Common Characteristics of a Toddler with Autism

With Autism in the news in abundance today, it is becoming a household name. Although we still have so many more questions about Autism, we know a great deal more than we did even ten years ago. In my line of work in the field of Early Intervention, I provide play therapy to delayed and disabled children ages birth to three years old, and we have had many children come in and out of our program who have had a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Often times because we work with such a young population, we are the first to suspect a child may warrant this diagnosis and so the responsibility is placed on us to provide information to the parents. The literature out there is great on Autism, but I have yet to find an article that is truly parent friendly in it's explanations, with every day examples of typical characteristics that a child with Autism may display. Here I will explain in some detail many of the characteristics a toddler with Autism Spectrum Disorder may have.

It's not uncommon that I'll have a parent of a child with a language delay come to me with concerns that their child could be Autistic. If your child has a language delay, that does not mean that they absolutely are Autistic. They could just simply be late in talking. However, many children with an Autism diagnosis are language delayed. There are two areas of language. Expressive language is how a child is actually trying to express themselves to you. This can be in the form of spoken language, or it could be sign language or body gestures to try to let you know what it is they want or need, such as pointing to an item. Receptive language is what a child actually understands. This will include following directions, pointing to an item when asked (i.e. "where's the dog?"), and simply reacting to their name being called.