
Early Signs of Autism in Children Explained
Autism is a condition associated with the development of the brain. This condition often exists in a spectrum, implying a range of symptoms and severity of autism. Depending on where a child is in the autism spectrum, it changes how they socialize with others and perceive everything around them. This may cause hindrances in communication and social interactions. To understand this condition better, here are a few causes and early signs of autism in children.
Causes of autism
The exact causes of autism are not yet known. However, based on ongoing research, experts have concluded that certain genetic or chromosomal conditions can potentially affect infant brain development. In addition, several risk factors increase the probability of autism, such as:
- A child has the possibility of having autism if a close family member, such as a parent or a sibling is on the spectrum.
- A child has a 10 percent chance of being autistic if they have another genetic syndrome such as Fragile X or Down syndrome.
- Some research suggests that children may have autism if parents have conceived them at an advanced age.
- Certain prescriptions before pregnancy may increase the likelihood of autism in infants.
The above risk factors do not necessarily mean a child will have autism. However, if any of the above risk factors are present, watching out for a few common signs is recommended. In many cases, children on the spectrum will begin to show autistic signs at a few months old. In other cases, a child may develop normally in the initial few months or years and show the symptoms later.
However, in several cases, the early signs of autism in children become apparent before they are 12 months old. Also, in most cases, the signs of autism are noticeable before the child is two years old.