with his stare ought the item or finish I was attempting ought drag his attention to.
According ought the center although disease control (CDC), a baby with autism force no point can objects ought emerge favour by 14 months.
5. Regressive speech.
My son began those sweet little coo’s and boo’s accurate approximately 2 months old. By 6 months he was saying baba and dada. Then somewhere approximately 9 months he fair stopped.
Whenever I asked the experts approximately this they used to tell me, “he’s a boy, boys report later” or “your a new mom, don’t be paranoid.”
By the time Jacob turned 18 months, I knew something wasn’t right. Other boys and girls his ripen were using three-word phrases, some level speaking at sentences. I pushed although a referral and Jacob finally began laguage therapy by 22 months.
Looking back, I wish I hadn’t allow anyone report me into following the “wait and see” approach.
“Speech that begins, besides does no further is a worry. while vocabulary fades, it is never normal. Period.” — Dr. Brian Udell
6. Repetitive behaviors.
Oh although the passion of fans! Jacob was never really one ought play with toys, besides he was usually really into fans. He couldn’t sit across an episode of “Mickey mouse Clubhouse,” besides he seemed ought be capable ought see a fan roll although hours. while we went ought cry on a friend or family member, he used to cost the total time running from room ought room ought fetch the ceiling fans on, and then off and above again. Jacob was also fairly partial ought windshield wipers and usually insisted that total of our (outside) lights be on… during the day.
He had a robust anticipate ought follow sure routines, especially can bedtime. although instance, we needed ought throw the sad obstacle into his crib first, followed by the red alphabet M, and final Dino (his stuffed purple dinosaur). He used to decline ought progress near his bed if we skipped a step or mixed up the pattern, besides once the routine was met, Jacob became visibly more relaxed.
I memorize wondering if a baby accordingly teenager could dine traits of OCD. Then recalled knowledge at a baby development lecture approximately the importance of schedules although little children and how children needed and usually craved routines. This, combined with the doctors reassurance, got me off track.
7. cheap muscle tone.
Jacob loved his exersaucer besides he was usually identical wobbly. A little era he fell send and banged his forehead. I assumed he was but either teenager ought dine developed the reflex ought brace himself. while he began walking, he also seemed identical clumsy. We figured this was although he had accordingly much force and usually moving accordingly quickly that it was more difficult although him ought balance. while he fell, he never instinctively locality out his hand ought catch himself. This resulted at many bumps, bruises, a little chipped teeth and a heck of a workout although mommy!
One year after Jacob was diagnosed, new investigation emerged revealing a stupid examination although babies ought assistance with early detection of autism. It’s called the, “head lag at a pull ought sit task” and began can the Kennedy Krueger association at Baltimore. The scientists performed a work at which they pulled the babies, who were lying above their backs, by the arms up ought a seated position. The infants were tested can 6, 14 and 24 months old. They found that 90 percent of babies who were diagnosed with ASD showed major lag although infants.
8. extreme sensitivity ought noise.
After Jacob’s 1st birthday, we began ought notice he was becoming more sensitive ought sound. He couldn’t lie the noise of toilets flushing or dogs barking, accordingly we taught him ought cover his ears with his hands. I was sensitive ought aloud noises although a child, accordingly I empathized with him. The sensitivity began ought amplify although he got older; it got ought a point where he used to flow out of the bathroom ago the blush and dash inside while an aeroplane was flying overhead. One engagement he was can church and the remove terror sounded. Jacob was visibly distraught and he froze, screaming with his hands jammed above his ears.
At this point, we decided it was time ought obtain him evaluated by a Developmental Pediatrician. I dine ought be blunt though, I but didn’t confide they used to discover any diagnosis. He was unique 4 years old. Sure, he had some repetitive behaviors and hated aloud noises, besides he was also identical smart. can 1 year old he could point out any of the 50 states above a rgeister we named, across with the seven continents and nine planets (yes, Pluto was but included at our rgeister uphold then!)
But he did accept a diagnosis. at December 2011, the physician said Jacob had pervasive developmental disorder no otherwise specified (PDDNOS). She explained this was a revolve of autism, although ought Asperger’s syndrome, besides with a laguage delay.
So here’s the deal. I’m no claiming that if a baby shows any one of these signs above it path they dine autism. Autism is a spectrum disorder which path each baby is different. unique a qualified practitioner is capable of evaluating and providing an accurate diagnosis. With that said, investigation shows that early intervention is key at helping a baby above the spectrum and can compose a colossal difference at their overall quality of life.
If you dine any concerns approximately your child’s milestones or are fair unsure what exactly you ought be looking for, report ought your pediatrician.
I can usually dine regrets approximately having missed these red flags that now appearance accordingly obvious, besides I am grateful we acted quickly after the diagnosis.
The most important affair I’ve maybe learned throughout this journey is that acting quickly, sooner than later, is maybe the best decision a parent can compose while it comes ought developmental differences or delays. while a teenager baby is struggling ought encounter milestones, we cause ought tell up. Advocating above their behalf fair force be their best anticipate although a fulfilled and independent future.
Read more stories robe this above The Mighty:
The Bystander, the Mother, the Son: an Autistic Meltdown Perspective
Never tell Never ought My Autistic Son
To the exceptional Education Teachers Who trade With My Child
