Symptoms of Mild Autism in Children
It is crucial for every parent to look for signs of mild autism in children to protect them early from developing autism or any autism spectrum disorders. Despite being classified as mild (or simple), all autism spectrum symptoms should be taken seriously, especially in the child’s early years.
In this article, we will briefly discuss the symptoms of mild autism in children and answer several important questions parents might have about autism, such as:
- When do signs of autism start to appear?
- What are the first signs of autism in children?
- What are the characteristics of mild autism?
- Signs of autism in 18-month-old children
- What are the movements or behaviours of an autistic child?
What is autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a child’s ability to communicate socially with others. The term “autism spectrum” refers to a range of symptoms within the same category, differing in type and severity. Autism is a subtype of ASD, along with Asperger Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Rett Syndrome.
What are the Symptoms of Autism?
There are prominent symptoms of autism, mostly related to social behaviour. Some of the mild autism symptoms in children include:
- Lack of response when their name is called, and no indication that they hear you
- Difficulty or rarity in making eye contact
- Lack of interest or concern for caregivers
- Avoiding physical contact or hugs
- Obsession with order or repetition
- Preferring solitary play, showing no interest in surroundings
- Lack of facial expressions and inability to understand others’ facial expressions
- Difficulty understanding others’ emotions and expressing their own feelings
When Do Autism Signs Start to Appear?
There is no specific rule for when autism symptoms appear in children. They may start as early as six months old when a child doesn’t respond to playfulness or imitate sounds like other children of the same age. Other signs might include a lack of babbling or individual words by 16 months, or sudden regression in language and social skills after the age of one or one and a half years.
What are the Social Symptoms of Mild Autism in Children?
Mild autism symptoms can be confusing for parents, as the child may not be completely isolated and may have reasonable language skills. However, they may struggle with social cues, such as:
- Difficulty understanding body language and facial expressions
- Not grasping others’ emotions
- Lack of conversational skills, such as starting, continuing, or logically responding in conversations
- Preferring to be alone and engaging in repetitive, solitary activities
- Limited imagination and reluctance to engage in pretend play
What are the Behavioural Symptoms of Mild Autism in Children?
Behaviourally, some signs of mild autism include:
- Intense focus on specific objects or activities
- Repeated verbal or physical behaviours, such as constant repetition of words or phrases, or repetitive movements like hand flapping
- Speaking in an unusual tone or pitch that doesn’t match the situation
- Emotional imbalance, such as extreme anger or indifference
- Self-harm, such as banging their head against a wall
How is Mild Autism in Children Treated?
Autism is one of the diseases that needs very early attention. This requires careful observation by parents of their children, to recognize any social or behavioural change in their child from what is usual and what is supposed to them at this age stage.
A child at the age of 6 months is supposed to have high eye movement response. If there is no response to eye movement, this is an indicator that must be stopped, as the child may be suffering from one of the autism spectrums. The same applies to the child’s social response when playing with him. Does he laugh at the joke? Does he pay attention to anyone who tries to attract his attention with a game or visual object? If he walks: Does he walk on his tiptoes?
A child at the age of 6 months is supposed to have high eye movement response. If there is no response to eye movement, this is an indicator that must be stopped, as the child may be suffering from one of the autism spectrums. The same applies to the child’s social response when playing with him. Does he laugh at the joke? Does he pay attention to anyone who tries to attract his attention with a game or visual object? If he walks: Does he walk on his tiptoes?
Autism treatment:
So far, there is no clear, specific treatment for autism, but there is a treatment to alleviate the symptoms so that the child does not harm himself. Such as medications given to a child as an anti-hyperactivity disorder or anti-psychotic treatment. These medications do not treat autism, only its symptoms. While treating autism requires the combined efforts of several parties in the life of an autistic patient.
- Behavioural therapy: This type of treatment focuses on training the child in healthy social behaviours, teaching him how to deal with different situations, learning new useful skills, and avoiding behaviours that are harmful or harmful to others.
- Family therapy: in which parents are fully aware of the condition of the autistic child, and how they can integrate him into social life naturally by encouraging him to engage in activities that develop these behaviours in him. Family therapy means providing a healthy, active environment for an autistic patient so that he can move around and live normally.
- Educational treatment: By providing training programs that encourage the autistic child to communicate with others, highlight his social side, and interact with the social sides of others. An autistic child usually responds to educational programs that are organized and carefully designed to suit the autistic patient.
This is in addition to other treatments to help an autistic child live a normal life. Such as speech training for those who have problems speaking, or movement training for those who have problems with walking or balance, or feeding them with supportive nutritional supplements such as Omega-3 OMEGROW Syrup (concentrated Omega-3 for children 100 ml).
In summary, early detection of mild autism is crucial, and parents should observe social and behavioural signs in their children. With early intervention and the right support, children with mild autism can learn skills to help them integrate better into society.
Sources:
- What is autism? – World Health Organization
- Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research: Autism spectrum disorder.
- Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Signs of autism in adults: NHS/UK
- Autism Spectrum Disorder – National Institute of Mental Health
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Healthdirect
- Autism Causes and Symptoms: WebMD
Symptoms of Mild Autism in Children