April is Autism Awareness Month. According to the non-profit Autism Speaks, the disorder affects more than two million Americans.
Dr. Becky Nastally with Bloom Behavior Therapy in Paducah spoke with Kate Lochte on how to identify potential autism warning signs in children.
These symptoms can first show up as early as at 18 months, and the diagnosis becomes more reliable around the two-year mark.
Nastally says there are three main things for parents to look out for in their children:
- Language/general communication. Most children in this age bracket are able to speak simple words or sentences, or follow basic commands. Struggling to develop in this area could be a warning sign.
- Social skills. Typically, kids at this age take an interest in their environment and the people around them. They show affection to their parents, too. Autistic children may seem distant and isolated.
- Restrictive/repetitive behaviors. This includes things like pacing, rocking back and forth, using the same words or other repetitive activities.
Nastally says early screening is important, in order to get affected children the help they need as soon as possible.