Autism is an incredibly common condition. Many adults are getting diagnosed late in life because we’re now so much more aware of what autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can look like.

Do you suspect that your child might be on the spectrum? Are you not sure what to do? Let’s talk about it.

Read on to learn all about diagnosing and supporting your child with autism.

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When to Consider Seeking an Autism Diagnosis

So how do you know if your child needs to be evaluated for ASD? There’s no sure way to know, but you can start seeing signs even in infancy. Here are a few quick signs that you may want to get your child evaluated.

Delayed Language or Communication Skills

The average child starts communicating with their parents right away, even if it isn’t with speech. By the time the child is between 12 and 18 months old, children should be saying their first words. 

Before that, children will communicate with babbling and gestures. They’ll respond to gestures made by others and they’ll try to understand language. 

Minor delays aren’t a huge cause for concern, but if your child isn’t showing any signs of communication by the time they’re 18 months old, it’s a good idea to take them to their pediatrician for an evaluation. It could be any number of things (or your child could just be a late bloomer).  However, getting them into speech therapy as early asyou can will really make a difference to their ability to communicate and how quicklythey progress.

Delayed Potty Training

Potty training is tough for a lot of children! Some children are potty trained (to some extent) in infancy while some don’t quite figure out the toilet until they’re almost ready for preschool. Because of this, potty training isn’t the best cue to go by, but it’s something to take into consideration. 

Children with ASD struggle with change. They also often have special sensory struggles and they may experience anxiety. This means that building potty training skills for autistic children is tough! If you don’t know that your child has autism, it may set you back. 

If your potty training isn’t working and you notice other symptoms, consider having your child evaluated. 

Unusual Eating Habits

Some people mistakenly believe that children with autism are picky eaters. This isn’t the case at all! Children with autism have sensory struggles and they may develop sensory aversions to certain foods. They’re also good at recognizing patterns, and if a food reminds them of something bad, they won’t eat it (even if they’ve never had the actual food before).

Children with autism often don’t like food touching. They may also do things like disassemble sandwiches and eat each piece individually. 

Repetitive Behaviors

Children with autism may display repetitive or seemingly compulsive behaviors. Sometimes these behaviors are “stimming” behaviors (or self-stimulating). A child may tap their legs, move their hands, or do any number of unique things repetitively to self-soothe. 

Other times, a child may obsess over patterns. They may arrange all of their blocks or candies by color and show signs of distress if their arrangement gets ruined. 

This could be a sign of many things, but in combination with other signs, it’s an indicator that a child may have autism. 

Sensory Struggles

Children with autism often have sensory problems. They may need the softest fabrics with no tears, tags, or scratchy bits. They can’t eat food that’s too hard or squishy. They may only like stuffed animals with very specific textures.

They may also be sensitive to light and sound. They get overstimulated in large crowds and may throw tantrums even if they’re otherwise happy. They feel better wearing sunglasses and headphones because they block out some of the hustle and bustle.

A Need for Routine

All children need routines. Children who are on the autism spectrum often have an even greater need for routine, however. They often struggle with change and they like to know what’s coming next. 

A child with autism may respond poorly to learning that they’re going on a trip if they’re not given a proper warning, even if the trip is going to be fun. 

Again, all children can benefit from having a routine and they may get frustrated if that routine changes. Extreme reactions are potential signs of autism. 

Caring for Children With Autism

There is no cure or treatment for autism spectrum disorder. Children with ASD vary wildly in abilities. Some don’t need extra care at all while others benefit from full-time care. 

Even though there’s no treatment (ASD is not a disease), there are things you can do to support your child on the spectrum. Here are a few quick tips. 

Therapy

Many children on the autism spectrum seriously benefit from therapy! This doesn’t have to be autism-specific therapy. There is some controversy over the benefits of ABA therapy, so if that’s not right for your family, no problem.  In any case, if you’re open there’s also an option for online ABA therapy especially when you don’t have the time to go to a clinic.

Occupational therapy can be helpful as can traditional talk therapy if your child is old enough. It's also best to find a clinic that offers speech pathology services.

Educational support

Not all children who are on the autism spectrum need educational support, but even those who don’t may have other needs, like social needs. Children with autism can get special help in school. This should help them reach their academic milestones. 

They may be able to get into special classes, have extra time with tests, or get any number of other accommodations. You won’t know until you ask.

At-Home Modifications

You may want to make some modifications to your day-to-day routine. 

We recommend having visual schedules for your child. They’ll help your child establish and keep routines and they’ll let your child know what to expect at all times (which may be calming for them).

Keep sensory items around. Things like “slime,” candy, dark sunglasses, and headphones are great for when your child needs either sensory playtime or a sensory break. 

Try to keep an open dialogue with your child. They’ll tell you what they need. You just have to listen.

Support Your Child With Autism

If you suspect that your child has autism spectrum disorder, don’t panic! Take them to their pediatrician and consider getting a professional evaluation. Even if they are on the autism spectrum, with the right support, your child can live a full, happy, and fulfilling life. 

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