Does Autism Cause Symptoms in Babies?

If you have a new baby, you want to make sure your little bundle grows into a healthy, happy child. As a parent, you look at how your baby reacts to you and others. You might wonder whether you can detect signs of autism early, when they’re still a baby. The answer is yes, parents can often detect early signs of autism in their baby. 

Board-certified pediatric neurologist Dr. Charles Niesen and our team at AMS Neurology in Pasadena, California, diagnose and treat children with autism and assist parents whose baby is showing signs of autism. 

Autism can typically be formally diagnosed by the time your child is two years old, but many parents recognize signs before that time. One study indicates that about 40% of parents notice symptoms that could be linked to autism at 7-12 months old. 

Your child’s pediatrician should perform a developmental screening at 9-, 18-, and 30-month visits, as well as an autism-specific screening at 18 and 24 months. If you have any concerns during or before that time, call our office for an appointment so Dr. Niesen can provide the expert help you may need. 

Early intervention with babies and young children with autism pays dividends as your child grows older. Your baby’s brain is just beginning to develop, and you can influence its direction using specific types of play and interaction. 

Following are symptoms that may indicate autism in babies. 

Little eye contact

At about two months, your baby should be able to turn their face and make eye contact. If they begin to make little or less eye contact after that time, call our office for an appointment. 

Less facial expression and smiling

You can’t wait to see your baby’s first smile, which usually occurs at about two months old. You no doubt want to capture this new development with photos. If your baby is smiling less or doesn’t smile and look at you when you say their name, look in their eyes, and play with them, it’s a concern. 

Your baby doesn’t point and make gestures 

Your baby can’t talk yet, so gesturing and pointing are their ways to communicate. You likely play games with your baby by pointing to a person such as a sibling and naming them. If your baby doesn’t point to objects they want or other people, signs of normal development, you’ll want to seek medical testing. 

Skill regression 

Babies generally make cooing sounds (in addition to crying) at about 2 months old. They should be babbling by the time they’re 4-6 months old and making repetitive sounds like “dada dada.” 

In the following months, if your child no longer babbles as much as they did earlier, no longer smiles at you when you engage, and doesn’t turn toward you when you call their name or make frequent eye contact with you, you should seek medical testing to determine whether your child may have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

Call our office at AMS Neurology or book an appointment online today if you’re concerned about your baby’s developmental progress. Dr. Niesen provides help and hope to parents and children with ASD.