Early Signs of Autism

Although my family knew what autism was, we really didn't know what to look for in those early years. Knowing what I know now about autism, the early signs were definitely there. But because Liam was capable of so many other things, we minimized those signs and believed he'd catch on with time. 

When I look back at younger videos of Liam, I now understand the behaviors we noticed or challenges that he had. I often times have to remind myself to extend grace for not knowing. I used to feel immense guilt for not getting Liam the help he needed sooner. I believe we assumed autism would look like what the media portrayed it to be. But unfortunately, that's just not true. 

The reason it is identified as autism spectrum disorder, is for that very reason...it is a spectrum. One person with autism doesn't look like the next person with autism. 

For Liam, medically speaking, he is considered "high-functioning". What this means is that he is capable of doing most things on his own and doesn't require as much assistance. But, it doesn't mean he doesn't need assistance and support at all. I believe there are several that fit this category and often times fly under the radar because to the naked eye, they wouldn't right away notice those areas of special needs. 

In this article, I plan to debunk a few of those by sharing some of the early signs we first noticed in Liam. 

Unique Play With Toys

Liam never quite played with toys in the way they were designed to be played with. He would either line them up in a very strategic order to his liking, or...he would fixate on just one aspect of that toy. If the toy made a noise or lit up when a certain button is pushed, he would only play with the toy for that very reason. 

In any attempt to get Liam to play with the toys outside of how he preferred to play with them, he was incredibly unhappy. 

1. Head Banging

Liam would rock his head to fall asleep each night. It was a gentle thud, but it was a tad out of the ordinary for his dad and I. We had never seen this before. Imagine hearing a constant thud over the baby monitor and to find your little one rocking their head up and down on their pillow until they finally fall asleep. 

We would attempt to stop him, but he would continue. When we presented this to his pediatrician we were told this was common for some young boys and he'd outgrow it. Liam wasn't hurting himself. This was actually his way of self-soothing. He doesn't do this as much anymore, but he resorts to this when he's having difficulty falling asleep. 

2. Repetitive Behaviors

It's common for children to engage in repetitious behaviors, but the frequency in which we observed Liam do this is what left us wondering if it was common. We later learned the term for this is called "stimming" or self stimulation. Whether he's bouncing, waving his hands, or simply doing the same movements with his body, it was how Liam expressed himself. 

3. Heightened Sensory Sensitivity

Liam was sensitive to noises, textures, and brightness. If we were in a grocery store and the music was too loud, Liam would cover his ears. If he even got the smallest wet spot on his T-Shirt, he would want it changed immediately. When Liam was younger, he hated public restrooms because they were too loud and too overstimulating for him. The sounds of the hand dryers and toilets flushing were much for him. 

4. Not Engaging Socially

Liam didn't have an interest in playing with the other kids. This could be because he struggled to communicate with them. But while most kids chased after one another and made up a game, Liam was often off to the side doing his own thing. If another child asked him to play, Liam struggled to grasp the concept of the game they were playing which eventually led to the other kids leaving him out. Liam socially wasn't aware of the kids' interest in him. He was perfectly content doing his own thing.

5. Delayed Speech

The biggest indicator that pushed us to getting Liam evaluated, was his speech delay. Although Liam was verbal he struggled to form his own thoughts. Most of his conversations were scripted or he'd repeat what was being said to him. This term is called echolalia. 

Liam was able to express his wants and needs, but any time he was asked a question or prompted to respond...he would just repeat whatever was being said to him. He'd also frequently repeat lines from his favorite TV shows or phrases he may had overheard throughout the day. 

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Although these early signs were indicators for us that Liam needed some assistance, there are several others that fall in line with children on the spectrum. If there is ever any uncertainty or doubt about your child's developmental milestones, it's best to speak with your pediatrician to assess if your child needs further evaluation. Early intervention gets ahead of the curve to provide your child or loved one with the support and resources they need.