What are the signs of autism?

• No babbling or pointing by 12 months
• No single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by 24 months
• No response to name
• Loss of language or social skills
• Poor eye contact
• No smiling
• Impaired ability to make friends
• Absence or impairment of imaginative or social play
• Stereotyped, repetitive or unusual use of language

Behaviors suggesting your child may struggle with autism most often occur between ages 2 and 6. None of the aforementioned behaviors represents an immediate indication of autism. But if you’ve observed any of them, you should consider a comprehensive evaluation from a clinical psychologist.